The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-08
Herr zImmsI's Msmsnto.

| present moment he was I'm such a hurry
that he often hit his head, but this
| didn't take much time, so he really
| didn't mind IT, Far worse was his hav-
ing 10 search his attic for things which
he had put away so carefully that he
could not find them himself. He had
been two hours dressing. 1t was get
ting well on to z o'clock, and at the
thought that he might be late and have
10 turn back with his composition un-
played and his love unavowed his heart
sank with despair. His shirt and his
collar We're satisfactory. but he white
four-in-hand necktie--devil take it.
gave Herr Wagner no end OF trouble
He lost half an hour tying II. and the
operation left II all crumpled and any
thing but snow white.
Al last he was ready. The second
hand frock coat which he had bought
in the morning for the great occasion
was rather too short in the sleeVes-so
short. indeed, that IL required constant
vigilance TO keep them from catching
in his huge detachable cuffs. still. the
coat tails were long enough, and II was
the best coat Herr Wagner had ever
worn in America. SO he was in good
spirits.
He had barely time to get to his des-
tination, yet he sat down to his piano
FOR a last rehearsal OF his declaration.
Ii was declaration without words.
love message in melody. Herr wagner
was sure ii would speak TO her heart
that she would feel its meaning. And
not only was il his message OF love,
but also an epitome of his great sys-
TEN. the grand total of his life-work.
al l.sst, Of
which was TO revolutionize the world OF
sound. But OF this later, ON, and at
this moment II may be OF some use TO
know that Herr Wagner's attic was on
East Seventh street. that IL was fair
sized. trapezoid-shaped room full OF
books. music. musical instruments and
dust He paid by the month and his
dropsical landlady cleaned the room on
rent day. There were plenty of fur
nished rooms where the sweeping was
done every Saturday. but this was
the only place where one was allowed
TO play his piano. violins. flutes or clar-
inets after midnight. So Herr Wagner
was willing TO do part of the cleaning
himself.
He had lived there until he came to
look upon IL. sloping front wall. dust
and all, as part and parcel Of his gen.
ius. And truth to tell. IT did become
him well. AS ne sat lingering the key
board, writing or pacing the floor. now
and again throwing back his long light
hair and half shutting his small blue
eyes in hazy. far-off gaze. the piles
OF dust-covered books the instruments
and the sloping wall seemed TO be as
essential to his work as his cigarette
stained fingers or his discolored cleri-
cal face.
Herr Wagner slammed the door be-
hind him ans faced a chilly November
night. He had no overcoat and he
shivered, but while passing the barber
shop he saw through the window that
ii was even later than he was afraid
il was. and his terror warmed him up.
On and on he strobe. crossing streets
diagonally Con the principle. which he
whispered to himself. that a straight
line is the shortest distance between
two points,; jumping over boxes and
knocking down little children: diving
under horses and leaping over streams
of coal murmuring "Ach, pardon." to
the animals as well as to the ladies he
.whisked past. running. putting for
breath, perspiring.
"Annchen. don't talk so much"
"Ach. mamma. don't you talk so
much. YOU know / don't"
"Annchen. you can't keep a secret.
you leak like a sieve"
II leak like a sieve? That's rich,
ma. You can't keep secret half an
hour mamma"
And you can't keep ii ten minutes"
And you two minutes"
An alteration OF this kind took place
nearly every day. and nearly every day
each of them unburdened herself of her
most private thoughts or feelings not
only to the boarders, but also to some
OF the men who came to inquire about
board.
One day Annchen had secret which
she made up her mind to keep from
her mother. Well she did not gfggle.
nor even smile to herself. but there
must have been something which
showed that she had a secret. after all
for Frau Binde was restless and every
little while said:
Won't you tell It 10 me. Annchen PIT
Won't go any further, / assure YOU"
But who says | have anything to
tell?" Annchen would return. and as
she did so she would give her mother
look which said: Il can keep a secret,
can't II"
do tell me what IL is. Annchen. dar-
ling But molasses was of no avail.
1t took vinegar TO catch the fly.
Herr Zimmel is a good od-for-nothing,"
Frau Binde once said. HE owes me
two months rent. He ~ rogue"
II don't want you to talk like that.
mamma. Herr Zimmel is a gentle
man" said Annchen. II won't let you
call him names in my hearing.
why, are you-- Is he"
Never mind what he Is. Well, he Is
my sweetheart. ThereH
The old woman's eyes sparkled. did
ne made formal declaration OF love,
a proposal of MARRIAGE
That's my own affair mamma"
''roolsh girl that you are but I am
your mother"
Annchen wilted down, and. blushing
TO her ears. she said:
There Is nothing to tell, after all.
We love each other: he loves me and
/ love him--thats all"
"Well, IL he loves you, ii means that
-"
- course. he never said so, but he
does: know he does
How does he act? What does he
say? Does he call you my treas
ure?'"
"Of course he does. Besides he kiss
es me and I kiss him." she added.
blushing once more. But mind you.
N YOU ever say a word!"
II say "a wordl You know how good
am at keeping secrets"
That very night when her oldest