The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-08-07
TWO AND A
GUIDEBOOK
BY n. MACLEAN HELLIWELL
Copyright, 1919. 10y 7. &. Mcclure

cleaning white of the distant monu-
mcnt. Shes,bad been In the beautiful
capital of c. country nearly twenty
hours, and she had seen nothing--abso-
lutely nothing--of it. Nearly twenty
hours OF the f"w precious days OF her
visit gone in impotcnt. heartbrcakinE
waiting for Jupiter pluvius to exhaust
himself and retire i'm favor of old Sol.
As a fresh gust of wind drove vol
ley Of rnindrops In n yet tierccr on
slaught against the glass and dashed
them in scurrying streams dowTl the
dripping asphalt the girls head dropped
dcspairingly and she sighed.
Tho young man who for some time
had been watching her sympathetically
over his book now threw it aside and
stepped to the other window.
"WMt n day." he said as the ivy,
clipgiAts dcspera tcly to the wall, was
tossed hithcr and thither by the bois-
ferrous wind.
The girls face frightened and she
turned To him impctuously.
"Oh. thank goodness you have spoken
at last. l was going to start the con-
versa tional ball myself. l simply
couldn't stand the silence any longer.
lto you know I have not uttered one
word this morning since l ordered my
breakfast. It's an unprecedented rec
ord but the strain has been awful"
She dimplcd roguishly. and Il faint flush
rose in her check. lie might think her
very bold. this handsome young stran-
ger, hut she really could not help 1t.
The limit OF her silent endurance had
been reached. She must speak or-pcr-
ish
But the idea OF boldncSS never enter
Cd the young mans head. lie was
thinking how very pretty she was, how
soft and curly hcr hair, how piquant
her dimplcd smile and how becoming
the little tirgc of pink in her round
check. lie laughed in comprchcnding
sympathy.
"Why. I wanted to speak to YOU long
ago. but didn't like to venture. Isn't
1t the very dickens of Il day? Who
could go sightseeing in this?' as a
fresh fury ratified the windows.
The girls face fell again.
''Who, indeed? 2" she echoed disconso-
lately. "Think Of coaxing all winter
for just three days Of Washington and
having the whole of one Of them like
this"
"It is rather rough" said the young
man. I'm In precisely the same box
YfsHt IT Y ohy fy incrsases onSs nan Ago
ny TO look Mt it. Won't YOU sit down?"
He turned Il rocking chair with its
back to tho window. and as Barbara
dropped into it hc threw himself into
the sofa corner opposite.
us this your first visit to Washing
tom" he asked.
"My very first. Father comes here
on business every spring. but he hates
to bc bothered. and | could never per-
suadc him To bring me before He
pokcd his head into my room before l
was up this morning to say that he
would probably not see me again TO.
day rs lie had oceans of business to
do and an official dinner tonight, and
he enjoincd me most emphatically not
to think of going out as long as ii
rained. l have written letters to every
one l can think of, and if it doesn't
clear after luncheon I'll go to bed"
The young man laughed and looked
at his watch.
why, it's n quarter to -" he said.
Suppose we have luncheon now il
you Will honor me, and perhaps the
outlook will be brighter by the time
we have finished"
The girl rose with alacrity.
I'm ravcnOus," she declared, 'but
1 simply could not face that great din
ing room again all by myself. posi-
lively cannot swallow unless have
fn fa IN m inp
My breakfast this morning was mar
tyrdom."
That luncheon was the jOllicSt meal
Barbara had ever eaten and, she main
tainS, the most delicious. When it was
over and they adjourned to the stately
drawing room her companion left her
for minute. When he returned he
brought with him couple of books and
a huge bunch of violcts.
These" he explained, when Barba-
ra had arranged the flowers upon her
person to her satisfaction, "arc guide
books-one to Washington In general
the other to the Congressional library in
particular. AS the rain god is still in
command of affairs, suppose we just
do the capitol and library right here
where we are. It's really, when you
think Of II, much the more satisfactory
way. IL VIC went to the actual build
ings we'd have to walk our feet off on
the hard floors. We'd have TO lose our
breath climbing innumerable stairs or
else have our brains added by being
',erkei up any, '}owu in elevators. We'd
dislocate @hr rJecks fitting our heads
back to see tbo 1pictures on the ceilings.
And at the end of the day we'd proba-
bly, come back to the hotel cross, tired
and dissatisfied, having doubtless for
gotten to look Mt the one thing above