Judge — September 19, 1914 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

. cnstin ( Hi-gs— ht was from No-Girl's Land, and that I’d made up my mind to mine in exactly five minutes, when I got the sack from my mis- tress because the master tried to kiss me. You see, I thought it would be such fun to be a lady’s maid out of a job that I couldn’t resist it, and my traveling things are so nice and simple he didn’t tumble to the fib for even a second. Right away that Complete Stranger of a nice boy crawled from under my wing and took me under his. When we got to Brussels, he ran around and took care of me, while I did the talking. He 4 looked grim and severe and this-lady-is-in-my-charge about the jaw and sort of tickled-to-death about the eyes! Then I took him to the hotel I recommended to him, and then he saw me back to mine, and then we parted, with an ap- pointment for the morrow. Now, of course, what I ought to have done was to have immediately changed my address; but the Complete Stranger was such a dear lad that I really hadn't the heart to leave him on his lonely all next day, which was a Sunday. What I did do was to rout out my plainest gown and knot a piece of ribbon where usually a something-dollar aigrette sprouts on a simple hat, and at nine o'clock there was I, at the corner of the street, shaking hands with the C. S. and tucking the posy he brought me into my belt. We bought currant bread and rolls stuffed with ham and a bottle of mineral water and started for the Bois de la Cambre, which is as get-at-able as is the Central Park in New York, only the Bois stretches for miles and miles and miles and is as old as the hills and the sky above. We walked as far as we thought we would. We sat under the calm old trees and dodged the sun spots shifting through the leaves, and we had a fine lunch-breakfast! He told me how much he earned and what his prospects were, and . I changed the conversation and said, “Let's be getting, we getted. We fed the ducks in the ponds and went rowing on the lake. “THERE SHE GOES, THERE SHE GOES, ALL DRESSED UP IN HER SUNDAY CLOTHES!” Later we foraged for more food, and before I even realized the day had properly started, it was improperly finishing. The shadows lay long and quivery on the ground where they had been stumpy and sharp-defined before, the birds were quite un- seemly with their twittering rowdiness, the sun was no longer a dazzling glory, but a glorious dazzlement of crimson and gold, and the wonderful blue sky became more wondrous still as it ran into misty mauves, purple-tinted to the horizon; and the C. S. Boy, bare-headed and bare-armed as he slowly sculled the boat along, became a splendid young golden god as the beams of the setting sun touched his hair with a coppery glow . . . it was then, of course, that we ran into the bank! I ought, I suppose, to have been very angry; but, after all, I'd been asking for it. He grabbed for my hand . . . and got it! He wondered what the matter would be with our getting married and going back to the States for our honeymoon! He wondered many other things, too, and while he was saying all his wonderings out loud, I sat there very silent and felt myself to be the meanest pig that ever was. He told me that—oh, well, never mind what; but I almost wished I was a real lady's maid, instead of being a stupid pen pusher with shekels enough to have a maid of her own, and I thought to myself, supposing I do say ‘“‘Yes.’" But, of course, that think didn’t come to stay. I said I’d pender over it and write him in the morning, and thereupon we parted! Oh, U, my dear, how curious you are! . well, yes, I did let him have ‘‘one’’ on account! Next morning, however, I changed my address. Wait; it’s not finished! Last night Idined with the Smythe- Johns, on the Avenue Louise, and there who d’you think I met? Why, young Mr. Brickfellermelad and his young wife, who are over for a vacation! Yes, he was my Complete Stranger! What J want to know is, ‘Who felt the biggest fool?” I think I felt it, but what I do know is that he looked it. Quite a sad story when you come to think of it, U know! Poor Sue Zannah! comicbooks.com | | |