The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
DEAR FRAULElN.

DEAR FRAULElN.
We went out-father, mother, we two
girls and dear Fraulein-by the F. and O.
boat Egypt, in May. We took tickets
through to Marscilles, but Frauein's. ar
! rangement was that we We're to get off
at Gibraltar. do a mouth in Spain, come
back to Glib, go on to Marseiiies by an
other p. and 0. boat, and return over
land. Father had been ordered thor
ough change, and had thought of North
Wales; mother had had influenza and
was inquiring about Torquay; but it will
give you some idea of the dogmatic way
in which Fraulein managed the house
hold when I tell you that these projects,
when she announced her decision, were
been our governess, and by the time her
teaching services were no longer required
she had made herself so indispensable
that no one had ever thought Of asking
her to leave.
We rested a few days at Gibraltar,
and then rose at some unearthly hour
one morning and crossed by the steam
er to Algeciras, and it was there for
the first time that We realized how COM
pletely she had the entire party under
her control. For Fraulein knew Span
ish, and the rest of us had only learnt
how to say ''Anda!' when we wished
beggars to go away, and this word, use
full in itself, was an insufficient outfit
for mouths journey in a strange land.
Thus when the train had climbed it's
four or five hours journey to Ronda and
Fraulein suddenly announced, 1--WE stay
here tonight" father and mother, who
were anxious to get on to Seville, just
glanced at each other and said weakly,
'Oh, yes! OF coursev as though it had
been their own idea. In the hotel over
the station, after Fraulein had gone to
rest, we two girls had long talk with
father and mother. We pointed out that
they were paying the expenses Of the
trip and that it was for them to show
assertiveness.
"Well, look here, dearsw said mother.
There is good deal in what you say.
You have a talk With her yourselves in
the morning"
1--WE couldn't possibly" agreed my sis
Fact Of it is" remarked father, ''all
three OF you are afraid OF Fraulein."
Then l said trium1phantly, you arc
''Impossiblev' replied father, turning
pale and going out to smoke his cigar.
''But what is to be done?' I asked
heatedly, turning to mother. ''Are' we
to be ruled and commanded and dictated
to, and-and go
II suppose so, DEAR" answered my
mother, helplcssly. REALLY, l see no
other plan, but I'll try to think it over"
Fraulein at breakfast announced the
cisivc manner. I don't know why it was
that on this occasion we all resented
this specially, but when the donkeys
came round in front of the station ia
Their had gone to the Alameda, mother
had headache, and my sister and l
were hiding downstairs. 1t seemed from
what Fraulein told mother that the man
must be paid in full just as though the
ride through the valley had been taken.
This Fraulein proclaimed to be an inl-
position, and putting on her blue spec
tacles and her worst hat, she mounted
one of the donkeys and set forth alone.
'"Ehank goodness we are rid Of her for
a while" we said, and went through the
village to join father in the gardens.
Fraulein did not return to lunch. Such
a good, happy lunch we had, talking at
our ease and with no fear Of contradic-
ton from her. Fraulein did not come
back to tea. My sister and made tea
ourselves, and this was great fun. Frau
alarmed mother, and although the rest
Of us urged that the fact made cause for
satisfaction rather than alarm. she in
sisted that father should try to find some
one who understood English or French
that the proper inquiries might be made,
when note, written on the inside of a
used envelope, which had Fraulein's ad-
dress, care of father, was brought in by
the Spanish waiter.
Here's a most terrific lark" cried my
sister as she read it. "Fraulein has been
carried off by some Spanish outlaws and
they want ransom Of 5000 pesetas"
Il won't pay a single penny" declared
"They. give twenty-four hours" went
on my sister, reading, "for an answer
.'And then what?" asked mother.
1.-The note doesn't say"
| ITS some COMPOUNDED foreign long
firm swindle," cried father vehemently,
land won't be a party to it. Besides,
now FsoTn 90 %on% we know that the note comes
'Its in her handwriting" said my SIS
ter.
The messenger, it seemed, had left the
envelope and disappeared. This fact alb
solved us from the responsibility of send
ing an Immediate reply, but increased the
ing Roadway and defeating the first SEN
sation Of relief
The messenger called the next morn
ing while we were pretending to eat rolls
and butter and weeping silently in our
coffee. He brought another communica-
ton from dear Fraulein, which read:
dearest and Kindest of Friends: I con.
s s It most inhuman of you not to have
replied instantly to my first letter. I nm
sure If You had been in my position and
t Ha% Deen IN yours l should have taken ac-
me two simply hideous old women who
are Watcn1ng me are not unkind, but
gather from them that unless the money
come h foday before sunset shall oh
of them, a tall, strapping fellow who nm.
pears to view me with a certain amount 81
natural admiration: .Yo9 know that rather
: entreaty to you. The amount seems large: