Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/149

This page needs to be proofread.
MELANCHOLY HUSSAR OF THE GERMAN LEGION
135

Phyllis was much surprised to see a fine, tall soldier in such a mood as thie, Her theory of the military, and of the York Hussars in particular (derived entirely from hearsay, for she had never talked to a soldier in her life), was that their hearts were as gay as their accoutrements.

At this moment the Hussar lifted his eyes and noticed her on her perch, the white muslin neckerchief which covered her shoulders and neck where left bare by her low gown, and her white raiment in general, showing conspicuously in the bright sunlight of this summer day. He blushed a little at the suddenness of the encounter, and without halting a moment from his pace paased on,

All that day the foreigner’s face haunted Phyllis; its aspect was so etriking, so handsome, and hia eyes were so blue and sad and abstracted. It was perhaps only natural that on some following day at the same hour she should lock over that wall again, and wait till he had passed a second time. On this occasion he was reading a letter, and at the sight of her his manner was that of one who bad half expected or hoped to discover her. He almost stopped, smiled, and made a courteous salute. The end of the meeting was that they exchanged a few words. She asked him what he was reading, and he readily informed her that he was reperusing letters from his mother in Germany ; he did not get them often, be said, and wae forced to read the old ones a great many times, This was all that passed at the present interview, but others of the same kind followed.

Phyllis used to eay that his English, though not good, was quite intelligible to her, so that their acquaintance was never hindered by difficulties of speech. Whenever the subject became too delicate, subtle, or tender, for such words of English as were at his com-