SUSANNA
BY IDA E. STEM '02.
Down in the middle of our block, there was many years ago, a little grocery store in a two-storyed frame building which looked as if it were trying most desperately hard to find something to lean against. The old anwnting which served to protect the cracked old fare of the aged structure from the rain and sun, wobbled its knees each time a horse was tied to any of its posts. This was quite often in the day, for the thrifty German who kept the store had worked up a brisk trade by dint of his acquaintance with the many German servants of the prominent families of the city.
Since, at that time I was a bachelor of some forty years and doing my own cooking, I went quite often to the little store to replenish my stock of provisions. Usually, I went there early in the morning before Mr. Schalker's orders began to come in, for then he had time to chat with me.
One morning, I crossed the street entered the little store and picked my way through the boxes piled about the door.
"Good morning, Mr. Schalker," I said pleasantly, "Business beginning already."
"O, et aint got verry fast, yet," he said. "Wot can I do for you dis morning?"
"I just came for a half pound of tea."
"Let's see, you dake der fifty cents kind don't you?" he asked, lifting the lid of one of the boxes.
"Yes," I answered and then stood watching him measure it out into a bag and set it on the scales.
"Have you noticed the paper this morning?" I asked.
"No, I got no dime to read der paper. Anything in it?"
"Why, yes. There was a terrible wreck on one of the big steamers coming over from Hamburg."
"What ii the matter, man," I cried.
"Is any one—"
"Wot!" he cried turning pale and dropping the tea. "Hamburg! Ach mein Gott! Wot will mine wife do!"
"Ach. mien Gott! Ya! Ya! Mine vife's sister, she vas coming ofer from Hamburg and dot must haf been de one," running distractedly toward the door at the back of the store which led to the kitchen.
Here; hold on a minute." I shouted, catching him by the arm and holding him fast. "How do you know it is the same one? Maybe it isn't."
"Wot is it?" cried Mrs. Schalker, pushing her head in at the door. "Ach! Wot you do mit mien Herman. Let loose of him," she cried, rushing up and shaking me by the arm.
"My dear people." I said, making an attempt at calmness, "there may not be anything wrong. What's the name of the ship she was coming over on?"
"Ach! Mein Gott! Is she gone down? Ach, Herr Je; Was soll ich thun?" cried Frau Schalker, throwing her apron over her head and moaning aloud.
Why can't women keep their wits about them. They'll talk about courage and self-control and despise a man who gives way in the least and then go and do those very things themselves. It was fully five minutes before we could get her to listen to reason. Then we discovered that the ship which went down was not the one on which her sister was to come over. Before she quieted down, several customers came in. Of course they learned the whole story. Such a jabbering and "Ah-ing" I hope never to hear again. While the noise was at its height, I slipped out, effectionately patting my bald head thanking my stars that I had saved what few strands were left.
At the end of the week, the little sister-in-law arrived safe and sound. I went over to the store after some more tea—half a pound never lasts more than a week with
me for I have a cup or two each meal. I found Mr. Schalker very busy waiting on customers. Mrs. Schalker, however, happened to be there.
"Vell,"she said by way of greeting, "mine sister has come."
"So I heard," I answered, sitting down upon a cracker box.
"Why yes," I said getting up and following her out of the store.
Mrs. Schalkers eyes twinkled,
"She's out in de kitchen now" she said, "Do you want to see her."
What I saw was well worth remembering. The little maid, Susanna, was standing before a large table on which were piled stacks of dishes left over from breakfast. She had rolled up the sleeves of her little red calico dress, showing an arm as plump and white as any I have ever seen. When she turned about, I noticed that her black hair was curled tight about her face, making little ringlets which tossed about in saucy confusion. Her eyes, too, were black with a sparkle of mirth and fire in them which made them fairly glow when she smiled in answer to my greeting.
"She can not talk English, yet," explained Mrs. Schalker, as Susanna gave me no reply.
"Why to be sure," I exclaimed, "I had forgotten. I can speak German a little."
Just then Mr. Schalkner called his wife into the store. Left to ourselves, I asked by way of introduction, question after question about her native city of Zurich. She kept on washing the dishes, looking around at me from time to time.
"Is the hill south-west of the city still full of old trees." I asked.
"Oh, no," she exclaimed in pretty German, "that's been cleared long ago and houses built on it. You must have been there a long time ago."
She looked at my bald head suspiciously. She was such a trim little figure in her German bodice neatly laced in front and back, with her short skirt coming just above her ankles, that I longed for a kodak.
Noting my abstracttion, she said "Have you ever been to Berne?"
"Yes," I said, "I stayed there but a few days. Let's see, that was twenty, twenty-two years ago."
Her eyes opened wide in astonishment.
"May be you'd like to see a picture of it? she asked.
"Indeed I would. Have you one?"
"Yes, I will get it." With that she wiped the soap-suds from the clubbies of fingers and tripped out of the room. I say tripped because I have never seen anyone walk about in stiff course slippers as she did. Being small of stature, she took the very shortest of steps which caused her to bob up and down as she moved.
After a little time she brought the picture and we together examined it carefully. I found that I had already grown rusty in my knowledge of the place and asked a great number of questions until Mrs. Shalker came in and frowned upon the dish-p.m. Then I realized that I was keeping Susanna from her duties so I left rather suddenly.
As I had nothing particular to do but amuse myself and keep track of my income, I formed the habit of dropping in at the little store almost every day. Susanna and I became the best of friends. I flattered myself that for a few moments now and then she forgot my bald head. But this was her favorite theme and she teased me about it continually.
After she had been there about a month I noticed a change in her. She no longer teased me but would sit and look into space while I told her the funniest stories I could think of. Then when I had finished she would start up and say, "What? O, I beg your pardon. I don't know what is the matter with me this morning."
Each day it was the same until ai last I made up my mind to ask Mrs. Shalker about it.
"What's wrong with Susanna?" asked one morning.
I did not stay about the store that morning. Things went from bad to worse until one day when I askek for Susanna, Mrs. Schalker told me that she was to leave the next day. I asked why but all she could tell mewas "She has de heimweh. She don't like America."
"O, she has heimwch," answered Mrs. Schalker, abruptly.
I went back to my empty rooms and sat down on my trunk. So Susanna was to leave. And myself? Nothing for it but to stay and live on It had always been so, why should I rebel? And yet—
"Hm! Too bad."
The next day, Mr. Shalker backed his delivery wagon against the curbing and loaded onto it a trunk, such a little one just like Susagna's. Then Mrs. Schalker and Susanna
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appeared at the door. Mrs. Schatker was weeping copiously, and p'eading with Sasann i to take care of herself and not let the ship go down just as I come up to them.
"So you are going, Susanna," I said. I could not prevent a little sadness from creeping into my voice
I watched them pass down the street till they became mere dots in the distance, then I went back to my roms. Somehow I did not need half so many things from the store as I had before. I fell into the habit of sitting in my room for hours smoking and old meerschum, one of my oldest and travest friends.
"Yes she said brightly. There was no languor about her now. She climbed briskly into the wagon.
"Good bye." I called out as Mr Schalker whipped up the horse.
"Oh, yes," called out Mrs. Schalker who had heard my voice and come out of the kitchen. "She is married."
Some three weeks after Susan had left, I smattered over to the store after some more ten.
"Ya!" continued Mrs. Schalker, unconsciously falling into the German. "He is a dairy-man. He has a nice little house and cows and barns. She will be very happy."
"Have you heard from Susanna?"
Lasked casually.
"Married," I echoed, "Susanna married? No! You can't mean it!"
"No doubt," I said, "How much is that teaf?"
"Why, fifty cents," said Mr. Schalker, "Dots wot you always get."
I took the tea and went home. Susanna was married. What was that to me? And yet-
Mr. Nat M. Brtgham will sing the offertory at the Presbyterian church on Sunday, Nov. 10.
G. G. WOLF 烧烧
Has all colors in Poster and Mat boards, "Passe Partout" Binding. A large stock of Pictures, Tablets, Note Books and Box Papers. Come in. Our prices are right.
917 Mass. $t. LAWRENCE, KANSAS
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INNES' IS THE STORE
FOR BEST OF MERCHANDISE.
BETTER IN QUALITY.
NEWER IN STYLE.
NEWER IN STYLE BROADER IN VARIETY.
Lower in Price than Equal Goods to be found Elsewhere, the New Silks, the Seasonable Dress Goods, the Most Wanted Corsets, Underwear, Hosery, Ribbons and Ready to Wear Cloaks, Jackets and Raglans, fill the Innes store from Top Floor to Basement. Everywhere there is fullness in variety and broadest scope in Prices.
Innes, Bullene Hackman.
Glee Club.
Prospects for a good glee club are very bright. There is plenty of talent in the University this year and a good musical organization is assured. A trip will probably be arranged for the Christmas vacation. Students are taking an active interest there being about twenty at the meeting Friday night.
mmm
Phi Beta Kappa in Missouri.
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At the triennial National Council of the Phi Beta Kappa, the University of Missouri was granted a charter. This was very complimentary to Missouri as it was one of the three successful ones obtaining charters from the twelve that applied for them.
The Sophmores in class meeting Thursday noon decided to have a party and a committee was appointed to attend to the matter. No one except Sophs.
Sophmore Class Meeting.
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OFFICE, 733 MASSACHUSETTS STREET.
Residence 900 Ohio St.
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G. A. HAMMAN, M. D.
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LAWRENCE. . . . . . KANSAS.
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TELEPHONE 259 4-rings.
J. W. O'BRYON, D. D. S.,
Office Phone 36; Res.191 4-rings.
819 Massachusetts Street.
DR. R. B. LESLIE.
LAWRERCE. . . . KANSAS
Office 802 Mass. St.
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Amuntgam Fillings, 30 cents, Gold Fillings,
half the naural price. Extracting teeth.
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The first and only dentist in the city to depart from high prices in favor of the masses.
Office over Howe's Shoe Store. $2 Mass.
Open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
THE HOME STORE,
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Orders taken for Umbrella Capes, Piazza Scares and all kinds worsted crobat work at
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Repairing Neatly and Cheaply Done Second-Hand Shoes Bought and Sold. 1017 Mass, st., Lawrence, Kan.
OMAR F. HARSHMAN Practical Shoemaker
A. E. PROTSCH,
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