New-York tribune., 1919-04-06
Two and Two
and a Third
Party
BY Deems WELLER

XoOPLE A swayed on the right
deck of the ferry and Couple B
~ swayed on the left deck They
were unaware of each other The
Third Party stood in the middle, and he
was tremendously aware; he was,
should say, all agog.
Man, Couple A, leaned in the shadow
of the lookout and gazed thoughtfully
riverward. He was a carefully careless
young man, slouch hat, Dunlap, seven
dollars and half; soft shirt, studied
necktie, orange with blue scarab in it
rather pretty affectation. He might
have been an artist, student, vaga-
bond; he was really man of property
who had successfully got over it,
The She of Couple A was poised,
charming, pale, fashionable, blue fox
furs, floating veil, bored just enough,
perfumed just enough. The Third Party
spat tobacco juice. Not bad" COM
mented he. His gaze roved to the left
deck. There stood the feminine B, all
shining in a nearseal coat and beaver
hat, heavy with last summers roses. She
was obviously respectable and had very
red hands.
The Third Party spat again: mot
bad, either"
Mr.. Couple B crossed his legs and
leaned against the lookout; his derby in
the crook of his arm. He was in Sun
day suit of dark blue. You knew it was
Sunday suit, just as you knew that he
vas plumber, carpenter or a grocer's
clerk His eye was fixed on the rim of
the setting sun; he was thinking deeply.
A fresh puff of air rippled over the
Hudson and snatched at Miss AS veil.
Nh A started. Being systematic young
breeze and quite lacking in class distinc-
ton, it f1uttered over to Miss B, and
lifted her hat clear off her head Mr.. B
moved forward eagerly, and his derby
clattered to the deck. Excuse me-"
said he.
Il don't talk to strangers said she
of the rose hat, primly.
cav, kid" said the man, "some sun,
amt it?"
eyes," said the nearseal coat, re-
luctantly
"You don't mind if I stand alongside
you, do you, kid?"
The man was already at the rail close
to her. The dying rays of the sun gilded
their awkwardness into semblance of
grace.
The Third Party closed one eye
slowly, "Pretty picture,' said he, SEN
timentally.
Return now to Couple A in the mo-
ment when they were first touched by
the furry of air. "Ahem," said he. She
was too well-bred to notice that.
Pardon me-" said he. She looked
up arrogantly. Her nose tilted curl
ously. Simply couldn't resist the er--
sunset" explained the artistic young
man, moving to the rail beside her.
'Now what" said she of the blue fox
furs, 'is the proper precedent, to scream
or to slap your face?"
Don't slap my face" begged the man,
delighted
'Then III have to scream" She was
a darned attractive woman
He answered, eff you do scream, you
know, there is no one to hear you. We
are alone on the upper deck"
"I'll appeal to the sunbeam elves
whimsically.
"Ah, l knew you were a poet"
do you believe in elves?"
Il do tonight"
That's just what you should have
sald;" this from the girl
Silence-they stood together and
watched the redeemed sky. The Third
Party turned his head; he spat. pretty
picture" said he. Funny" he mused,
Il thought them two was perfectly re-
spectacle girls" At this the breeze,
with the promise of spring in it, frol-
lcked across the deck in drunken eddy
OF Joy and danced madly away.
Its getting rough" said the Third
Party.