Middletown transcript., 1901-04-13

watched it. The flame leaped cheerily
up, and the sugar bubbled with chuck
ling noise as it settled with the chocolate
into the water. 1t was great fun. 1t
was almost like keeping house again.
Froken put two steamer rings on chair,
a pillow on the rugs, and, taking seat
at the piano, began to sing in a little,
thin voice she had had cultivated in
Switzerland. With her extreme height
and the combination of steamer rug and
pillow, she was curious looking object
from the rear Her head was on level
with the top of the instrument, and her
aims reached down. Time and again
had told her the rule in regard to the
position at the piano-never to have your
elbows above the keys-but she had lis
tened incredulously. What did l know
about rules, coming from America? So
let her make spectacle of herself with
out word.
The chocolate commenced to boil. |
got up to stir it. As passed Burroughs
he caught my hand.
''None of that" said 1. 'Have YOU
forgotten last winter when thought you
were dead in love with me, then found
out you had said all those jag alsckar
digs to Cis, too, and afterward to the
little Russian with the unpronouneeable
name and after that to the goodness only
knows who? If you have, haven't"
81 don't understand" he complained.
tTve forgotten every word of English /
ever knew"
"You don't want to understand. You
are gay deceiver, an artful dodger,
cheerful liar. Just let go my hand, and
when have finished stirring the choco-
late I'll play awhile and give you an OPP
portunity to hold Froken's."
kept my promise. The chocolate
simmering below the rim of the pan, l
showed off the steamer rugs and pillow
and, seating myself, played. l knew.
Through an opposite mirror that they
had forgotten to note 1 could see him
throughout the performance duly holding
Froken's hand.
The chocolate took a long time to cook.
1 was frightfully tired. l stirred it,
turned the lamp up higher and sped to
the kitchen for buttered plate.
''In the intense absorption of your con-
versation," called back from the door,
"don't let the chocolate boil over and
burn"
eve WON'T" they averred, but when
got back there were little dribets of choc-
olate all around the spirit lamp, with
more sizzling down, the two talking high
in Swedish, perfectly oblivious!
1t was too much! Turning out the
lamp, 1 poured the chocolate into the
buttered dish, put it outside the window
to cool and, sitting on the couch, bounced
up and down on the springs thereof
''Pm tired" 1 complained, dead
tiredp'
Froken faced me Indignantly.
"You are nice hostessp' she stormed. |
"You invited him.
'But I didn't expect him to stay so
long. Look, it's nearly half past TO-"
"You ought to be ashamed of yourselfr'
she ragged
'Tm not" returned. '1'm tired, if |
you want to know; dead tiredp
Burrough got up. He had probably |
caught an inkling of the trend.
'I must CO." he announced.
Here's your hat, !" exclaimed quickly.
"What's your hurry?"
81 don't understand" he reiterated,
and from the expression of his counte-
nance I was convinced that he spoke the
truth.
Froken followed him without deigning
to give me a glance. Her back expressed
concentrated evaporation.
Shutting the door after them, with
sigh of relief l commenced to arrange
the room for the night.
1t was not long before knock sounded.
"Come in" faltered YEARLY. knew
who it was
The door opened, and the girl entered.
There was flush on her cheek; her eyes
were alight.
1--WE got something to tell you," she
murmured.
l knew what it was; but, glance at
the clock, GO on" I groaned; "be
quick about it. You know how tired l
am"
Il ought to know" briskly, eve
heard nothing else the blessed enduring
evening. Was the candy done?"
She's got sweet tooth, that girl.
eyes, Go on! Go on!''
'Do you know" bashfully, towing
with the key to her room and hanging
her head, che said-he said-he told me
that he loved me!''
Well! He had told the same thing tn
everybody in the house but the cook.
Should l say SO? communed with NV
self and concluded. No. She was a
girl of superior sort, a girl of great
mind! She was teaching me the proper
English, she was pruning my French,
she was correcting the excessive rudeness
OF my American manner and speech!
Let her find it out for herself.
Besides, if I told her, what would she
say? ''You are iealousl You thought he
cared for you, and he does not He
cares for mel"
Oh, my poor heart!
Except for my fatigue, 1 smiled,
slowly and suggestiyely taking the hair
pins out of my hair, st would be able to
sympathize with you in your happiness
tomorrow, perhaps"
August Flower
1T is a surprising fact" says Prof
Houton, "that in my travels in all parts i
of the world, for the last tan voo,s - ,