Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-19
UNAWARES.

When I was introduced to her, was
standing in the balcony of the swim
ming tank at Santa Cruz, watching the
greenery yellery water beneath and the
black human frogs awkwardly gambol-
ing therein. dislike being introduced
to people at or in swimming tanks, but
as Mrs. Richbody introduced her 1 had
to be civil. (Mrs. Richbody has very
good cook-much better than the chef
at the hotel where am staying.)
So I found her a chair and we sat
down.
Out of the corner Of my eye l saw
her hitch her chair a little closer to
mine as she adjusted her skirts. Like
all the girls this season, she wears
those abominable godets behind, that
stick out like the cowcatcher Of loco
motive, and they need careful manage
ment.
Before she had spoken six words I
murmured to myself: "Ah, that ex-
plains it. You are German. "
Explains what?" she asked sharply.
"You are a German" l repeated.
"Pray go on. I am interested in your
remarks -
"Most foreigners take me for French, !"
she said.
merely smiled and dropped the ashes
Of my cigar into the upturned eye Of
my tailor in the tank below, who had
had the impertinence to forward me his
little account from the city.
"Most foreigners, she repeated.
Excuse me-" said I, "but where are
we?"
SIN the swimming tank. "
''No; at the swimming tank, but in
the United States of America.
Just then the band played "Der
Yacht am Rhein."
cts true, all the same" I said as the
last strain died away. "We're in Amer
lea, though sometimes find it hard to
realize it.
Caroline frowned and made deli
cious little quicker in her white fore
head. Il call her Caroline now. All this
was five days ago.
1.-THE best blood you have is Ger
man," she said.
Think not, :" replied. "My grand
mother was Frenchwoman.
$50 was NINE" she said softly.
The silence was broken only by the
barking of human seal in the tank
below-a poor imitation and much more
vulgar than the original.
At length Caroline said, 'I'm sorry
you dislike the Germans.
IT don't. As individuals have many
friends among them, but as nation"-
I blew light Whit that vanished into
thin air.
you're not very entertaining or
very complimentary. Indeed, you're
rather rude, and think I'll CO." she
said.
She rose and gave her pipe organ
plaits preliminary shake
Don't co." said mildly. IT said
nothing
II agree with you," she answered
cheerfully, and sat down again with a
satisfied smile.
Now, confess. that just for mo-
ment felt foolish. Never man, never
child and seldom woman has made
me feel foolish. And this woman had
made me feel foolish-for moment.
was annoyed, and, 1 fear, showed it, for
gave a little start I was so surprised at
her audacity, you know, and dropped
my lighted cigar into the swimming
tank. It fell on the bald head of my
tailor (StultzwurzeI, and made him
swear prodigiously. That was some sat
isfaction.'
IT think we'd better go and take a
turn on the beach," said I, rising. "The
air seems warm and stuffy here. "
"Not at ALL" she replied, settling
back snugly and tapping the toe Of a
very small tan slipper with the parasol.
''It seems very comfortable here to
me. But perhaps you suffer from head
ache?'
"No, said I; "that's not the trouble.
My nose is out of joint"
"Poor Slawkenbergius, she murmur-
ed.
Now, this was more extraordinary
than anything she had said before. That
young girl brought up among the Ger
mans-that strange people who drink
lager beer, love sauerlraut and write
volumes on such thrilling topics as AS
sonantal Rimes for Hors in the old Ger.
man epic-that a girl so educated should
show acquaintance with a belle lettres
writer so essentially non-G German Of
Sterne-this was even more remarkable
than her impertinent remark about my
having said nothing"
Twas proceeding to light fresh cigar
when she interrupted coolly:
II don't like smoking, Mr.. Legend. 81
looked at her in amazement.
"But you are German" said.
"Surely all Germans
''Have you ever been in Germany
she asked.
Now, here she had me again. No,
have never been in Germany, but ]
wasn't going to confess it without a
struggle, go evasively replied, II have
been in Sleswick- Holstein. ("
"That's hardly Germany" (this rather
disdainfully(
"I'm glad to hear you confess it, T"
said L ''I've always maintained that
Sleswick- Holstein is a piece Of Den.
mark which the Germans stole"
Its false" she burst out, with fash
ing eyes Ever since the time Of Charlie
imagine Sleswick- Holstein has been
but what's the use Of arguing with youi