Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-07-15
AN ATTRACTIVE ALIEN.


lence of its rhododendrons. 1t occurred
TO me with irresistible force that it
was time for a smoke, and laid down
my brush with yawn. How exquisite
" cool it looked under the trees If
only
Afternoon, sir. Very OF day, sir. =
It was Miller, a park custodian and
old acquaintance of mine.
"Hot?'' I sighed. Miller. can you
tell me why I'm not allowed to sit
under a tree?'
Miller reflected. Couldn't say, sir;
Don't seem no manner Of sense in it."
he, admitted frankly. !. But it's the
committees orders, SIR
But even committees l protested,
must have reasons fer their actions?'
Miller appeared to doubt it,, well,
it's like this, SIR he said confidentially.
They calls a meeting up in the city,
and p'raps there amt much to discuss,
all going pretty regular iii such a park
as this, as l need 'ardly, tell you, sir.
But committees don't like to feel as
they amt adding anything, sir, an
that's where we get such rules as this.
Seems like as if they'd make rule to
close the park rather'n go home without
doing nothing, when, nothing don't
want doing. Look to them like not be-
ing committee. that would"
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 81 allowed grass beneath the
nearest tree, aud l smiled it was easy
to guess her thought. Then she clos
ed her sunshade with little snap Of
decision. tucked 1t and her book under
one arm, and with her free hand
dragged one Of the iron chairs into the
shadow of the tree.
I watched her enyiously. 1t was a
clear case of the ignorance that is bliss.
In all probability Miller would not re-
sirable was half. an hour of shade on
such day! l stifed an ungenerous inn
pulse to speak to her of park commit
tees. and turned back to work. But l
could not forget her--could not help
looking at her. What were the gaudy
splashes Of color in the rhododendrons
compared with the delicate, elusive
curved. c0ntradicting 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 ,onlyg 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 uncompassionate It's
against orders to take the chairs under
the trees" 49, q
The girl was reading; she did not look
Miller quilted the path for the grass;
Sorry to disturb you, Miss" he said
civilly. in slightly louder tone. '.These
chairs amt allowed to be moved"
The girl gave. a little start. and her
hook fell: to her lap. She shook her
head. i and made q futtering gesture
with her hands, smiling q little.
Miller looked perplexed and turned to
me-. Looks as though she was deaf
and dumb.2ss he suggested IN
I was too much shocked at the idea
to answer. and watched the girl .anx-
iously. Her lips parted. and l motioned
to Miller.
"she's going to say Something /
murmured.
'.Not-Eengleesh," came from her lips
Miller considered. ''Don't look like a
parleyvoo, neither" he threw over his
shoulder to me. Then be crossed the
grass to her. From behind my easel /
watched discreetly.
Miller tapped the back of her chair
and pointed to the path.
She nodded emphatically, repeating his
movements in explanatory fashion. But
she did not move
Miller scratched his chin. Il don't
mean" he said. very distinctly, where
did you take the chair from, miss, but
where it's get to be took back"
She smiled disarmingly, reminding
him. by a little hesitating movement
- y I'D fo Nryoc
certainly awkward for Miller. | Won
dered what he would do.
What he did do was TO go back to the
path and beckon her to follow. adj
n1ired his resourcefulness. " ..< ~ ~
The, girl obeyed his obvious wishes
wonderingly. and then Miller, hurrying
back, returned with the chair and plant
ed it firmly in it's place.
There you are he said. triumph.
antly. CHOW / reckon you understand"
The girl smiled again. making cour-
teous gesture of apology.
Miller left her, swinging down the
path, past me.
"A rare lot of foreigners we get here;
soon get used to making 'ern under
stand" he explained, with modest pride.
The girl meanwhile had not sat down
and with a puzzled look 1910 turning it
about. feeling the seat and back. Pres
entity with a shake of the head. she left
it. and walked ito the. next one. But
She didn not sit down on it, and share
with me the sultry heat of the shadow
less path, Before my astonished eyes
she picked it up. and returned with it
to the same spot under the same tree.
smiled delightedly behind my easel,
as the explanation dawned on me, AID
awaited Miller's next appearance.
Another half hour went by; then saw
him coming.
'sWell, I'm blessed" broke from him
40 his eyes rested ON the girl.
II say, Miller, it's all right" I called,
rather anxiously. "She didn't under
stand, you know--thought you meant
the chair wasn't safe, or something. So
She took another.
"Psraps you'd like chance Of rub
bin up some of your foreign languages,
sirDo' he suggested maliciously. IF
you'd be as good as to mention in
double Dutch an 'eathen Chlnee about
sittin' Under the trees, I'm stfre I'd be
obliged 20 you.". i
wenr reluctantly toward him, con-
scions Of my little German and less
The. girl raised wondering eyes to
"Madamoiselle, cest defendu--" I
beaan. but stopped abruptly at the
look Of blank incomprehensiop on her
face.
She shook her head.
An obvious solution OF the difficulty
occurred to me. Bending down, L tried
TO read her book. But, with quick,
defensive movement her hands covered
it, AS well as could, by signs, | pro-
tasted the purity of my motives, and