Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
80 -, !. l.rfNn- -.

my brush with a yawn How exquisite
81 cool it looked Under the trees. II
only
Afternoon. sir. Very ot day. Sir
II WIS Miller, a PARK Custodian and
/ old acIuaiDtauee Of uiuu
Hot sighed. Her, can you
tcll me why l'm not allowed 10 sit
under a tree!
Miller reelected Couldn't say. sir.
Don't seem no manner Of sense IN II,
be admitted fraHEiF. But its the
/ commiftees orders. <ir
but even committees, ] protested,
must have reasons for their actiOnsF
Miller appeared To doubt it. Well,
q S like this. sir he said conhdenually.
u hey calls a mec.i- Z up IN the city,
and praps there aiat much 70 discuss.
al going pretty regular in such park
as this, as | need 'ardly tell you, sir.
Bu5 committees don't Ike 70 feel as
they amt a-doin- anything, sir, an
that $ where We get sUcH rules as Ills.
Seems Ike as if they'd make a rule 10
close the park rathern 50 home without
doing nothing. when nothing don't
want doing Look 10 t.sn like not be-
ns committee. that would.
With a casual glance under the trees
IN my vicinity he went his way. A
Minute or two later girl turned the
corner Of the path, and came slowly
toward me. When she reached little
group of chairs almost opposite me she
paused, hesitating. Her eyes Travelled
to the cool, Swallowed grass beneath the
nearest tree. and | smiled; 1t was easy
to guess her thought. Then she clos
ed her sunshade with a little snap of
decision, tucked it and her book under
one arm, and with her free hand
dragged one Of the iron chairs into the
shadow of the tree.
l watched her obviously 1t was
clear case of the ignorance that is bliss.
In ali probability Miller would not re-
turn for half an hour or Sc, and how de-
sirable was half an hour of Shade on
such a day | stilled an ungenerous inn
pulse to speak to her of park commit
tees. and turned back to work But |
could not forget heF-could not help
looking at her What vert the gaudy
spiashes Of color in the rhQdodendrons
compared with the delicate, elusive
charm of her face-the lips humorously
curved. eontradicrng the gravity of her
eyes-the firm line of her, chin at war
with the soft oval Of her cheek? By
the time / heard Miller's step on the
gravel again my only desire was to
shield her from observation | entered
into. rather garrulous conversation with
him, but it was useless; her white dress
caught his eye, and he crossed the path.
Very sorry. Miss" His voice, though
firm, was not unc0mpassionate It's
against orders to take the chairs under
the trees"
The girl was reading; she did not look
up.
Miller quilted the path for the grass.
Sorry to disturb you, Miss" he said
civilly. in a slightly louder tone. "These
chairs amt allowed 10 be moved"
The girl gave little start, and her
book fell to her lap. She shook her
head, and made Il huttering gesture
with her hands smiling a LITTLE.
Miller looked perpleXed and turned to
me Looks as though she was deaf
and DUMB he suggested.
l was too much shocked at the idea
to answer. and watched the girl anX-
iously Her lips rted, and. l motioned
shes going say something"
murmured.
Miller turned.
Not engleesh," came from her lips
painstakingly.
Miller considered Don't look like
shoulder 10 me. Then he crossed the
grass to her. From behind my easel
watched discreetly.
Miller tapped the back of her chair
and pointed 10 the path.
She nodded emphatically. repeating his
movements in explanatory fashion. But
she did not move.
mean" he said. very distinctly, where
did You take the chair from, miss, but
where it's got to be took back.
She smiled disarmngly, reminding
him by a little hesitating movement
that she could not understand. 1t was
certainly awkward for Miller. Won
derpd what he would do.
What he did do was to go back to the
path and beckon her to follow. l ad-
mired his reSpurcefulnesS.
The girl obeyed his obvious wishes
wonderingi,. and then Miller, hurrying
s-back. returned with the chair and plant
! ed it firmly in its place.
There you are, he said. TRIUMPH
/ antIy. Now | reckon you understand
! The girl smiled again, making cour-
! teous gesture OF apology.
/ Miller LIFT her. swinging down the
/ path past me.
/ "A rare lot of foreigners we get here;
I soon get used to making EN- under
/ stand he explained. with modest pride.
The girl meanwhile had not sat down.
! She was examining the chair curiously
and with a puzzled look 49, turning it
/ about feeling the seat and back. Pres
} emily with a shake of the head, she left
! IT, and walked 10 the next one. But
she did not sit down on It, and share
I witch me the sultry heat of the shadow
/ less uath Before my astoulshed eyes
( To the same spot under the same tree.
/ smiled delightedly behind my easel,
/ Ms the explanation dRwnel on me, and
4, awaited Miller's next appearance
Another half hour went by; then saw
! him coming.
We'll. m blessed" broke from him
I as his eyes rested on the girl
Il say. Miller, it's all Fight l called
rather anxiousE. "She didn't Under
( stand, you know thought you leeht
/ the chair wasn't safe. or screening. So
she took another
"Praps you'd like chance of rub
bin up some Of your toreign languages,
/ sir he suggested maliciously. III
you'd be as good rs TO mention In
double Dutch m 'eatheu Chinee about
| sit;in under the trees, I'm sure I'd be
obliged 20 you"
went reluctantly toward him, con.
Aious of ny little German and less
Ere-.~G.
rbe girl raised wondering eyes to
aMadauoiseIle, c'est defendu--"
began. 4,t,t stopped abruptly at th'
look Of blank incomprehension on heI
face.
J "Polizeit verbotrn." l hazarded.
She shook her head.
An obvious solution Of the difficulty
occurred to me Bending down, | tried
t. read her book. But with quick
defensive movement her hands covered
it. A. we'll as ] could. " signs, l pro
tested the purity Of my motives, ant
was SO far successful that she appeared
to ahso)ve me of a desire to steal it. anc