The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-12-16

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brush the curls out Of her eyes. No
one could have accomplished the awk.
ward gesture with more grace than
Louisa.
Her mother gave no sign that she
heard, save that the CLEAN In her
black eyes became brighter. She con
tinued TO move about the table with a
light step. and gently opened and
closed the oYen-door.
"Mom," said Louisa again, shall !
fetch some sugar?"
Mrs. Weimer still made no re-
sponse, until Louisa, after having
washed her hands, put on her sunbon-
net and started toward the door.
"All right" said her mother pleas
antly. Bring cinnamon. too"
The screen-door closed sharply be
hind Louisa. %.
always Dutch" she muttered as
she went down the boardwalk. This
is the only place in Millerstown
where It is now all the time every
thing Dutch"
Then, catching sight of her com
pany girl" Mary Kuhns. Louisa ran
on to Join her.
Back in the kitchen, Mrs. Weimer
went on with her work. She had her
daughters habit Of talking to herself.
Her speech was shorter, however, and
delivered In German.
Il will not talk English, not II /
live to be a hundred" she said.
She knew well enough that hers
was the only house in Millerstown in
which English was constantly
frowned upon.
Louisa meanwhile was exercising
her English to her hearts content
Her arm lay across Mary Kuhn's
shoulder, and their sunbonnets we're
close together.
Il tell you." Mary was saying, IF
you ever want to have your picture
enlarged, now is your chance, Louisa.
It don't make anything out what sort
Of a picture you have. He can put
another dress to It, or a hat, If you
want a hat, or he can take hat OF.
And he can make a pompadour for
you"
Louisa's heart leaped. The height
Of her mothers ambition was to own
a crayon portrait of herself to hang
beside that Of her departed husband
on the parlor wall, and another of
Louisa to hang opposite.
"But how much does It cost?" she
asked, her hopes suddenly falling.
"It is special sale. 1t is only 98
cents"
''Ninety-eight cents!" repeated
Louisa. 'Ts he yet here?"
Eyes, and he will go round'to every
house."
Louisa slipped out Of Mary's grasp.
81 must go hurry and tell my Nom"
She sped on to the store to accom-
plish her errand, then home. This
time she spoke hurriedly in German.
Mrs. Weimer was as much excited
as Louisa herself. OF course they
could not afford to have the pictures
framed at once, but they would not
mind that.
when did Mary say she would
Gomez?
Before Louisa could reply, there
was a gentle tap at the door. Both
women turned, little startled Who
was It who had come down the board
walk 80 quietly?"
Before them stood a young and
slender man, whom they would have
guessed to be the crayon-portrait
agent, even without the large port
folio which he carried under his arm.
Good morning" he said, in a
gentle voice. "I hear you are inter
ested in portraits. have something
here which is finer than oils"
'Yes," said Louisa, thinking regret
fully Of her soiled dress. Come in
and take a chair once"
THANK you" said the young man,
with a bow. But can't we sit out
here on the porch?" 1t was a warm
morning, and the sitting air in the
kitchen could be felt at the door. He
held the door open, first for Mrs.
Weimer, then for Louisa.
"If you will sit here, miss, and your
mother here, l can show the pictures
to advantage"
what does he say, Louisa?" asked
Mrs. Weimer. She always insisted
that English be translated for her.
"He says you shall sit down." an
swered Louisa impatiently Once
more she was to be dlsgraced by her
mothers German.
"You cannot buy such pictures any
where else for less than four dollars.
These are special rates. Ninety-eight
cents is all the firm is asking. You
win never have another chance like
this. The firm is about to leave this
section. You think you will take
oneT
"He says, will you take one?" trans
lated Louisa.
eyes, If it is only 9s cents"
Louisa translated again.
"That is our price. Your mother
has a picture Of herself?"
Louisa brought her mothers photo
graph from the album in the parlor.
That she brought with her another
did not escape the agents eye.
"And now" he began, when he had
put down in his notebook the direc-
tions for Mrs Weimer's picture, don't
the young lady want one too? Ex-
cuse me, but you would make hand
some picture"
Mrs. Weimer saw Louisa blush.
What does he say, Louisa?"
HE says, would / like such a pic
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