Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-02-06
Arletta
In Paris.
~ r. a. COLLINS
Copyrighted. 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.

near Paris, with windows overlook Ing
the garden. never slept. although Its
mistress. Mrs. Marion Bennings did
regularly every evening that her son
and herself spent alone.
She was noddlng now over n ribbon
decorated basket containing some silk.
en- hose she had been mending. The
ormoiu clock struck IL. and OTTO turn.
Ing around, pushed a book of to the
hoor. The noise awoke Mrs. Bennings
who sat up with start and remarked
II am OF to bed. What a stupid
evening! / haven't heard you speak
,etxor an hour"
"You couldn't" said Otto. But M
she stared at him Indignantly he made
haste TO add, Because l haven't spo-
ken for an hour"
Mrs. Bennings got up slowly, and a
letter fell from her lap. Otto hasten
ed to pick It up.
you'd better read It," said his
mother. MY cousin. Harry Jones,
who ~ tremendously rich. writes that
he Is bringing his motherless daughter
to Paris. Her name IN Arletta. and |
have heard she Is pretty and accom-
plishes;f. We must be very nice to
the .ularly to the daughter.
Stable Remey child"
" w. GRAY 'ngratulate her I'm an
on. WASH, SO" remarked Otto
Ems Cougand will be very f0rtu-
s.-Assa..dI0ht you agree w,th me?"
''I'll withhold judgment till see the
young lady" said her son.
Left alone. Otto resumed the writing
Of his letter. which he was to address
TO a certain Celeste. and reflected that
probably his mother was already plan
ming to marry him to Arletta, the
daughter Of the wealthy Mr.. Jones'
But he made bet with himself that
It wouldn't come or.
Suddenly woman's voice to the ac-
compartment OF guitar came through
the open window. Il was soft. rich,
yet penetrating.
ia Mute ecoute ct sc pencil sur
roreille." etc.
A&SAVs naM VttV. n
singer. and good voice too" He
went to the window and called out.
"Qui viveT
''Oh. dear" answered a woman's
voice outside. they told me you spoke
English"
$50 do. after a fashion" said Otto.
leaning out OF the window. "Do your"
why. OF course do" said the
voice. "Im English: at least I'm Amer
ican.'
'.The deuce you are. What are you
doing In our gardenT
II wish you would let me come In
and tell you. will your"
"Come In at once. Here, give me
your hand. It's only step"
A pretty girl dressed In a Spanish
costume. as II for fancy ball fol-
lowed the hand. Her costume was
rich and looked fresh, but she sank
into a chair by the window. exclaim-
ing:
"Oh. how good It seems to be able 10
ait down again in chair"
-Have you walked all the way from
Parisr asked Otto.
"From Paris and ever so much far
Their. My shoes are worn to shreds.
Seer"
She stretched out a tiny foot. Slip
per and silken hose were in shreds.
ave been singing for two days"
said she. land. see. that Is all took
in"-showing him few sous-"and
I'm so hungry"
Hungry" cried Otto. dragging for
ward a little table with some cakes
and wine. The girl looked at II long
ingly. remarking:
"Cake. That's what everybody offers
me. and I'm dying for a-ham sand
wich."
''Tll forage for something more sub
stantial." cried Otto. starting toward
the door.
mot TIL I explain. Wait. please"
said the girl. "Are you an American"
"You bet I am"
'sThank Godw she said "Then you'll
believe me. I'm not a beggar. I'm In
hard luck. These are all the clothes
this IL all the money. I have. I'm n
stranger In Paris. Day before yester-
day l arrived here and went 10 the
Grand hotel to walt for my father
! had a maid. half a dozen trunks
and a letter OF credit. On the way
from the Care du Nord my maid ran
away with the trunks and my letter
At the hotel they wouldn't believe me
when told them who was. | hadn't
q friend In Paris except some relatives
Of my father. whose address IL IN my
vanished trunks. This masquerade
suit hung In the closet Of the hotel
borrowed II and rented a guitar and
started out TO see II could support
myself. had read OF students In dis
tress doing such things ! thought II
would be lark. but II has been aw-
fnl. And kept thinking I'D come up
with some nice Americans. ] was do
Ing my very best. you see."
Otto agreed with her. He couldn't
help II. she was 40 pretty. When he