The Washington times., 1914-01-06

| "lllCH uTd" Tue as
much as Mercury in PicadiIlv
Circus at night. in broad sun
light he is just a thing IN bronze, a
rather nice thing in his way, but nothing
more. BY night, however, when he is
| merged In darkness and you only sec
, him outlined against the sky. he comes
once more into his godhead-kindIy god
thought Everard. who having observed
some vile creature Of the night lurking
| on the other side OF the Circus, had
flown swiftly down with drawn bow
/ to rid us poor earth creatures of its in
fuence.
Everard stood on the corner after nc
had emerged from the stuffy Deer-house
| and looked I'D at him He noticed with
a smile that his arrow was pointed full
! ct the brawny chest of n policeman,
who, all unconscious of being a target,
| was blowing mis- nose into a red ban
dana handkerchief.
1t was a glorious night, warm and
starry, and great moon fioated over
the buildings as if il had paused in its
fight and was gazing speculatively
down at all the lights. listening to the
| clatTer Of motor buses and the fierce
| horns of taXicabs, and wondering
whether Mercury's aim were as good
1 as ever, after the many centuries that
had passed since first they made ac-
quaintance in other lands.
| A rush of taxis held him up. He was
| about to cross over into Picadilly when
| he became aware of an odd tapping al
| his side. He iooAcd around quickly and
saw little old woman with a shade
/ over her eyes anC a placard on her
chest. who also waited A chance 10
! cross over.
Let me give YOU a hand" he said.
J W llCh do 70 D0pf'
| The old woman stretched out a hand
and turned her head in the direction of
his voice. THANK you, kindly" she
said. I'm maxim for Lower Regent
enough TO frighten the lives out of ordi-
nary people, let alone me-" She gave
a little chuckle.
| Everard caught her elbow. helped her
| off the curb and conducted her safely
| across. past the policeman. who had
finished blowing his nose, and saw her
| street.
There you are" he sai1. Straight
| down.
'Thank you. sir. Thank YOU. kindly.
Would you buy pair shOe-laces, or
a box of matches" She held out a Sc
lection on tray.
Everard noticed her dirty. bare toes
through her boots and her hair streaked
with silver under the faded ole bit of a
bonnet. Poor little old devil" he
thought. What life!'
That's a good idea" he said. "Tn
have a box Of matches, thanks. He
took one and pulled out AL the money
he had in his pocket and put it in her
grimy, Wrinkled hand. Good night,
and good luck
There was almost a sob IN her voice
as. feeling that he had given her more
than enough, she thanked him. Ever
ard turned and walked awav He Was
bound for home and bed, and the
thought OF a taxi came to him with
delight. lie had not taken six steps
when he heard shrill voice: Sir!
The little old woman was calling him
frautiCally.
He turned and went bacE. Here I
am. What is it,
The matCh-seller whose picard bore
the word "Blind'', in big. BLACK letters,
held out her hand with the money still
in II. ''You've-you've made a mistake,
sir" There was fierce excitement in
her voice and she was breathing heaV-
gle. She took up one Of the coins.
You didn't mean TO give me- thls?' She
held out a sovereign.
Yes that's all right" said Everard.
Mind you don't lose it. Good night
The little old woman broke down and
sObDed openly. and called after him
shrillv as he strobe away, Gawd bless
you. sir! MAY you never tecl the loss
and began muttering to hersclf-'a quid,
u blessed thick un, Gawd bless him.
Everard lit his last cigar with his cy-
pcnsive box of matches, nodded good
night to the policeman. and shook his
head at a beckoning taxi driver.
Eaton square, lie grOaned. 1t was
miles away and hc had given her his
last haIfpenny. He shrugged his shOul-
ders and told himself he was all kinds
of fool and plugged gamely ON. He
began TO WOI.deT how blind people ike
tha' knew the feet of money.
That old lady, for Instance, whose
honesty. come TO think Of It.. was the
most amazing thing that ever happened
- wouldn't have kick ed up a fuss like
that If some one had given me quid!'
she had picked out the sovereign from
among all the other coins just as easily
as he could have done. II was cXtraOr-
dinary. But perhaps she wasn't blind.
Perhaps she was only one of the fakes
who traded on the od-heartedness Of
the public, the old rotter,
And then. as he was beginning TO
CrO- skeptical and angry. he laughed
What did it matter. after all, whether.
she WAS blind or not? II was bad
enough TO be a woman on the streets
selling matches. with all the cumpeti-
ton Of hundreds of others like her. and
she was old in the bargain. But" he
added. with a quiet chuckIe. its a
thousand to a GOOseberTy that she
doesn't waste any of it on a bath"
He was St!ll smiling 10 himself when
somebody. turning out OF ST. James
street suddenly. bumped into him.
Il beg your pardon. said Evcrard,
jumping back.
That's all right deary" The girl