The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17
FTDDI F. aSShs ystSsf By F. HOPKINSON SMITE

therefore is that you can let the young
man co.
"Ohl but that was a great night at the
inn. Gretchen was so happy that she
spilled the beer down the apothecary's
back, and the landlady could talk of
nothing but Fiddles's release. But the
real fun began an hour later, when
shouts for the Herr Mailer, interviewer
with the music of q concertina, made
me step to the door
"Outside in the road stood four young
men-all pals of Riddles, all bareheaded,
and all carrying lanterns. They had
come to crown the American with a
gold chaplet cut from gilt paper. after
which I was to be conducted to the
public house. where bumpers of beer
were to be drunk until the last pfennig
was spent
ION hearing this, Gretchen, the land
lady, the apothecary, the hostler, and
the stable boy-not the cobbler you
may be sure-burst forth with cries of
Hip Hip Hook! Donder und Blhzer!'
or whatever they do yell when they
are mad with joy.
"Then the landady broke out in a
fresh place: No public house for you!
This Is my treat! All of you come in
side. Gretchen, get the mugs full-all
the mugs. Sh down! Sit down. The
Herr Painter at the top of the table,
the Herr Fuedels-Shimmer on the right;
all the other herrs anywhere in between.
| Hook the MAILER! Hook the hunter.
Hook everything but the cobbler.' Here
a groan went round Hook! Hip and
blather sixteen for the good and hon
|
people,'
"'And hook! too, for the honorable
and good gendarme!' laughed Riddles.
dropping into his chair. But for him
would be in the lookup instead Of
basking in the smiles Of two such lovely
women as the fascinating landlady and
the bewltchlng Gretchen
after Ihat Riddles and I became in
separable. That I hadn't a mark over
my expenses to give him in return for
his services-and there was nothing he
would not do for me-made no differ
ence. He wouldn't take any wages: all
he wanted was to carry my traps. to sit
by me while l worked; wake me up in
the morning, be the last to wish me
good night.
soon 1t became a settled fact that,
while the landlady fed two mouths
/ mine and Fiddles's-and provided two
| beds-Fiddles's in the garret-my single
board bill covered all the items. That
Is the Herr Painter and his servant, >
she would say TO inquirlng strangers
who watched us depart for a days work,
Fiddles carrying my easel and traps.
This went on for weeks-might have
gone on all summer but for events
which followed a days outing. We had
spent the morning sketchlng, and on
our way home had stood opposite a
wide open gate-a great baroniab affair
| with a coat of arms in twisted iron
the whole fianked by two royal lamps
"'Step inside, MASTER said Fiddes
! Tt is hot, and there is a seat under
that tree; there we will get COOL
It's against the rules. F'iddles, and
I don't know these people,
"'Then I'll introduce YOU
"He was half way across the grass
by this time and within reach of a
wooden bench. when an old lady
stepped ont from behind a tree-a real
old aristocrat in black silk and white
ruffies She had book in her hand
and had evidently been reading.
You should have seen the bow
Riddles gave her, and the courtesy She
returned
MADAM the Baroness said the
rascal with an irradiating smile has
been good enough to ask us to accom-
pany her to the house As I approached
them: Permit me to present my friend
madam, distinguished American
painter, who is visiting our country
and who was so entranced at the beauty
Of your grounds and the regal splendol
Of your gate and chateau that rather
than dlsappoint him