The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-03-20
A Strange
Meeting
II Proved an EVENTS, o
By ARNOLD TR1AT
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Though we are apt not to realilr t
we are very much hedged about. Thos
of us who are pleasantly situated are
like one in garden from which there
is no egresS unless he chooses to step
into jungle to be devOured by wild
beasts. Women are more subject to
this confinement than men. because
strength.
| will illustrate by story-a story in
which | bore subordinate part
| was in my younger days pedes-
trian globe trotter. | presume that II
the bicycle had then been invented
later ON motor. but at that time no
one had heard Of either Of these modes
Of conveyance. and. being fond Of
walking, l walked. At the time of my
story was making pedestrian tour
in Germany. The country Is thickly
settled, and there are many towns
quite near together; consequently /
found my method of progression easy.
pleasant and healthful.
I started one morning from Dresden
on the road to Leipzig and was trudg-
ing along merrily when l met on the
road a girl about twenty years old
whose appearance struck me the mo-
ment l looked at her. She was of the
German type-hair very light. eyes
very blue. Her apparel was that of
lady. only very much worn and soiled
Her shoes scarcely protected her from
the ground, certainly not from the
dampness. On her face was look
weary and sad Indeed. she was pic
ture of affluence turned to poverty. l
addressed her. taking care to do so re-
specially, with my hat in my hand.
and sympathetically Evidently she
had not been used. at least not recent
ly, to being thus addressed, for she
took my speaking to her kindly.
Good morning. fraulein," | said to
her. 1T seems to me that you should
be riding rather than walking"
ALAS, herr. | have not the means to
pay for riding"
Have you far to go?"
II am going to Dresden"
She seemed TO need sustenance
There could be no improperly in my
Offering her food, and l had, besides the
leather bag strapped to my back, a
basket satchel slung to my waist con-
tanning luncheon.
81 have come from Dresden this
morning." l said. land the distance Is
at least five miles. You cannot do
that without being fortified"
unslung my lunch basket. opened
it and saw by the eager look in her
eyes that she was very hungry. Look
ing about for a seat, l espied fiat
stone by the roadside and led the way
thither, the girl following me half re-
luctantly. There | took out the sand
witches. sausages. cheese and such 9th
er articles as are provided at a Ger
man inn and offered them to her. She
ate as though she had had no food
for some time. In the basket also was
pint bottle of wine, of which l took
q sip only and insisted on her drink
ing the rest.
During her refreshment l gave hei
every opportunity to tell me the story
which | felt sure was connected with
her being so far out of her natural
sphere. for not only her dress and ap
pearance but her language bespoke
the lady. This | was able to judge,
for | had studied ut Heidelberg and
rno1ilv Rnf Shl
disregarded my hints and could not be
induced to speak of the past.
AS to the present she was more com
municative. She told me that she had
been a member of little stroling
| band that gave performances, her part
being to sing. But they had taken nj
| the contributions Of those before whom
| they performed to themselves ant
| gave her nothing. she had only just
left them and was going to Dresden tC
| look out for some other way Of making
living.
| IL can suggest an employment,
said, "by which | think you can earl
| money. You have Il very beautiful
head, neck and shoulders. There arr
artists in Dresden who would pay yol
| to pose for them"
"Do you think so!'' she asked. quite
interested.
IF my artistic perceptive facultie:
are of any value they surely WILL
This seemed to encourage her. Whei
| we had finished our luncheon and sht
had been also fortified by the wine
| she said to me:
| 1.-THE only way ! can make return
for what you have given me is to SIM
for you"
"NO return is needed. but ] should
be happy to hear you sing"
She sang for me a German ballad
Her voice was without cultivation ant
came out so to speak. by fits ant
starts. now ineffective. now gushing
forth like a spring Of abundant clea
water. At such times l was aston
isbed at its volume. When she hat
finished said TO her:
"Fraulein. II Is not as q model yo'
should spend your time. but as stu
dent OF music. You have voice tina
IL cultivated will make much NOR
money for you than posing for artists
"Why do you say that?" she asked
looking at me eagerly.
Because there are both richness an'
volume in your voice"
But" she continued after a thought