Der Sonntagsbote. (Milwaukee, Wis.) 1906-1912, 1909-07-11
AN k~TTRAcTIvE ALrEN.

ms brush with q yawn. How exquisite
ty eool il looked under the trees. II
Ouly-
Afternoon, sir. Very 'ot day. sir
4 was Miller. a park custodian and
old acquaintance Of miae.
"Hotyi ! sighed sMircr. can you
tell me why. I'm not allowed 10 sat
under a tree"
Miller reflected. Couldn't say. sir.
Don't seem no 81 sense n IT,"
he admitted frankly. "Rat is the
committees orders, sir
"But even eoumittees,r I protested,
'raust have reasons ia tnfir actions =
Miller appeared to doubt il. We'll,
its Ike this. sir" he said ceufdentally.
they calls 2 meeting uy ia the city.
end p'raps there amt much 10 discuss.
a" going pretty regular in such a park
g. tbs, as / need 'afdly tell you. sir.
Blu committees don't like TO feel as
they amt adding anything. sir, an
mars where we get such rulee as tilis.
Seems Ike As II they'd make a rule 10
close the park rather'n 90 home without
doing nothing, when nothing don't
want doing. Look 10 them Ike not be-
ing g committee. that would
With { casual glance under the trees
IN my vicinity he went his way. 4
corner Of the path, and came slowly
toward me. When she reached a little
group Of chairs almost opposite me she
paused, hesitatiug. Her eyes travelled
70 the cool, Swallowed grass beneath the
nearest tree, and I smiled; il was easy
to guess her Thought. Then she clos
ed her sunshade with = little snap Of
decision, tucked II and her book under
one arm, and with her free hand
dragged 4 Of the iron chairs into the
shadow Of the tree.
l watched her obviously. Il was a
clear case Of the ignorance that Is bliss.
In all probability Miller would not re-
turn for half an hour or 80, ID how de
siTable was half an hour Of shade on
such a day. I etiaed al -ungenerous i'm
pulse 70 speak TO her Of park commit
ter. aud turned back to work. But /
could NOT forget L=r--co1id not help
looking at her. What were the gaudy
sDlasbes Of color IN the rh0dodendr0ns
compared 18th the delicate, elusive
charm Of her faee-the lips humor0usiy
curved. ~c0ntradicting TIE gravity Of her
cSes-the firm line of her chin at war
with the soft oval Of her cheekg By
the time | heard Miller's step on the
Savei again my only desire was 10
shield her from observation u. I entered
into rather g~arrulous conversation with
him. but a was useless; her white dress
caught bis EYE. and be crossed the path.
Very sorry, Miss" His voice. though
firm, was not 1ncompasslonate. It's
against orders to take the chairs under
the trees
Tie girl was reading: she did not look
~.
Miller quilted the path for the grass.
Sorry to disturb YOU. Miss" he said
ciyilly. in a slightly louder tone. These
chairs amt allowed to be moved"
The girl gave q little starr, and her
book fell TO her lap. She shook her
head. and made n futtering gesture
with her hands. smiling a little.
Miller looked pcrplexed and turned to
MT. Looks as though she was deaf
and dumb" hs suggested.
/ WINS too much shocked az tue idea
TO answer. and watched the girl anx-
iously. Her lips parted. and l motioned
10 Miller.
She's going TO say something"
murmured.
Miller turned.
'Not-Eengleesh," came from her lips
painstakingly.
Miller considered. "Dou'l lock uke a
~parleyvoO. neither" be threw ostf bis
shoulder TO me. Then be crossed the
grass 70 her. From behind NJ easel I
watched discreetly.
Miller tapped the back Of her chair
and pointed 70 the path.
she nodded emphatically. repeating his
in explanatory fashion. But
she did not move.
Miller scratched his chin. II don't
mean.' be said. very dist netly. where
did you take the chair from. miss, but
where its got to be took back.
She SMILED d~isarmingiy, reminding
him by a little hesitating movement
that she could not understand 1t was
certainly awkward for Miller. / won
dered what he would do.
What he did do VAS to 70 back to the
oath aud beekon her 10 follow. / adj
mired his resonrcefulness
The gri obeyed his obvious wishes
wonderinely. and then Miller, hurrying
back. returned with ne chair and plant
ed It firmly in It's place.
There you are be said. triumph
autly. Now | reckon yo1 underestimate
The girl smiled again, making a 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 10 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 lo0k - turning il
about. feeling the seat aud back. Pres
entity with q shake u the head. she left
IL aud walked to the next sne But
she did not cit down an IL n share
with me the sgltry heat Of the shadow
less path. Before any astoniShed eres
she picked il up. nnd returned with il
70 the same spot under the Same rec.
! smiled deiighteals behind my easel.
as the explanation iawned on me, and
awaited Miller's next appearance.
Another half ho'r went By then | saw
him coming.
"wel. I'm blessed" broke from him
as ais eyes res,ri "a he girl.
Il say. Miller. it., }: right I called,
rather ~anXiolsly. She didn't Under.
stand. you ~knov-thtught you meant
the chair wasn't safe. or something. 50
she took another.
"p'raps you'd ike a caance of rub
bin up some # yoar foreign languages.
sir lie suggested iaaiieipusiy. If
You'd be as good as t. mention IN
double Dutch tu sathen Caifsee about
sittn' under the trees. I'm sure I'd be
ahllgy3 70 you.
/ went reluctantly toward Lim. con-
seious u my little German aud less
Frenrh.
The girl raised wondering eyes ta.
mine.
began. but stopped abruptly al the
Loeb Of blank laeompreheusi0n on her
face.
spolixelf vorboten.a hazaraei.
She shook her head.
An obvious solution aF the difacuitv
occurred t0 me. BENDING down. | tried
to read her book. but. with n quick.
defensive movement her hands covered
it. As well as ! tolia. by signs. 7 pro-
tested the purity af my motives, and
was SO far successfui That she appeared