Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-05-19
UNAWAREs.

~ I'M ~ G1AGLAf0e
When was introduced to her, was
ftanding in the balcony of the swim
ming tank at Santa Cruz, watching the
greenery yellery water beneath and the
black human frogs aw1wardly ganbol-
ing therein. dislike being introduced
to people at or in swimming tanks, but
as Mrs Richbody introduced her had
to be.civil. (Mrs Richbody has a very
good cook-much better than the chef
ut the hotel where am staying.)
So found her chair and we sat
down.
Out of the corner of my eye saw
her hitch her chair n 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" repeated.
''Pray go on. I am interested in your
remarks. "
GHOST 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, y she repeated
EXCUSE 1ne,' said I, "but where are
we?''
''In the swimming tank )"
mo; at the swimming tank, but in
the United States of America .
Just then the band played "Der
Wacht am Rhein. -
"It's true. all the same, I" 1 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 pucker in her white fore
head. Il call her Caroline now. All this
was five days ago.)
.The best blood you have is Ger
man. she said.
ST think not, % replied. MY grand
mother was Frenclwoman.
$50 was mine, :" 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
'sI don't. AS individuals have many
friends among them, but as nation
1 blew light Whit that vanished into
thin air.
seYou're not very entertaining or
very complimentary. Indeed, you're
rather rude, and I think I'll go, - she
said.
She rose and gave her pipe organ
plaits a preliminary shake.
Don't CO." said mildly. II said
nothing''-
'I agree with you," she answered
cheerfully, and sat down again with a
satisfied smile
Now, confess, that just for a mo-
ment felt foolish. Never a man, never
a child and seldom a woman has made
me feel foolish. And this woman had
made me feel foo1ish-for moment 1
was annoyed, and, I fear, showed it, for
gave a little start Il was so surprised at
her audacity, you know, and dropped
NV lighted cigar into the swimming
tank. 1t fell on the bald head of my
tailor (StultzwurzeD. and made him
swear prodigiously. That was some sat
isfaction.
.'I think we'd better go and take
turn on the beach, saidI rising. The
air seems warm and stuffy here
s'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
acheT'
"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
a Young girl brought up among the Ger
mans-that strange people who drink
lager beer. love sauerEaut 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
chow aeouaintance with belle lettreE
writer so essentially non-German a
Sterne-this was even more remarkable
than her impertinent remark about my
| having said nothing"
Twas proceeding to Light a fresh cigal
when she interrupted coolly:
"I don't like smoking, Mr.. Legend >
I looked at her in anazement.
.'But you are a German" said
HSure1y all Gernans"-
Have you ever been in Germanya'
she asked
Now, here she had me again No,
have never been in Germany. but
wasn't going to confess it without I
struggle, so evasively replied, 1 haY
been in Sleswick- -Holstein-
sHThat's hardly Germany (this rathe
| disdainfully)-
.'pm glad to hear you confess Il,
| said L 1--WE always maintained u tina
] SIeswick-H HoIstein is a piece on Den
| mark which the Germans stole
ITS false, - she burst out, with fiasn
ing ewes. Ever since the time OF Cnarle
/ magne Sleswick-Holsteans ms yeil- -
l ---.,. ~ e,,-orT1fT1er with yO1