Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23
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them ALL and it docs not matter which is the scene OF
this tale-which brings logically to the statement
that think there must always have been the Police
man 1t was his duty to strut gloriously past the
window at intervals and the wellbeing of the munich
paty of Greater New York demanded that he do this
at such times as Molly procuring griddle cakes
from the superheated plateau in the extreme fore
ground He did not look in on these occasions--at
least it was some weeks before could decide whether
he did or not. So I knew that he 4 man, and
made opportunity to talk with him few words
and then at odd hours for the improvement Of my
understandng-as Adam was permitted to do with the
Archangel Once in the ripeness Of the acquaintance,
turned the talk toward perambuators and area-ways
and so, cautiously, in the direction of diminishing
turn. And thought the of him for meeting me
honestly with quantity reished "reminiscences, unsus-
picous--but not the shadow of word of Molly. He
understood what had seen we'll enough too-but he
was too much of man to invite into the holiness
and too much Of gentleman to feel any need of
snubbing me- On duty his name must have been at
least Roundsman Alysus O'Kearney But since one
off night when l him going into A. F. o. H.
ball with Molly have suspected that his real was
Tim
Molly had her troubles all this time A big buoy
personality becomes heroic in the face Of calamity
and is petulant against continuous annoyance 1t is
told of a certain TO- who such girl evil magic
might transform into heifer. that her torment was
not the fangs Of wolves but the nagging of gadhy.
The work strain to begin with, especially in
For at Youngs during rush hours, they also
serve who at other times only stand and wait And
is not good for to be upon her feet all day
long Then there the constant spite of women
shade above Moly's class. perpetually
fretted with small cares, women in vegetable hats
whose thin children said "Hanh?" when they did not
hear Then the Head Waitress (if that her proper
title), hated Molly for being pretty and more for
bling unwprried. could hardly blame her poor thing
for is hard, being grown hateful, not to hate And
the blood in the Head Waitress was weak lemonade,
and she had no eyebrows. and nobody loved her Be-
sides woman in power women is almost always
either Cleopatra a Gorgon. 1t maddencd the Head
Waitress to see Molly glanced after evly by
Molly herself was not much disturbed by the notice
she attracted She accepted it careessy tribute
dsregardcd it unmeaning-eXcept IN the the
Barber.
The Barber of those who emerge from nonenity
into nuisance He little, 1.-THE Sreen-chinned
Italian. with hair something between a plaster and
pompadour. 4 reminiscent white waistcoat and pro-
fcssioral aroma. He would look sidelong at Molly
the blush whites Of his eyes glistenng under lowered
lids; and when she had passed, would shrug himself
erect in his chair and cast about among the
ent for consratulating smile. The Latin countries
breed many OF his type They subtly against
lady in a crowded car careful not 10 give overt
offence They conhdc intimately in chance acquaint-
ances; with little encouragement they will show
letters
When began to notice the Barber, he was coming
regularly and evening, ana sitting often
possible at Moly's sable For time thereafter he
existed in Mollys consciousness as One Pork and
New-York- Lettuced Iced Coffee With the other girls
he did better, and before long calling two three
of then, by name and finding his orders anticipated
lie assumed obviously the air OF old customer and
stopped moment slack days chat tootlpicl in
mouth, with the Head Waitress But Molly was
constant irritation to his self-complacency He spoke
to her persiscny, followed he, constantly with his
eyes, and snlirkcd II she glanced his way Once ii
my fate to sit next to him.
Pretty swell little woman that e,, what" he re-
marked pointing at Molly with MS fork.
Il never noticed | said
Eyes, sir" pursued the Barber, putting down the
fork and twisting his nustacne. She is certainly a
first-class article Id for chat al: right
all right
You know your own mind l answered, and so
departed unfed and unchristian
Molly had no nerves If she had she would have
left half way through the summer did one or two
Others But the regularity Of small irritation reached
her. 1t hot musgy season, and think that she
had other and stresses in those days of which
saw only effects The Barber grew holder and more
evident The other girls buzzcd and snckcred-how
much they teascd her outright 1 could only guess,
And the Head Waitress as August went on, grew no
less than malignant and hcked the girl with feline
phrase a dozen times daily Molly as cool and
vital and merry as ever But she promoted the Barber
mentally to the rank of Pestierous insect and /
noticed that she watched for his coming and sighed
with relief at his departure. Then she would give her
shoulders shake and dive into her work with queer
half-smile. The Barber's efforts to draw response
from her succeeded at last steamng noon when
men were lunching cold rice and iced tea in their
shirt sleeves. handkerchicfs inside collars
Say he said for the fourth time, Molly paused
a moment near by. what time do yor get off work."
Molly turned deliberately
A.. Just about that hour she said with emphasis
.na' youll be graftn' free lunch away on River
Street, Hoboken"
Inc crowded table grinned in pairs and red
neaaea youth next the wall said. "Ah. haw-haw" and
choked: The Barber was on bis mettle.
Amt she the coy ones" he remarked to whom it
might concern Then. as Molly returned: "IIey? says
Go on. tell me. When do ~ou"-
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