Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-05-12
UNAWAREs.

When I was introduced to her, I was
standing in the balcony of the swim
ming tank at Santa Cruz, watching the
greenery ye1lery water beneath and the
black human frogs awkwardly gambol-
ing therein. L dislike being introduced
to people at or in swimming tanks, but
Mrs. Richbody introduced her 1 had
to be.civiL (Mrs. Richbody has n very
rood cook-much better than the chef
at the hotel where I am staying.)
So I found her q chair and we sat
down
Out of the corner of my eye I say
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 a loco
motive, and they need careful manage
ment.
Before she had spoken six words 1
murmured to myself: "Ah, that e1-
plains it. You are u German"
s'Explains what?'' she asked sharply.
you are q German" I repeated.
pray go on. I am interested in your
remarks"
.sMost foreigners take me for French"
she said.
1 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 ], ''but where are
we?''
stIn the swimming tank"
mo; at the swimming tank, but in
the United States of America.
Just then the band played "Der
Wacht am Rhein."
ssIt's true, all the same" Isaid as the
last strain died away. ''We're in Amer
lea, though 1 sometimes find it hard to
realize it"
Caroline frowned and made a 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.
.Ithink not, " I replied "Ay grand
mother was a Frenchwoman.
$50 was mine, " she said softly.
The silence was broken only by the
barking of a human seal in the tank
beIow-ap poor imitation and much more
vulgar than the original
AT length Caroline said, t'1'm sorry
Won dislike the Germans"
81 don't. As Individuals have many
friends among them, but as q nation
I blew a light Whit That vanished into
thin air.
.sYou're not very entertaining on
very complimentary. Indeed, you're
rather rude, and I think III go, she
said.
She rose and gave her pipe organ
plaits a preliminary shake.
"Don't CO." 1 said mildly. II said
nothing''-
"I agree with you," she answered
~cheerfulIy, and sat down again with 6
satisfied smile.
Now, L 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 haC
made me feel foo1ish-for a moment
was annoyed, and, I fear, showed 1t, fol
gave a little start Il was so surprised Al
her audacity, you know, and dropped
nv lighted cigar into the swimming
tank. 1t fell on the bald head of my
tailor (Stultzwurzel), and made hin
swear prodigiously. That was some sat
isfaction-
.I think we'd better go and take
turn ON the beach,, saidI, rising.
air seems warm and stuffy here
"Not at ALL" she replied, settling
back snugly and tapping the toe OF
very small tan slipper with the parasol
"It seems very comfortable here t
me. But perhaps you suffer from head
enc" saidI; "that's not the trouble
NV nose is out of joint
"Poor Slawkenbergius, she murmur
ed
Now. this was more extraordinar!
than ANYTHING she had said before. Tina
a Young girl brought up among the Ger
mans-that strange people who dr1nl
lager beer, love sauerraut and writ
voIumes ON such thrilling topics as As
sonantaI Rimes for Hors in the old Ger
man epic-that a girl so educated shoul
chow acUaintance with a belle lettre
writer so essentially non-German a
| Sterne-this was sven more remarkabl
than her impertinent remark about m
having said nothing"
Twas proceedingto Light fresh ciga
when she interrupted coolly;
81 don't like smoking, Mr.. Legend.
Hooked at her in amazement.
s'But you T a German" I sait
HSureN all Gernans"-
Have you eyer 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
struggle, so I evasively replied. Il hay
been In SleswickHolstein-
aAThat's hardly Germany" (this rath'
disdainfuIlyl-
.Tm glad 10 hear yon confess Il,
said L 1--WE always maintained TN
SIeswickHoIstefn is a piece on Dei
mark which the Germans stole
aH,sfalse,' - she burst out, with fiasi
ingeves. Ever since the time of Chari'
maone Observation-Disclosures has BEEN