Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-05-30
UNAWARES.

When 1 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 / 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 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 /
murmured to myself: "Ah, that ex-
plains it. You are German. !"
Explains what?" she asked sharply.
"You are German" l repeated.
'Pray go on. l 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.
1
we?''
SIN the swimming tank.
mo; at the swimming tank, but in
the United States of America ;"
just then the band played der
Yacht am Rhein.
Its true, all the same, f" said as the
last strain died away. Were in Amer
| lea, though I sometimes find it hard to
| realize it. +"
Caroline frowned and made deli
cious little quicker in her white fore
head. q call her Caroline now. All this
was five days ago..
''The best blood you have is Ger
man," she said.
81 think not, +" replied my grand
mother was Frenchwoman.
$50 was mine, F" she said softly.
The silence was broken only by the
barking of human seal in the tank
below-apoo imitation and much more
vulgar than the original.
At length Caroline said, ''I'm sorry
you dislike the Germans.
81 don't. AS individuals have many
friends among them, but as nation -
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 &c" she
said
She rose and gave her pipe organ
plaits a preliminary shake.
Don't CO." 1 said mildly. 81 said
nothing
81 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 woman has made
me feel foolish. And this woman had
made me feel foolish-for moment l
was annoyed, and, l fear, showed it, for
gave little start Il was so surprised at
her audacity, you know, and dropped
my lighted cigar into the swimming
tank 1t fell ON the bald head of my
tailor (Stultzwurzel) and made him
swear prodigiously. That was some sat
isfaction.
81 think we'd better go and take a
turn ON the beach, said l, rising. 1.-The
air seems warm and stuffy here. !"
mot at ALL" she replied, settling
back snugly and tapping the toe of a
very small tan slipper with the parasol.
1T seems very comfortable here to
me- But perhaps you suffer from head
ache?"
"No, said l. 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 girl SO educated should
show acquaintance with belle lettres
writer SO essentially non-German as
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:
Il don't like smoking, Mr.. Legend. :"
looked at her in amazement.
but you are a 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, SO evasively replied, II have
been in Sleswick- Holstein. -
That's hardly Germany (this rather
disdainfully).
Pm glad to hear you confess it, ("
said l. I've always maintained that
Sleswick Holstein is piece of Den
mark which the Germans stole. -
g It's false, " she burst out, with flash
ing eyes. Ever since the time Of Charlie.
magne Sleswick- Holstein has been
but what's the use of arguing with you?
You're a prejudiced American with
French blood in your veins, and you'll
never appreciate the Germans
II think more of them than did ten
minutes ago." said /, gazing at her adj