Glimpses
Annie Bouman had a healthy distaste for Janzoon Kolp. Janzoon
Kolp, in his own rough way, adored Annie. Annie declared that
she could not "to save her life" say one civil word to that
odious boy. Janzoon believed her to be the sweetest, sauciest
creature in the world. Annie laughed among her playmates at the
comical flapping of Janzoon's tattered and dingy jacket; he
sighed in solitude over the floating grace of her jaunty blue
petticoat. She thanked her stars that her brothers were not like
the Kolps, and he growled at his sister because she was not like
the Boumans. His presence made her harsh and unfeeling, and the
very sight of her made him gentle as a lamb. Of course they were
thrown together very often. It is thus that in some mysterious
way we are convinced of error and cured of prejudice. In this
case, however, the scheme failed. Annie detested Janzoon more
and more at each encounter; and Janzoon liked her better and
better every day.
He killed a stork, the wicked old wretch! she would say to
herself.
She knows I am strong and fearless, thought Janzoon.
How red and freckled and ugly he is! was Annie's secret comment
when she looked at him.
How she stares and stares! thought Janzoon. Well, I am a fine, weather-beaten fellow, anyway.
"Janzoon Kolp, you impudent boy, go right away from me!" Annie
often said. "I don't want any of your company."
Ha! Ha! laughed Janzoon to himself. Girls never say what they
mean. I'll skate with her every chance I can get.
And so it came to pass that the pretty maid would not look up
that morning when, skating homeward from Amsterdam, she became
convinced that a great burly boy was coming down the canal toward
her.
Humph! if I look at him, thought Annie, I'll--
"Good morrow, Annie Bouman," said a pleasant voice.
How a smile brightens a girl's face!
"Good morrow, Master Hans, I am right glad to meet you."
How a smile brightens a boy's face!
"Good morrow, again, Annie. There has been a great change at our
house since you left."
"How so?" she exclaimed, opening her eyes very wide.
Hans, who had been in a great hurry and rather moody, grew
talkative and quite at leisure in Annie's sunshine.
Turning about, and skating slowly with her toward Broek, he told
the good news of his father. Annie was so true a friend that he
told her even of their present distress, of how money was needed
and how everything depended upon his obtaining work, and he could
find nothing to do in the neighborhood.
All this was not said as a complaint but just because she was
looking at him and really wished to know. He could not speak of
last night's bitter disappointment, for that secret was not
wholly his own.
"Good-bye, Annie!" he said at last. "The morning is going fast, and I must haste to Amsterdam and sell these skates. Mother must have money at once. Before nightfall I shall certainly find a job somewhere."
"Sell your new skates, Hans?" cried Annie. "You, the best skater
around Broek! Why, the race is coming off in five days!"
"I know it," he answered resolutely. "Good-bye! I shall skate
home again on the old wooden ones."
Such a bright glance! So different from Janzoon's ugly grin--and
Hans was off like an arrow.
"Hans, come back!" she called.
Her voice changed the arrow into a top. Spinning around, he
darted, in one long, leaning sweep, toward her.
"Then you really are going to sell your new skates if you can
find a customer?"
"Well, Hans, if you ARE going to sell your skates," said Annie, quite confused, "I mean if you--well, I know somebody who would like to buy them, that's all."
"Not Janzoon Kolp?" asked Hans, flushing.
"Oh, no," she said, pouting, "he is not one of my friends."
"But you KNOW him," persisted Hans.
Annie laughed, "Yes, I know him, and it's all the worse for him
that I do. Now, please, Hans, don't ever talk any more to me
about Janzoon. I hate him!"
"Hate him! YOU hate anybody, Annie?"