The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-05

for whatever small privacy may exist
between American ~netGhbcrs. VIC pes'n
TO get our Autumn high tides OF soS-
sip. ~ this season OF the year. IN "uF
towns OF moderate size ana ao'''o''
where apartment houses have not YET
condensed and at the same time Seaues-
tered the population. one may secure VS.
ual anna Of back yard beyond back
yard. both up and down the street: eS-
p~eciallv II one takes the trouble 10 SIX
for an hour or so. daily. upon the Top
Of n high board fence at about the MID
die OF a block.
OF course an adult who followed such
a course would be thought peCu1'"E'
no doubt he would be subject 10 UNI
desirable comment, and presently m'E"N
be called upon 10 parry severe H. 'nue'.N
not hostile Inquiries: hut boys are -"
s!dered so incxpl!cahlc that they have
rathered' for themselves any privileges
denied their parents and elders: anu .
bow can do such 4 thing as this 10 MS
r,II content without a~ryhodyS thtnN
Inc about il az nj. SO il was that fte'-
Der, U,iagswor:h Atwat'r, IT, aESo
thirteen and 4 few months. sax toF "
considcrahle time upon surh q renee a.
ter school hours. every afternoon OF I"t
last week IN October; and only one F'
son particularly observed him or was
stimulated 10 any mcntal activity oS
his procedure. Even at that. MS pcVSU"
was affected only because she was fi.
=. ber,'s relative. and OF an age syWpa-
thetjc 10 hi-and 81 a sex a~ntipatnetC
In spite Of the fact that Herbert l!'-
tnrsvorth Atwater. Jr. thus seriously
disporting himself on his rather o"oS
fcnrs attracted Only this audience OF
one (aud she hostile at \ rather avs
tant window. his behavior rea!.S
sbor,d have been considered p!Guan'1E
Interesting bv anybody. After cI'ino'aE
70 the top OF the fence he would pro-
duce from interior pockets = srral' he"'-
orandum book and a pencil. se!Hon" put-
ting those implements to Immediate use
Iyts s,,rsssion was grave!y alert. his
manner moro than busincss-liSe: yer
nohody could have failed 70 comprehend
that he was enjoying himself, "speciaII!
u.nen his attitude beam" tenser~hs AT
time i, certainly did. Then he would
rise. balancing himself at adro't case
his feet aligned on" before the othe'
on the inner rail, "a foot he!o" III '"P
If tho boards. and with eyes dramatic
ally shielded beneath a Scout'Sn pa''"'
ne would gaze STORMY IN the d'reSt'o,
OF some object or motion ~n'S" """
attracted his attention.: ana InCH' N''
Trv satisfied himself of something or
other. No "pElu vi SSh'' NN
snter a note in his memorandum o""N'
Hc was not always alone; he was
~freousutlv Joined by 4 friend. male ana
tho shorter than Herbert. quite as DID,
and his companion was inspired. ~
seemed. by motives precisely similar 10
those from which Sprang Herbert own
actions. Like Herbert ne would SIT upon
tho top Of the high fence, usually at a
little distance from him; like Herbert
no would rise at intervals. Tor ehe pet
ter study OF something this side OF inc
horizon: then. also c~oncIualhS Inc a1et
bert. he would sit again and write hrm-
w in a little note book. And seldom
IN the history Of the world nave any
sessions been invested by the partic'-
wants with so Intentional an appear
ance Of Importance.
THAT was what most Injured their
lone observer at the somewhat aiSt""'
back window. upstairs At her own "i'ce
Of residence: she found their lWpoI'-
ance almost impossible to bear WITH
out screaming. -HsE- proSosation Vas
great; the important importanc" OK i',F-
bert and his friend. impres!EeIy ma
neuvering upon their fence Was -
trnme as 20 be ali too PLAINLY visible
ac-oss four Intervening hrUrl hack
ya-ds. in fact. there was almost reason
70 susnect that the two performers were
au,ars IF their audience and cen OK nor
goaded condition: and that n some
times deliberately Increased the OUT
xaroousness of their Importance Dscahse
tnsv knew she was watching inem. Ani
upon the Saturday Of that week. wAen
the notebook writer's were upon 'hs
fence at intervals throughout The alter
noon, Florence .Atwaters taSc hAtsa IN
d~ignation became vocal.
I--.' aha GliH
Var mother. sewing beside another
window OF the room. looked up mqu:r-
ingly.
Cousin Herbert and that nasty niue
Henry Rooter. 49,.
Are YOU watching tncm again? her
mother asked.
YES. I am" said Florence, rarity.
"Sot because I care 10. but merely 70
amuse myself at their expense"
Nrs. Atwater murmurcd depretRtinS-
IL. Couldn't you find some "the- way
~ amuse Yourself. Florencer
~ don't call this amusement" tho IN
.o,s;stsrt girl responded. rot without
chsCrin. Think Id spend all ny days
starin' at Herbert l~liingswortn Atwai"r.
Iunior, and that nasty littl" Henry
Rooter. and call Il smusemcnt:'
Then why do you do it,"
"NShv do do what. Mama" tIpreI"e
inquired. as IN despair OF Mrs. Aiwaier's
ever learning 10 put things clearly.
why do you spent al yolr days
watching them" You Gon; seem abiH
10 keep away from tho window. and >.
appears TO max YOU i~rri;th.'. l sh"i'd
think IL they wouldn't lot Nru play with
them. you'd be TOO p-vCl-."
oh. good heavens. Mamma"
well said Florence. Il got to use
some expression when you accuse mo OF
wantin' 70 play wiki those two vic
things, My goodness mercy. Mamma
7 don't want TO play wiki en-, I'm
more than four years Did. l guess; 20
YOU don't ever seem willing To Civ" ae
credit for Il. I don't hat 70 play all
the time. Mamma: and. IVA Her
bert and that nasty little Henry rsoUtHr
aren't piayiu. either
"Aren't they" Mrs. Atwater rnqrirc l.
II thouSht the other day you said yru
wanted them 10 lot you play at being
q newspaper reporter, or editor. or some
thing like that. with them. and thc%
were rude and told you TO so away.
Wasn't that it?"
Florence sighed. no, Mamma X GER
tainiy wasn't
They weren't rude 70 you"
Yes. they certainly WERE
Well. then"
Mamma. can't you understands
Florencr turned from the window 10
bcseccn Mrs. Atwa,er's concentration
upon the matter. IT isn't playing"
/ didn't want 70 play being a r"D"rt"$
they amt playing"
AREN'T playing. Florence
"Ycs'm. They're not. Herbcrte got
O real printtnx-Dress: Uncle Joseph
gave Il 10 him. It's q real one. Mamma.
can't Won underestimate
"Iu try" said Mrs. Atwatcr. You
mms,n,, rnt SO eNcitrd ahout Z. Flo