Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-14
THE SPENDERS
Copyright, by Lothrop Publishing Company
"A TALE OF THE THIRD GENERATION
By HARRY LEON WILSON

lu0 TCul SpTluG CUncb III N0W York when blundering nature has lpainted the outer wilderness for au- tumn. What is called Spring" in the city by unrefiecting users of the word is tame, insipid season yawning into not more than half-wakefulness at best. The trees in the gas-poisoned soil are slow in their greening, the grass has but pallid city vitality, and the rows of gaudy tulips set out primly about the fountains in the squares arc lpalpably forced and alien. For the sumptuous blending and Haunt of color, the spontaneous awak- ening of warm. throbbing new life, and all those inspiring miracles of regen- eration which are performed elsewhere in April and May, the. city-pent must wait until mid-October. But spring is not all of life, ncr what Ut once chiefly concerns us. There are people to be noted; little series of more or less related phenomena to be l observed.
 One of the people, young man stands conveniently before a florists window, at that hour when the sun briefly fushes this narrow canyon ot Broadway from wall to wall. He had loitered along the lively high way an hour or more, his nerves tin gling responsively to all its stimuli And now he unused as he stared At the tangled tracery of ferns against the high bank of wine-red autumn foliage the royal cluster of white chrysanthe- mums and the big jar of American Beauties.
 He had looked forward to this mo. ment, too-when he should enter that same door and order at least an arm ful of those same naughty roses sent to an address his memory cherished Yet now, the time having come, the zest for the feat was gone. It would be done; 1t were ungraceful not to dc 1t, after certain expressions; but it would be done with no heart because of the certain knowledge that no one at least no one to be desired-could possibly care for him, or consider him even with interest for anything but his money-the same kind of money Higbee made by purveying hams "and she wouldn't care in the least whether 1t was mine or Higbee's, so there was lot of il"
 Yet he stepped in and ordered the roses, nor did the florist once suspect that so lavish buyer of flowers could be prey to emotions of corrodins cynicism toward the person for whom they were meant.
 From the florists he returned direct. ly to the hotel to ind his mother and Psyche making home-like the suite to which they had been assigned. A maid was unpacking trunks under his sis ter's supervision. Mrs Zines was in converse with person of authoritative manner regarding the service to be supplied them. Two maids would be required, and madame woulu of course wish butler
 Mrs. Zines looked helplessly at her son, who had just entered.
 q think-weve-w@v always did our own buttling," she faltered.
 The person was politely interested.
 'T'll attend to these things. ma," said Percival, rather suddenly.
 "Yes. we'll want butler and the two maids, and see that the butler knows his business. please. and-here take this, and see that we're proper, ly looked after. will you?"
 As the bill bore a large "C" on It's face. and the person was rather a gen, tleman anyway. this unfortunate essay at irregular conjugation never fell into a certain class of anecdotes which Mrs Bines' best friends could now and then bring themseives to relate of her.
 But other matters are forward. We may next overtake two people who loiter on this bracing October day down a leaf-strewn aisle in Central park.
 You" said the girl of the pair "least of all men can accuse me oi lacking heart"
 You are cold to me now"
 But look. think-what did I offer you've had my trust-everything could bring myself to give you. Looi what I would have sacrificed at youl call. Think how waited and longet for that call"
 sfvo,, h.r- kaf.f.oo I
 "Yes, if you wanted more than my bare self. I should have been helpless too. if I had wanted more than-thar you"
 'It would have been folly-madnes, that way"
 "Folly-madness. Do you remem Der the Sonnet of Revolt you sent me, Sit on this bench; I wish to say Il ever to you. very slowly: I want you to hear 1t while you keep your later at. titude in mind"
 !" Iafe-what is iIfe7 To do withou avail The decent ordered tasks of every day.
 Talk with the sober: join the solemn play Tel for the huntretth time the sesf-sans
 tale
 ,Tcid by our ersncsires in the seIf-sane vais Where the sun sets with even. level ray.
 And nights. eternaIly the same make say Uor hueiess davns. intoiersbly pzle-'
 But I know the verse"
 NO. hear it out:-hear what you sent me:
 ~.And thls is iffef Nay. would rather se-
 The man uho sees his soul in some vIlc
 cause.
 The foos whs spurrs. for nomentsry
 b.iss.