The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-05-31

As the boy ran or. ks eyes fell
on what he had written on the GO
mcnt. At certain part of HIS ca
recr. the child OF such "A neighhor.
l hood as the Street cancels" names.
IL Is part Of his blrthright. lie does
IL as he whites his school desk or
tries TO smoke the long dried fruit
OF the Indian cigar tree. So X. read
In chalk on the smooth street:
Max Wilson Marriage.
sidney Page Love.
| The childish scrawl stared up At
/ him impudently. sacred thing pro
famed by the day, X. stood an q
looked at u. The barytone was stlIl
singing. but now IL was I'm 81. and
she's Is" II was cheerful air. as
should be the air that had accom-
panied Johnny Roscnfeld 20 his long
sleep. The light was gone from X 5
{ face again. After all. the street
meant for him not so much home as
u meant sidney. And now. before
very long. that book OF hts life. like
others. would have 20 be closed
He turned and went heavily into
the little house.
Christine called 20 him from her
[ front balcony: II thought | heard
your step outside. Have you time
20 come out?''
X went thru the parlor and stood
in the long window. His steady eyes
looked down at her.
II sec very little 81 YOU now" she
complained And. when he did not
reply Immediately: Have you made
any definite plans. X 80
II shall do Max's work until he Is
able TO take hold again. After
that"
You win go away
II think 40. am getting good
many letters. one way and another.
l suppose. now I'm back in harness.
Ill stay. My old place is closed. I'D
go hack there-they want me. But u
seems so futile. Christine. TO leave as
did. because | felt that had no
right to go on as things were: and
now 20 crawl back on strength OF hav.
ing my hand forced and to take up
things again. not knowing that I've
a bit more right to do Il than when
leftr'
II went 10 see Max yesterday. You
know what he thinks about all that. :"
He took an uneasy turn Up and
down the balcony.
But whoT' he demanded. who
would do such n thing ! tell you.
Christine. Il isn't possible"
She did not pursue the subject
Her thoughts had flown ahead 10 the
little house without X. 20 days with.
out his steps on the stairs or the
heavy ereak OF his big chair overhead
as he dropped into it.
But perhaps IL would be better II
he went She had her own life TO
live. She had no expectation OF hap
plners. but. somehow or other. abe
must build on the shaky foundation
OF her marriage house OF life. with
resignation serving for content. per
haps with fear lurking always That
she knew But with no active mis-.
cry. Misery implied affection. and
her love for Palmer was quite dead.
sidney viii be here this after
noon
"GoodT' His tone was non-commit.
tai.
Has I, occurred 20 you. X. that
Sidney IL not very happy"
He stopped In front OF her.
shes had a great anxiety"
"she has no anxiety now. Max Is
doing we'll"
Then what Is i,g'
I'm not quite sure. but I think !
know. She's lost faith in Max. and
she's not like me. III knew about
Palmer before I married him. got
a letter. It's all rather hideous--
needn't 60 into II. ! was afraid to
back out: IL was just before my we'd
ding. But Sidney has more charac.
ter than ! have. Max isn't what she
thought he was. and doubt whether
she'll marry him"
X. glanced toward the street where
Sidney's name and Max's lay open
i to the sun and to the smiles OF the
Street. Christine might be right. but
that did not alter things for him.
Harriet was abroad. She had sent
cards from Paris to her trade"
SO X lunched alone. and ate little
After luncheon he fixed a broken
ironing stand for Katie. and In re
turn she pressed pair Of trousers
for him. He had II In mind to ask
sidney to 20 out with him in Max's
: car, and his most presentable suit
was very shabby.
I'm thinking" said Katie. when
she brought the pressed garments
up over her arm and passed them
: In thru a discreet crack In tho
door. that these pants will stand
more walking than sitting, Mr.. X
They're getting mighty thin"
'Tll take a buster along In case
OF accident" he promised her. "and
tomorrow I'll order a suit Katie"
IN believe II when I see IT," said
Katie from the stairs. Some fool
OF a woman from the alley will
, come in tonight and tell you she
can't pay her rent. and she1l take
your suit away in her pocketbook
-as like as not TO pay an install
ment on a piano. There's two new
pianos in the alley since you came
here"
, II promise IT, Katie"
SHOW II 10 me-" said Katie. Ia
oonically. and don't go to pick
ing up anything you dropi
i. Sidney came home at halfpast
two-came delicately flushed, as II
she had hurried. and with a trem
ulous smile that, caught Katie's eye
> at once.
I Bless the child-' she said
! There's no need TO ask how he /,
. today You're all one smile"
3 The smile set just a trife.
g Katie, some one has written my
/. name out on the street, In chalk
: Ifla with LIZ NNilnnr,,n ns,A LII.