Evening star., 1914-10-18


& E4 a. grabbed him and
A&f tried to push his
face through the earth's crust. Then he
mind, did not properly develop the powers
of dscernment
Those were the days-ah, yes. The
Observer could sprint for car without
making noises like a motor boat. He tied
his shoe laces easily gracefully and with
out grunting The Observer remembers
those days well.
Time went on, and with it went exer-
else The Observer took to smoking. He
gained in weight. But this did not trou-
BILE him Firmly intrenched in the back
of his mind was the profound conviction
that if he ever wanted to resume his ex-
ercise he could do it easily From the
depths of his easy chair he dreamed sweet
dreams in which he ran like a deer
along endless stretches of road He was
never Winded or tired-in his dreams.
A little dreaming is n dangerous thing.
Invariably the dreamer convinces himself
that his dream is reality and foolish
ness follows, as the night the day.
So it was with the Observer. In the
long stretch of years he convinced him
self that he had not gone back. A little
fat, perhaps-a trifle wider across the
beam but not deteriorating to any great
extent.
1t was while he was in the clutch of
this fond delusion that a Washington
hiker met him. This gentleman rambles
all over Washington and its suburbs. He
walks fifteen miles across country-some-
times he hasn't even a path to guide
him-and describes it as fun.
You are getting disgracefully out of
condition." contided this man after he
and the Observer had discussed a
variety of things.
The Observer smiled a calm, superior
smile.
"You imagine that said the Observer.
because 1 am not thin as you are.
But You are in error. 1 am hard as
About the head. probably" admitted
the hiker, but not elsewhere"
Slightly irritated at this mans OBJ
stinaey, the Observer made his first
blunder.
..Shucks'' he snapped, you don't think
that I'm ready for the old mems home,
do you?"
No replied the hiker thoughtfully.
II don't think you are. If you went in
there in your present condition some
of the old men might get rough with
That settled the Observer
'I suppose" he sneered, you don't
think could walk ten miles?"
Il know you couldn't replied the
hiker with spirit. You would walk the
first three miles and crawl the next
mile and half on your hands and
knees. Then some kind-hearted person
would come along and sweep you into
a wheelbarrow and trundle you the rest
of the way
'Is that so?" The Observer pronounced
that innocent little phrase as extensively
as he could
Tell you what I'll do" offered the
hiker. Tn organize little party-say,
six or eight-and we'll try you out /
wouldn't want to see you disgraced be-
fore.a larger crowd than six or eight
people
eagerly. He would show this individual
whether he could walk or not.
*
A few days later the walking party
got off a suburban car at a station
which had the appearance of having
been mislaid. 1t was glorious, sun
shiny, sparkling morning. The Observer
wanted to leap. to caper wildly, to
shout. The air was like wonderful
wine.
The party was made up of a few
friends of the hiker and the Observer.
Oil vi CsSSu III IouSn clOlleS. The OBJ
server noticed, with sorrow, that there
were several women in the party. His
companion was a young woman, who
had recently left high school and was
now stenographing for a living.
The Observer called the hiker aside.
of course he remarked, this will
not be real test. l am sorry you
brought these poor girls into this. Nat
uraiiy. we VIII nave to move slowly
lust as you say" responded the
hiker, amiably.
1T is not what 1 say" declared the
Observer. 1T is the girls
Then the Observer left the hiker and
returned to the charming young lady.
IF they go too fast fo. you," he said
earnestly, Just let me know and I'll
make 'em slow up"
gazed at the Observer with wide,
astonished eyes. Then she smiled
Il will try to keep up" she said.
Away went the party on the long rib
bon of road. The frail-looking girl
proposed that she and the Observer
sprint a little way, but the hiker dis
couraged the notion.
He'll get all he wants before he's
through said the hiker.
The Observer could have sprinted a
mile. But there was the frail girl to
consider. Weak woman cannot take
the same strenuous exercise strong
man. 1t fatigues her.
About a mile from the station the
party turned off the main road and fol-
lowed a narrow rustic bypath that
wandered in dazed fashion through
some open woodland. The Observer
recollects the moment that the party
left the main road. 1t was at that
identical moment that his attention
was called to the fact that he had on