Oxford Democrat., 1914-06-02
By ARNOLD TREAT

on the road to Leipzig ana was uuu8-
ing along merrily when I met on the
road a girl about twenty years old
whose appearance struck me the mo-
ment looked at her. She was OF the
German type-hair very light eyes
very blue. Her apparel was that Of a
lady, only very much worn and soiled.
Her shoes scarcely protected her from
the ground, certainly not from the
dampness. On her face was a look
weary and sad. Indeed. she was pic
ture of affluence turned to poverty. l
addressed her, taking care to do 30 re-
spectfully, 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," I said to
her. ut seems to me that you should
be riding rather than walking"
"Alas, herr, l have not the means to
pay for riding"
"Have you far to goT
II am going to Dresden"
She seemed to need sustenance.
There could be no improperly in my
Offering her food, and had. besides the
leather bag strapped to my back, q
| basket satchel slung to my waist con-
tanning luncheon.
~ have come from Dresden this
morning." said, "and the distance Is
at least FIVE miles. You cannot 90
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, I espied fat
stone by the roadside and led the way
thither, the girl following me half ~
luctantly. There l took out the sand
wiches, sausages. cheese and such oth'
er articles as are provided at 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 her
every opportunity to tell me the story
which I felt sure was connected witn
her being 80 far out Of her natural
sphere. for not only her dress and ap-
pearance but her language bespoke
the lady. This I was able to Judge,
for I had studied at Heidelberg and
spoke German quite readily. But she
disregarded my hints and could not bs
Induced to speak Of the past
As to the present she was more COM
municative. She told me that she had
been q member Of little strolnng
band that gave performances. her part
being to sing. But they had taken all
the contributions Of those before whom
they performed to themselves and
rave her nothing. She had only just
left them and was going to Dresden to
look out for some other way Of making
q living.
" can suggest an employment
said, "by which think you can earn
money. You have very beautiful
head. neck and shoulders. There are
artists In Dresden who would pay you
to pose for them"
"Do you think so2" she asked. quite
interested
III my artistic perceptive faculties
arc of any value they surely will"
This seemed to encourage her. When
We had finished our luncheon and she
had been also fortified by the wine
she said to me:
"rhe only way l can make a return
sr what you bavs given me is to sing
for you"
mo return Is needed. but should
be happy to hear you sing"
She sang for me a German baliad
Her voice was without cultivation and
came out 30 to speak, by fits and
starts, now ineffective. now gushing
forth like a spring Of abundant, clea'
water. At such times i was aston
lshed at its volume. When she hao
finished ! said to her:
"Fraulein. 1t Is not as a model you
lhould spend your time. but as a stu
dent Of music. You have voice thai
LIE cultivated will make much mor'
money for you than posing for artists
"Why do you say that7" she asked
looking Mt me eagerly.
"Because there are both richness ant
volume in your voice"
"But" she continued after a thought
lful. silence, ito study music under tn'
masters requires money. and that
have not"
should have been only too glad
help her in this respect but there is a
unwritten law that man cannot CIV
to q woman except under certain e.
ceptional circumstances.
II will make another suggestion
you." l said. supplementary to N
frst. Suppose you pose for artists. an
f you make more than you reQuiI
for your living you may give the 81
| plus in exchange for instruction"
Her face lit up with hope. "Acl
herr, you have given me u valuab
, plan! And II It Is successful sha
owe everything to you. You have tol
me that there Ii value to artists
my head and neck, and you have to
me that ! have voice. Neither
these things / knew before toda
Goodby, and God bless you"
Zone moment" said. before v
part. I should like you to carry bat
this basket affair in which ! carrie
my luncheon to the iandlady OF Il
Inn from which came. She furnish'
these ptacles to travellers -