Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-08-13
AN ATTRACTIVE ALIEN.

lence of its rhododendrons. 1t occurred
to Inc 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 'ot day, sir.
It was Miller, park custodian and
old acquaintance of mine.
.'Hot?'' | sighed. Miller, can you
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 | protested,
must have reasons for their actions?
Miller appeared to doubt it. We'll,
They calls a meeting up in the city,
and p'raps there amt much to discuss,
all going pretty regular in such park
as this, as | need 'ardly tell you, sir.
But committees don't like to feel as
they amt ADDING anything. sir, am
that's where We get such rules as this.
Seems like as if they'd makk 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 a committee. that would
With a casual glance under the trees
in my vicinity he went his way. a
minute or two later a 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; it was easy
to guess her thought. Then she clos
ed her sunshade with a little snap of
decision, tucked it and her book under
nd
dragged one Of the iron chairs into the
shadow of the tree.
l 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 a day! | stifed an ungenerous i'm
pulse to speak to her of park commit
tees. and turned back to work. But
could not forget her-coutd not help
looking at her. What were the gaudy
splashes of color in the rhododendrons
compared with the delicate, elusive
charm of her face-the lips hunlorously
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
caught his eye, and he crossed the path.
Every sorry, Miss" His voice, though
firm. was not uncompassionate. 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 slightly louder tone. These
chairs amt allowed to be moved
The girl gave a little start, and her
book fell to her lap. She shook her
head. and made a futtering gesture
with her hands, smiling q little.
me- Looks as though she was deaf
and dumb" he suggested.
I was too much shocked at the idea
to answer. and watched the girl anx-
iously. Her lips parted, and motioned
to Miller. ., :,
murmured.
sNot-Eengleesh," came from her lips
painstakingly.
Miller considered. ''Don't look like a
parleyvoo, neither" he threw over ms
shoulder to me. Then he crossed the
grass to her. From behind my easel
watched disereetly.
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 got 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. / won
dered what he would do.
What he did do was to go back to the
path and beckon her to follow. ad-
mired his resourcefulness.
The girl obeyed his obvious wishes
wonderingly, and then Miller, hurrylng
back. returned with the chair and plant
ed it firmly in it's place. Y
'"There you are" he said. triumph
antly. Now l 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 'em under
stand" he explained with modest pride.
The girl meanwhile had not sat down.
She was examining the chair curiously
and with puzzled look - turning it
about, feeling the seat and back. Pres
emily with a shake Of the head, she left
it. and walked to the next one But
she did not sit down on 1t, 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, and
awaited Miller's next appearance
Another half hour went by; then saw
him coming.
'sWel, I'm blessed" broke from him
as his eyes rested on the girl.
81 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. 50
she took another
'P'raps you'd like chance of rub
bin up some of your foreign languages,
sir" he suggested maliciousy y. IF
you'd be as good as to mention in
double Dutch an 'eathen Chinee about
sittin' under the trees, I'm sure I'd be
obliged to you"
went reluctantly toward him, con-
scious of my little German and less
French.
The girl raised wondering eyes to