Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-06-19
Wooing
DeSdemOna
With a Moving Picture
Climax
BY CLARENCE LINDNER
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co


Tongues in trees, sang the bard;
books in the running brooks, sermons
in stones-and, by the same token,
romance In finger nails.
The idea is not so absurd. Stella will
corroborate me.
Drop into Burtscher's tonsorial par
lors some day.
Go right through into the little room
curtained Off at the rear
Seated at a table, with bowls of
warm water, jars of red paste and
various delicate instruments set out
before her, you will find Stella placidly
munching caramels.
As you enter she will look you over
impersonally Sigh II you are tall and
dark and saturnine or smile sadly, but
kindly, If you are-what you are; say
something original that she has heard
twenty times day for three years and
offer her your fingers to refine.
When she has massaged them for a
few minutes and you think that your
soft glances have quickened the beat
ing of her heart, ask her about this
romance business.
She will gaze silently at you for a
quarter Of a minute.
Then pearly tear will hasten from
beneath a quivering eyelid. She will
swallow a sob with her caramel.
And IL you are not tall and dark and
saturnine she may tell you the story.
It isn't much of story as stories 60
But Judge of it for yourself:
His entrance was soundless. Stella
was not aware of him until his shadow
fell across the page Of her book She
started nervously and looked up to find
him seated opposite, gazing at her
gravely. Her heart thumped violently
as she looked into his eyes. She
blushed. Her glance fell She sighed.
without looking up again she began
to operate on the hand which he Of
fered for her ministratlon. Her fingers
trembled. Twice she almost stuck him
with the cuticle scissors.
She never could recall with what re-
mark he broke the awful silence. For
the first time in memory she was pow
erless to inject the element of loquacity
into q situation.
She knew before he spoke just what
would be the tonal quality of his voice;
knew 1t would DO soft and low and
compelling. At his first word her gaze
was drawn to his. She peered into his
black eyes timidly, fearfully, en-
tranced.
Mayhap it was hours he talked, may
hap only minutes.
"In Madrid" he murmured absently
near the Plaza de Toros, lives a soft
eyed maiden whom you remind me of
much"
He filnched as the scissors point PEN
etrated tender spot. But she was far
away from cutlcle and scissors.
And once In Delhi, as the regiment
marched out, i saw you waving me
goodby from the gate of the town.
From land 10 land he skipped. He
balanced the south pole on the tip Of
bis tongue, derlded the hemispheres,
twisted the equator in n knot and
dipped the top off Mont Blanc. He
mopped up the Pacific ocean with his
left hand and with his right taught
backgammon to an Eskimo In Green
land.
Time and distance were exploded
myths to him. He was a citizen OF
the universe, address anywhere.
you must know pretty nearly every
one" Stella whispered admiringly.
He considered a moment while he
adjusted the green jade pin In his
necktle.
Not quite" was his modest admis-
sion.
She sighed and applied the nail buff
fer with feverish assidulty.
When he had gone she wept softly
and tried TO recall what he had looked
like. He was tall, she remembered.
and slender and dark
That night she cried herself to sleep
and dreamed she was Madylalne, the
heroine Of Loves Last Word
He came again many times.
There were more tales -tales OF hair
raising adventures IN the crlnfies OF
the world The heroes Of them all were
friends OF his. nnmeless men men
toned casually though she knew all
the time that It was he who really
figured In the leading roles. Ill
She put down his dellcacy In omit
ting names TO that innate modesty so
characteristic OF heroes There was
man for Instance WIN ttyfetoJ fha fofI