Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-05-22

of the diversion, while others became
enthusiastic because OF some scientific
germ that existed in them.
Gordon watched the planets maneu-
yer for alignment, but kept silence. al
though the settlement was waiting to
hear from him. 1t is not many villages
that can boast Of an authority on
planets.
AS he studied the heavens Gordon
unconsciously placed himself in the
position Of Uranus. He was an out
cast from Helen Hardwell's affections;
he was alone, far at one side. while
her rich admirers he referred to as
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
and Neptune. They were pulling to-
gether for her.
On the night of December 16 about
eleven o'clock, Gordon sat in his study
reading. There was no particular rea-
son to watch the skies, because the
planets were on the other side of the
earth and would not be visible to him
until shortly before sunup.
Gordon had book on economics
before him. However, he did not read
long. Dreams Of Helen Hardwell in.
terfered
He heard the door creak and looked
toward it, to see Helen standing there
smiling.
please don't be angry with me-"
she pleaded. II know I'm intruding !;
but have just got to learn something
about that-the-the end of the
world"
1.-The town is just crazy about the
big show the planets are going to put
on" she continued, advancing into the
room somewhat timidly. Are there
really going to be earthquakes and
things? Up at the dance at the hotel
the folks are waiting for me. You see,
they sent me as a delegation Of one
to find out what's going to happen.
You won't let me return and report
failure, will you, Gordon?"
Gordon stood up, smiling.
Certainly not, Helen. You're well
come to all the information can give
1t is said that such conjunction Of
planets will cause sun spots. If that
Is true there will be sun spots as the
result of the present situation in the
solar system. 1t also Is said that sun
spots cause storms and earthquakes.
If that theory is correct, there certain
ly will be storms and earthquakes as
result Of the alignment Of the
spheres"
hn Tod h0 y
wise.
Gordon" she said, I'm an awfully
stubborn girl, but you see I'm yielding.
I'm sick of the bunch at the hotel
They don't know anything except
dancing and bridge, clothes and golf
they never earned. Tom Thatcher
didn't even know the earth revolves
around the sun until told him. Fred
Beakman thought the stars were five.
pointed, until / told him they are
spheres. Sam Adams thought the
earth was the biggest thing in the uni
verse except the sun. until l explained
that the planet Jupiter is more than a
thousand times larger"
Gordon smiled again, whimsically.
"Tom Thatcher Is Mars" he said.
"Sam Adams Is Venus; and isn't he
some Venus? I've named all your
satellites after planets"
She flushed.
Pm through with satellites" she
told him. I'm going to be like Venus
and Mercury-without any moons. But
how about yourself, Gordon? Haven't
you planetary name?'
''Im Uranus, because I'm all alone
on the other side of the sun, in the
present arrangement of things. Uranus
is an Outcast from the solar system,
and I'm an outcast from YOU"
Gordon" she said suddenly, "would
it be very improper for me to stay
here tonight and have reserved seat
at the big performance in the SKYE
You can help me to catch up on my
lessons about the stars, and early in
the morning we can see the planets to-
gether. I'm not going back to the
hotel"
At the hotel the anxious crowd wait
Gu al vain lOI LlclT clulSSdIy, Willie
she sat at the telescope the whole
night through.
In the morning she looked with awe
as Jupiter, blue-white, burst into
flames in the sky, while Saturn took
on dull orange hue and Mars
sparkled red. Down in the sky, near
the crescent moon, Venus appeared.
twice the size of an ordinary star,
shiping with an intense white light
that rivaled Luna's, and close to the
horizon little Mercury blinked.
The stars began to fade as the suns
rays shot over the horizon. Only
Jupiter and Venus and the moon con-
tinued to shine.
"Oh, it's all so wonderful" Helen
breathed. as tired from her long vigil.
she turned from the telescope.
"You may be Uranus, an outcast,"
she whisnered shut yOu'reI all the