The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-07-15
AN ATTRACTIVE ALIEN.


lence of its rhododendrons. 1t occurred
to me with irresistible fasee that it
was time for smoke, anal laid down
my brush with yawn. How exquisite
" cool it looked under the trees. II
only
Afternoon. sir. Very OF day, SIR
It was Miller, a park custodian and
old acquaintance of mine
.-Hotg' / sighed. "Hsslar. can ..ou
tell me why Pm not allowed TO sit
under q 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" | protested,
must have reasons for their actionss'
Miller appeared to doubt it. Well,
it's like this, SIR" he said confdentially.
"Ihey calls a meeting up in the city,
and p'raps there amt much to discuss,
all going pretty regular in such a park
as this. as ! 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 a rule to
close the park rathern go home without
doing nothing, when nothing don't
want doing. Look to them like not be-
ing committee. that would
With a casual glance under the trees
minute or two later girl turned the
corner OF the path, and came slowly
toward lnae. 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; it was easy
to guess her thought. Then she clos
ed her sunshade with 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.
watched her enviously. 1t was
clear case of the ignorance that is bliss.
In all probability Miller would not re-
turn for half an hour or SO, and how de-
sirable was half an hour of shade On
such day! I stihed an ungenerous i'm
pulse to speak to her Of park commit
tees. and turned bsck to work. But |
looking at her. What were the gaudy
splashes OF color in the rhododendrons
compared with the delicate, elusive
charm of her face-the lips hnmoronsly
curved, contradicting the gravity of her
eyes-fhe 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. I 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 uncompasslonate. Its
against orders to take the chairs under
the trees"
The girl was reading; she did not look
n5;f1.. <x-;A4na ~ a.,a4L g. +bo ,racc
"Sorry to disturb you. Miss he said
civilly. in a slightly louder tone. "Ihese
chairs amt allowed to be moved
The girl gave a little starr, and her
book fell to her lap. She shock her
head. and made futtering gesture
with her hands, smiling a little,
Miller looked perplexed and turned to
me. Looks as though she was deaf
and dumb he suggested.
was too much shocked at the idea
to answer. and watched the, girl anx-
iously. Her lips parted, and | rilotioned
shes going to say something !
murmured &
Miller turned
"Not- Eengleesh,,' came fretn her lips
painstakingly. IN III
Miller considered. "Don's look like a
parleyvoo.. neither he threw over his
IS
grass to her. From behind my easel
watched discreetly.
Miller tapped the back of her chair
and pointed to the path.
She nodded empha tically, repeating his
movements in explanatory fashion. But
she did not move.
Miller scratched his chin. II 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 q little hesitating movement
that she could not understand. 1t was
certainly awkward for Miller, 4 won
dered what he would do.
What he did do was to go back to the
path and beckon her to follow. | adj
mired his RESPONSIBILITIES.
The girl obeyed his obvious wishes
wonderingly, u and then Miller, hurrying
back. returned with the chair and plant
ed it firmly in its place.
| antly. "Now I 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 EN- under
| stand" he explained, with modest pride.
! The girl meanwhile had not sat down.
| She was examining the chair curiousiy
| and with a puzzled look - turning It
! about feeling the seat and back. Pres
| emily with shake Of the head, she left
| it, and walked to the next one. But
! she did 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
| I smiled delightedly behind my easel,
! as the explanation dawned on me, and
awaited Miller's next appearances.
| Another half hour went by; then l saw
| him coming.
'Well I'm blessed, broke from him
as his eyes rested on the girl.
/ II say, Miller, it's all right!' called,
! rather anxiously. ..She didn't under
stand, you know-thought you meant
| the chair wasn't safe, or something. So
she took another
/ "P'raps you'd like chance of rub
bin, up some Of your foreign languages.
SIR he suggested maliciously. IF
| double Dutch an. 'eathen Chinee about
sittin' under the trees, I'm sure I'd be
| obliged TO you" 80
| went reluctantly toward him, con-
scious. OF my little German and less
| French.
1 The girl raised wondering eyes to
| mine.
..Madamoiselle, c'est defendu---" |
! began, but stopped abruptly at the
| look Of blank incomprehension on her
| face.
| .sPolizeit verboten,'' I hazarded.
| 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 we'll as could by signs, l pro-