The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-17
eHighler
Pragrr1atisrn

4 Co: pubstshed by spcctI ar
veagcmerf wsth the Wheeler Sys-
dicafc. Inc.
Once upon . time found icesni
magazine lying on . bench In . iittis
city park. Anyhow. that was the
amount he asked me for when al
on the bench next 20 him He was
. mussy. dtngy. and taisered maxa'
xtne. with some queer stories bound
In him. was sure. He turned out
70 bs . scrap-book- ~
Il arm . newspaper reporter"
sAid to him. to try him Il hare been
detailed to write up some Of the ex.
perienccs Of the unfortunate ones
Who spend their evenings In this
park Nay I ask you 70 what you
attribute your downfall tn--
was interrupted BY . laugh from
ny purchasp-A Dugn % rusty and
unprAeticed that MAS sure Il had
been his first for many q day.
--oh. 20. no. aAid be. ~Ycu ainv .
reporter. Reporters don't talk that
way. They pretend 10 be one Of ~.
ana say they've Just rot on the blind
basgnEe from St Louis ! can tell .
reporter on sight us park buns get
to BE- fine judges Of human nature
We sit here all day and watch the
people SO by I can sixs UP ANYBODY
VINO walks past my bench In q way
that would surprise YOU"
WELL I said. go on and tel me-
How DO you size me up,
II should say" said the student Of
human nature with unpardouable
hesitation. that you was, say. In the
contracting business or maybe
worked In a store--or was sign
painter. You stopped In the park 70
finish your cigar. and thought you'd
get q little free monoIogue out OF
me. stil. you might BE- a piastcrer
or . lawyer - it's getting kind OF
dark. you see. And your wife won's
let you smoke at home"
frowned gloomily.
but. Judging again." went on the
reader of men. I'D say you Amt got
. wife"
~No." said I. rising restiessiy. no.
no. no. ! amt. But viii have. BY
the arrows Of Cupid. That In If"
Ny voice must have trailed away
and snufflcd itself In uncertainty and
despair.
II see you have . story yourself. .
said the dusty neutrality-suspicious.
ly. Il seemed 10 me. Suppose you
take your dime back and spin your
warn for me. I'm interested myself
in the ups and downs Of unfortunate
ones who spend their evenings In the
park"
somehow. that amused me. ]
looked at the frowsy derelict with
more Interest. did have a story.
why not tell IL to him? / had told
none of my. friends. I had always
been a reserved and bottled-up man.
II was psychical timidity or sensi-
tiveness-perhaps both. And smiled
TO myself In wonder when / felt an
inpulse TO confide in this stranger
and vagabond-
Jack" said I.
Mack" said he.
Mack said I. I'll tell you"
DO you want the dime back In
advance?" said he. ! handed him a
dollar.
The dime" said I. was the price
OF listening to your story"
Right on the point Of the Jaw
aid he. Go on"
And then. incredible as II may
seem TO the lovers in the world who
confide their sorrows only to the
night wind and the gibbous moon.
laid bare my secret 70 that wreck Of
all things that you would have sup
posed to be In sympathy with love.
told him Of the days and weeks
and months that had spent In
adoring Mildred Telfair. spoke Of
my despair. my grieyous days and
vskeful nights, my dwindling hopes
and distress Of mind. even pic.
tured 20 this nightprowler her
heauty and dignity. the great sway
she had In society. and the magnifi-
ccnce Of her life as the elder daugh.
ter OF an ancient race whose pride
overbalaneed the dollars Of the city's
miIiionaires.
why don't you cop the lady out?"
asked Mack, bringing me down to
earth and dialect again.
explained to him that my worth
was so small. my income 80 minute,
anc my fears 20 large that ! hadn't
the courage TO speak TO her Of my
worship. / told him that In her
presence could only blush and
stammer, and that she looked upon
me with a wonderful. maddening
smile Of amusement.
she kind Of moves In the profes-
slonal class. don't she7" asked Mack.
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