Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-04-19

via. large manufacturing
town in Missouri, asked that two o.
her brothers children be sent to visi
her. Gitilie was the first selected fol
that caSure.
Walter the noisiest and thus regard
cd us the brightest among the littl,
| st"pbrothers. accompanied her at the
Siyc, ial request of the aunt. who hat
been charmed by his lively habits Of
strGtting and squirming and of putting
ard footing through his fat lips.
The aunt was timid and supersti
tio,S German lady. she could moi
speak word of English. she kept III
servants for fear of collusion with bur
| glars. and sic led life of maps, OF
| lockiu:: winGOws and of making lace in
sniaii. hot. one story house, with nc
grass PLOT in front or behind, only q
lit,!p. bare back yard with summer
hcu:, oyergrown by Il coarse, feathery
cucj:!.ibtr vine.
Waller r:Iyed and showed off all
day wi.h new found little friends next
| UOo.'. Uttiiic had mcnded all her aunts
clothes when she first came. She did
all the EouSework. but 10 her quickness
and vigor this occupied only very
little time. She longcd 10 20 out walk
ing ana seeing the sights of the pave
kiGnapcrs and abductors TO permit of
this She tried to read Nathan der
NeiSe." the only book in the house.
but this was more of Il task to her than
summer house. with her book open in
her lap. and watch the backs Of the
rows of houses on the next street
This street was much more preten-
tious than the one where her aunt
lived and few of its people seemed TO
stay in the backs of their houses. one
room. however, waS freQuented in the
morning 10y thin. dark young man.
with II low collar and Il putting head of
hair. Who used sometimes 10 sit in his
window and read eXcitedly and sOine-
times 10 practice on the dute.
lie had u piano. and occasionally he
would amuse himself by picking out
popular airs on its keys with one tin
ger.
When he did this Ottlie always ac
companicd him softly with her voice.
He spent some endeavor on Die
Lor"iti." He did not know il all. and
wEVn he had come to the end of his
memory lie would wait for a moment
anu finish Convent!onally.
Once liz waited for several rests. and
Ottilic'S voice was left rising conSpicu-
ouSly alone. The young man evidently
heard it, for he played correctly as far
as Ottilie had sung and then waited.
Ottiie sang To the end of the song
The young man followed her as far as
he cau%,:t the notes and then waited
again uttilic sang again. and by de-
SrocS tie young man learned I'LL the
Son:
When hC had finished he came TO the
windrw and looked out into the aunt's
~
vcn:rd him from seeing in the Summer
lose anything but the light folds of
Ot;iii"'s fresh pink gingham dress.
On thy next morning Ottilic heard
him p,IyiIg Die Ln"rle' again. and
again size slipped out into the summer
house and had lovely time singing
with lin.
He rojild not see her. bnt lie prOstrat-
I'd himself from his window and flung
over the fence bunch of sweet peas
and forgrtmpnots such as one sees in
the m0rniny standing with dewy cab
bage leaves and earthly bcets on the
market stalls of Batavia.
Tied To his bouquet with Il small
green ribbon WAS an embossed card
with purple and gilt edges. and Die
I.orplci" printed in script and signed at
the bottom in flowing German hand.
Prom Sigurd Bhaer."
Olt'lio came out of the summer house.
her pink %ingham ruStlng coolly in the
silence of the alley. her smooth yellow
braiGs glancing in the sunlight. She
picked up the bouquet. smiled radiant
" 1T the young man and went back to
the summer house and the singing.
After this she came regularly every
morning.
A week had passed since the bouquet
WIS thrown when one evening the post
man brought letter.
This i'm itself was unusual. for the
Wolfganas followed the habit of genius
In writing only under the sway of some
excitement. The letter. however. was
not from the Wolfgangs. but an invita-
ton from the Batavia Knights of
Rpvel
1t seemed that every fall there was in
the town series Of amusements ar
ranged by the Knights Of Revel. an or
ganization of business men and of 9th
er public spirited citizens. There were
q labor parade. baseball game.
field day with sack racing and hammer
throwing. road race fitting tourna-
mpnt and ball.
The aunt said instantly on giving this
information that she never visited any
of these amusements. They were all
attended by crowds. interSpersed. OF
course. with pickpocketS. or else they
were ut night. and the aunt went to
bed at o'clock.
When Walter had heard her words
through. as he held the invitation. he
flew into frightful tantruln. He
stamped on Tie lloorcscreamrd until he
was purple in the face. sobhpd till IT
seemed that he could never get his
breath again and bntted his head fn'
r!onsly 1T his wretched aunt until she
promised that at least they could all
20 to the tilting tou"n: m'nt. That
was In the daytim" and cutie Orderly
as it was attended only, by invited
guests.
After breakfast WAS over Ottilie wen'
upstairs and put on her best white
less and her lcghorn lat to see how
they would look for Tie fitting tourir'
mcnt She WAS pleased With til" ''