Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-24
CHAPTER NV


A CURIOUS friendship had sprung up
n between old Adclbert and Bobby
Thorpe. In or hours after school the
boy hung about the tickct-takcr's booth
swept now to a wonderful cleanliness
and adorned within with pictures cut
from tho illustrated papers. The smal
charcoal fire was Bohby's particular
care. He fed and watched u. and having
heard Of the bdloful effects Of charcoal
fumes. insisted on more fresh air tnah
old Adc,hCrt had ever breathcd before.
You scc," Bobby would say earn
estlN as he brushed away at the tloor
beneath the burner, you don't know
that you arc being asphyNiatcd. You
just feel drowsy, and then, poof you're
dead"
Adolbcrt doing between tickets, was
liable 10 be reused by Il vigorous shak-
ing, TO pair of anxious eyes gazing at
him, and to n draft Of chill spring air
/ from tho open door.
81 hut dozed," lie would explain.
without anger "Al my life have
breathcd the fumes and nothing unto
ward has happened"
Outwardly he was peaceful The
daughter now received his pension I'm
fun and wrote comforting letters. But
his resentment and bitterness at the loss
Of his position AZ the opera continued,
even grew.
/ For while he had now even a greater
wage. and could eat three meals, be-
sides second breakfast and afternoon
coffee. down deep in his heart old Adcl-
! bert felt that he had lost caste. The
opcra-that was a setting Great stair
/ cases of marble, velvet hanGings. the
hush before tho overture and over all
the magic and dignity Of music. And
| before his stall had passed and rcpaSscd
. the world--royaltios the aristocracy, tho
army. Hoi polloi had used another
/ entrance, by which 90 climb to the upper
I galleries. He had been, .thcn, Of the
/ elect AristOcrats who had forgotten
/ their own operaglasscs had requested
/ him TO give them Of his best. had
! through long years learned to know him
there and had nodded TO him as they
swept by. The flash of jewels on beau.
tiful necks, the Gittering Of decorations
on uniformed chests had been his life
3 And now. 10 what had he fallen, Tc
selling tickets for an American catch.
penny scheme, patronzcd by butchers
| by housemaids, by the common people
a noisy, uproarious crowd. that never,
thcless counted their change with sus
. picou5 eyes and brought lunches it
paper boxes. which they scattered about
"Iit-raf!" he said 70 himself scoyn
fully.
: There was, however, Il consolation. II,
/ had ordered a new uniform Not fol
twenty years had he ventured the cN
! tTaydgaucc. and even now his cautious
/ soul quailcd at the price. For the las
half dozen years he had stumpcd through
the street, painfully aware Of shabhiness
Of a shiny back, Of patches, when on tn,
. anniversary Of the great battle to which
/ hc had sacrificed a leg. the veteran,
marched between lines Of Chccrnl
people.
Now, on this approaching anniversary
he could 90 peacefully, nay, ever
/ proudly The uniform was of the best
cloth, and on its second fttinE showed
already its marvel of tailoring The
news of II had gone around the neigh,
I bOrhOOd The tailor reported visits from
those who would feel OF the cloth ant
Z figure its cNpensYcness. In the evening
for he worked only until The haC
his other preparations-polish his
! sword, cleaning his accouterments.
/ ON an evening a week before tho
! parade would occur he got out his boots
. He bought always large boots witt
straight soles, the right not much diff.
fCreut from the left in shape. Thus h,
managed thriftily TO wear, on his on,
leg first one of tho pair, then the other
But they were both worn now, and be,
cause Of the cost Of tho new uniform hS
could not buy others.
Armed with the better Of the two lc
visited the cobbler's shop and there met
with bitter news.
a patch here and new heel, com.