The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-08-03
THE LITTLE
LACEMAkER
By SADIE OLCOTT

settle down."
These words were spoken by Mrs,
Mainwaring of Baltimore to Mrs. Stet
son of Providence while the two ladies
were listening to the orchestra at the
Casino at Lnzerne. Switzerland.
My Alice" replied Mrs. Stetson.
Twill be out of school within few
days, and l shall have the matrimoni-
al problem for her on my hands,"
"Ilow WISH" rejoined Mrs. Main.
waring, that I could get her for
Dick"
II should be very happy at the ALI.
ance, ! assure you; but, from what you
say, your son will not marry"
\ "He will fall in love with some inno-
cent country girl, unsophisticated and
uncultivated.'
The result Of this dialogue when con-
cluded was scheme to throw together
Alice Stetson as Swiss lacemaker
and Dick Mainwaring. When Miss
Alice returned from school the plan
was proposed to her not as one to make
q match for her. but as lark. She
was by no means averse to it. Dick
was on the way from Italy to join his
mother, and when he arrived he found
domesticated with her very pretty
girl dressed in the attractive costume
Of the country. filing an order for lace.
Alice. who took the name Of Gretchen
and was supposed to speak only Ger.
mantle language Of eastern Switzer.
land-sat in chair before board on
which she worked the threads. A
real lacemaker had taught her to do
the simplest kind Of work. which was
all that was needed.
Upon his arrival. seeing the little
lacemaker at work in his mothers
boudoir. he went up behind her and
watched her work Believing her to
! be unconscious of his presence. he said
"Fraulein, your delicate fingers are
well adapted to such fine work"
Gretchen turned and, seeing a young
man bending over her. appeared to I've
very much disconnected and made no
reply, proceeding with her work.
Mainwaring, thinking that the girl did
not understand English. repeated what
he had said in German.
"Ach. herr" she replied. you f1atter
me-"
Dick heard his mother approaching
and, not caring to be caught chatting
with her employee, walked away. But
Gretchen was always there-that is.
when Dick was there-and it was as
impossible for him to keep away from
her as for bee to ignore a flower.
Alice may have just left school, but
she had a woman's natural spiderly
instinct in catching fly. She waited
till Dick began to say tender things to
her, then mildly reproved him for talk
ing thus to one so far beneath him.
The next stage was that she listened
to him. but reminded him that II his
mother came to suspect that he was
saying them she would discharge her
fruit came in to make it all the more
interesting for the young Lothario. and
it was not long before he endeavored
to steal a kiss.
The lacemaker put him away with
look so reproachful that it made him
feel as if he had been stealing pennies
from Salvation Army children's fresh
air fund. He stammered an apology,
but she told him that If he respected
himself and wished her to respect him
he must not speak to her again unless
in the presence Of his mother How
ever, on bis promise not to try to steal
any more kisses he might occasionally
say very few words.
It must be admitted that Dick was
at disadvantage. Miss Stetson was
a lady, quite a beauty. with very
soft voice and softer eyes. and to
crown all she was dressed in one Of
the prettiest national costumes in the
world. Within three days she began
to interfere with Dicks day dreams.
and as for his night dreams he was
unable to sleep. He tossed about in
bed. Iamenting the fact that the lace
maker was only poor Swiss girl with
whom an alliance would be impossi.
BILE. Now and again he would resolve
to throw common sense to the winds:
then would bring himself up with a
round turn. wondering If he had be.
come insane.
One morning he entered his mothers
boudoir, expecting to find the lace
maker, but instead found the room va
cant 1t seemed as II some one had
turned of thousand candle power
electric light Mrs. Mainwaring came
into the room. and Dick asked:
IN m-mOther, what's become of your
little lacemaker?"
"Oh. she finished the work gave her
TO do and has gone homer
Dick said nothing further, but Ills
mother watched his woebegone ex.
preston with satisfaction.
The next evening ut the Casino Mrs.
Mainwaring introduced her son to her
friend. Miss Stetson. Miss Stetson in
propria persona was chatting with q
handsome American gentleman. When
Dick was introduced she bowed gra.
o;o,,,Iy niok waS 6umfOun6o6 A