Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-04

lands and his separateness from people
living ON the ground.
He had a brown man to wait on him
about whom there was constant dispate
in the town. Some snid this man was a
,traight haired mulatto, others that he
iSas SpaniRrd and yet others that he
was, according 10 Mr.. Waggle's own
testimony. a Sandwich Islander. Ho
had a broad, mild face, his hair was cut
straight around his head, and though he
wore thick American clothes even in
summer he was always wreathing his
hat with flowers.
Settled people who had never been
used to such sights could hardly believe
the gentle Sandwich Islander harm
less, and they felt they ought to watch
him when he did errands or worked in
the garden beyond the tree.
Marietta and Lucy stopped without a
word and gazed at Mr.. Waggle's house.
The door was shut, though all the
windows appeared open. Far back in
the garden the brown mans shoulders
bobbed up and down as he hoed.
The walnut tree seemed as full Of
music as il each che Of its leaves breath
ed song,
Ster by step Marietta and Lucy ap-
iproached the tree. They know they were
not wanted there, but other children
had dared TO go up that spiral stairway
leading to SO exclusive world. If they
had tumbled down again in hurry,
Marietta was sure it was because they
were cowardIy. Mr. Wagglo had never
hurt anybody.
"He won't care IL we go up and sit
by his door, Lacy. I'm sure l wouldn't
care, il / could mako such music as
that, who heard it.
Lucy blinked anziously, but did as
Marietta did. They felt the ridges Of
walnut bark with the delighted awe Of
explorers, winding around the ascent.
Flower breatks came from Mr.. Wag-
gle's garden, and the whole visible
earth was STEPPED above its rim Of
woods in shimnering heat. The sun
glered back from white houses Leaves
everywhere held ripe depth Of green,
and Mr.. Waggle's house seemed the
harmonious center Of all these good
things. Marietta wished it could be al
ways summer, for in tho winter you
notice SO much mere how hungry you
are. and your hands ache 20 at knitting,
and there is dullness i'll sunset which
makes you feel heavy hearted going
homo from school, knowing that the
dinner is eaten and that you will have
to take solne scraps in the pantry. .
They were just sitting down on Mr..
Waggle's top step when the door few
open, loud whistle like 81 call was
blown, and there stood the angry in
mate, while music played en- behind
him.
Marietta was awsrs that the brown
man answered and ran from the garden.
She stood and shock with Lucy, bRt
tried to be dignified.
"We didn't want to disturb you, Mr..
Waggle. We were only listeninGto your
music. Yen play it SO nicely"
"Yes, - responded Mr.. Waggle put
ting his knuckles in his side and lifting
tho corners of his nose. "Only 25 Of
you have been up this stairway today.
Any boys down there, Aloha?"
"No boys, MASTER" answered. the
brown man.
"Then so back to your plants, '''said
Mr.. Waggle, and be reached down from
his doorstep with unexpected dexterity,
pulled Marietta and Lucy into his
house, and locked the door.
Lucy cried in high, tiny squea1
like guinea pig, but Marietta told her
Mr.. Waggle would not hurt them.
He stood and looked at them with the
fez pushed back from his forehead. He
always wore jacket and fez. His face
was scanned with nGany wrinkles, yet it
had no look Of age.
'"There are ten music boxes here;"
said he, ''and intend to keep them
playing until 10 o'clock tonight. Yda
will get enough of the nice music"
Though Marietta was appalled, at the
thought Of staying there until 10 o'olo5k
at night, and Lucy squealed in higher
key, they saw the sumptuous room Mr..
Waggle inhabited, its floor like polished
glass, spread with tufted rugs and its
space divided by rich screensi into many
little apartments. Square windows and
square 6mirrors altsrnated until the
house, seemed many times expanded.
Light bamhoo sofas furnished the space
not shut in by screens, and Marietta
thought nothing was lacking to this pail
ace but paper.
The music boxes played like enchant-
ment, and Mr.. Waggls spoke as if they
were working spell.
"Now, what can yen do, said he,
''to break the charm and get out befora
10 o'olock?"
The. girls were silent. This was their
nearest approach to tho queer citizen Of
the tree, and be was quite different
from other folks.
"Can you dance oachuca%' demand
cd Mr., Waggle,
Marietta had read of the cachuca. but
her family had never let her dance any
thing.
"Can you whistle an entire opera"'
"If I did, my mother would whip
me-" sobbed Lucy.
"There is but one chance left, said
Mr.. Waggle. "Can either of you make
rhyme?"
eyes, sir; I can," responded the
genius quickly.
"She can," testified Lucy, showing
red eyes above q moist apron.
IT mean, added Mr.. Waggle severe
Ily, "a long rhyme out Of your own
head 1t must be at least three stanzas
long, with six or eight lines in stan