The Washington herald., 1914-12-04
DAILY SHORT STORY.
DUE AT 4:3O.
BY CLARIssA lIACKIE.

iCOUyriEht. l9l4D
You will have to meet Max for me,
Rena," declared Lydia North, as she
drew on her gloves. Il have written him
so much about you that there cannot be
any embarrassment when you explain
that I have been called to town for the
day. II mothers neuralgia had only
STAYED away twelve hours longer l need
not have bothered you. hut the poor dear
cannot be disturbed today So. you go
down to the station when the 4:3n train
is due, and if you see big, clumsy,
handsome-Iooking German, you will
now it is my Max! II you miss him.
child" she added tragicaly, there will
not be any wedding next Wednesday,
What a horrible responsibility you
have placed upon me-" laughed Mrs
Wing. But how can ] greet Prof. Schultz
If do not know one word Of German
unless he speaks EngIish?''
Very little" admitted Lydia. You
know 1 can rattle of German as fast
as you can French-Max is going to
study English after the wedding
u will do my best for you, Lydia
sighed the pretty widow. Il can. at least.
smile upon your professor"
He will understand that Goosey; and
fnerhaps after awhile mother can see him.
Just meet him at the station and see
that he gets here safely. that's all Turn
him into the library and give him all
my latest photographs-and he won't
know whether you're in the house or
not
Lydia ran of laughing. and Rena
smiled a CoOd-hy from the window as
the motor car rolled down the drive
Then she went to Mrs. NOrth's room,
hut was relieved to find that suffering
lady fast asleep. She went TO the library
and hunted out a ,rerman dictionary and
tried To study sume suitable form of
greeting for the expected fiance of her
hostess.
4 can never. never remember a word
She groaned. 4 shall try French upon
him. and if he does not understand l
shall use the sign lanEuaEe."
At o'clock Rena Wing. a charming
study in blue. entered the North motor
and was carried away TO the railroad sta
ton.
train was drawing in from the West,
and Rena watched for a man who would
ill I.ydia's description OF her expected
lover
"A big. clumsy. handsome German!
There he is-loOIing so confused. as il
he expected to see Lydia's sweet face.
All, he looks this way" Rena smiled and
nodded cordially.
, The man hesitated a moment then ap-
preached her with barred head. Il am
Dr. Schultz" he said, with a German
accent. Il was expecting Miss North's
car"
Lydia sent me to meet you-she has
been called to town for the day. 1 am
Mrs. Wing. Home, DAVID
DR.. Schultz admired the scenery about |
Deep River and compared it with some |
spot on the picturesque River Ems of his |
own country. He inquired after Mrs !
North and was concerned to hear of her |
indispositiOn
II have met both mother and daughter |
, in Berlin-as you may imagine" he added |
as an afterthought
Rena thought him delightfully."- quaint in |
thus describing his rapid courtship of
Mrs. Norths daughter. She could not |
help feeling a vague undercurrent of dis |
content that Lydia was to have this |
splendid German giant for her husband. |
There was something very charming !
about his Old World manner, his slow
speech and his deep-toned laughter.
Arrived at the house Rena found that
Mrs North was still sleeping, so she car
red DIR. Schultz of to the library. and
with a mischievous recollection Of Dydia's
last injunction. she brought out the vari-
Gus photographs Of Lydia.
This is Lydia in the gown she wore
at the Dirlands ball" explained Rena.
>"Isn't she a dear in that? So stately and
fair"
So murmured Schultz softly as he
laid it aside Lydia is very fair and
lovely"
And this is Lydia on her favorite
horse, Kaiser-named in compliment TO
your ruler"
So murmured Schultz again.
To Rena's evaporation the eyes OF Dr.
Schultz carelessly surveyed each portrait
OF Lydia North only to return to Rena's
own fair face. 'I shall leave him alone
with them" declared Rena at last. She
excused herself and went up to her
sroom.
THE dear man." she said softly HE
has learned English in order to surprise
Iydia-I don't beheve the girl knew that
he had mastered it. He speaks well-and
he is fascinating. 1 don't wonder Lydia
is enthusiastic over her German giant"
Later Rena went TO the library, where
she had ordered coffee served. She found
DR.. Schultz awaiting her entrance with
undoubted eagerness. His questions about
America. his boyish interest in all mat
tiers pertaining to this new country, his
praise Of the great steamship which had
brought him from Hamburg, all absorbed
Rena's attention.
She quite forgot Lydia was to arrive
at o'clock, and it was apparent that Dr.
Schultz had also forgotten the expected
arrival of his fiancee, for he never men
toned her name.
Rena had found Lydia's photographs
81 huddled In a heap on the table, while
Schultz had been earnestly regarding her
own portrait in frame on the mantel-
piece This was as embarrassing as II
was hatteTing to Lydia's friend.
There was hustle of arrival in the
hail. but they did not hear It.
Then the library door opened, and there