Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-03-05

suggested, reaching for tho rope. But
l was forestalled by half dozen 9TH
ers who tried successfully and failed.
Then | pulled the rope. | am always
lucky, except in my own affairs, and
the bell rang thrice. The last peal was
very faint. but it was there.
The little countess almost fell on my
neck.
When you go to Monte Carlo" she
said, Il will give you the gulden to
play for me-"
She permitted me to row her-and
her horrible old aunt-back to the
mainland. She was very gay and CO.
quettish, and asked me II knew those
delightful songs of Yvette Guilbert's.
She hummed one of them, and said she
found her aunts deafness very conven-
lent, and that must teach her some
more Of those songs, for surely knew
lots OF them. She said also that I was
the first really nice Berliner she had
ever known, and that she felt tempted
to upset the boat, just to see me pull
her aunt out Of the water. For her own
part, she added, she could swim like a
duck.
AS she ratified off this nonsense her
eyes sparkled in way that sent hot
and cold waves running through me.
What do | get for mastering the
bell?" | asked.
ooh, don't know, a cigarette case?
Whatever you wish"
| started, Nov or never" thought.
Then | said: 81 wish to come and see
you alone"
She seemed slightly, embarrassed.
After moments reflection she answer
ed:
You may come, but my aunt must be
present, of course"
That will make no difference" |
said. "She is deaf"
"Will you be quiet"
She shook her finger at me, but |
could see that she liked my holiness.
At parting as | took her hand and kiss
ed 1t, | felt an encouraging pressure.
But felt that | knew exactly as much
as before. Was there a meaning in her
light manner and the play of her glance
or were they simply the result of high
spirits and the consciousness that her
eyes were beautiful? To answer this
question 1t would be necessary to know
what kind of man her husband was.
A few days afterward she asked me
to call at dusk. found her sitting by
the same window with the sunset glow
shining through her hair. Before her
stood the little tea-table. and near Il
sat the inevitable aunt. (Harmless and
necessary aunt,) | greeted the old lady
first and then approached the countess.
AS did so | noticed something that at
once dissipated the self-confident feel
ing with which had entered. For an
instant | was taken aback; then
laughed aloud.
The little countess was knitting
socks She continued knitting rapidly
while we talked, laying her work down
only to pour the tea. 1t was very pleas
ant and cozy. The steam rose from
the kettle. smoked uncounted Gig
arettes, and the knitting needles clicked
merrily. Those needles were not still
five minutes In the hour and half OF
my stay. When the countess came to
the heel, where she had to count the
stitches, she laid the sock aside and
began another, because she could not
count and talk at the same time.
She talked about her home and her
husband. She said she always knitted
his socks, as he hated machine-made
ones, and that at the bell she had wish
ed that he would love her and be true
to her always, and that she would knit
me pair as mennonite, and what was
my number, please?