The Washington herald., 1921-01-04
Did You
See This?

An old couple entered the read
ing room Of the Congressional Lii
orary timidly and reyerently. They
held whispered conversation with
clerk who conducted the lady to
a seat, and filled out the card for
the old man. The lady looked about
at the height and expanse of the
great room and shook her white
head by way Of commentary on the
wonder of it. When her companion
came over to where she sat, she
held out her hand eagerly. and then
looked at him reproachfully until
he, explained that the book had to
be brought from elsewhere.
The old man sat down and tap
ping his fingers impatiently on the
desk began to slowly scan the walls
with his eyes. When the book was
at last slidden in front of him, the
old lady leaned over eagerly, and
together they lifted the cover and
turned the fly leaf. There was a
cracking sound as they flatened
out the leaves and raised the cot
tony tissue paper from the glazed
photograph Of the author of this
book on theology.
The old lady looked at the photo
graphl tenderly and pridefully, and
then st the author as he was today
after time had frosted the dark
hair, and furrowed the fine, lofty
face.
She touched the crisp. unsoiIed
pages and whispered what
care they have given your. book
through all these years"
Yes, indeed" he replied looking
about the magnificent room happily
they do not do things by halves
in here"
He leaned against the news stand
IN the concourse of the union sta
ton He had evidently dined for he
chewed a stub Of a toothpick. His
hat brim was pulled we'll over eyes
that were fixed upon the stream of
travellers hurrying up the steps with
their baggage. A slight young man
with cap pulled down and coat col
lar turned up was hurrying toward
the taxi stand. His right shoulder
was pulled down evidently by the
wei ght of the suit case he carried.
The big man lounging at the news
stand spat out his toothpick, and
sauntered out into the crowd. As
he neared the slight young man, he
stepped out abruptly and bumped
with great force into the suit case.
The suit case clsttered emptily to
the floor. Nothing smashed or leak
ed and no damage was done-un-
less il was the injury of a false
hunch. Certainly the slight one
was uninjured and unoffended. He
accepted the mumbled apology
cheerfully and hurried on out. He
carried the suit case in his left hand
now, and still his right shoulder
arooped.
The big man bit the end of a
cigar savagely, and lost himself in
the crowd.
Two young men swung breezily
into the car inst as it was moving
of Each dived into his pocket with
the Alphonso-Gaston eagerness
which is usually translated in car
ysstibules-'NiX, I got IT."
The one behind thrust a bill
around at the conductor, and pock-
eted his change without looking.
he seemed surprised and a little
confused when the conductor drop
ped four tokens in his hand.
.-Oh, I Ssee," he said to the con-
duetor. How manyr
rsAu of them, II you feel that way
about it." the conductor replied.
1--WE are strangers here" the
young man explained good natured-
ly-"Realiy. how manyT's
"As many as you want to-" the
conductor said, and think his
smile was meant to be withering.,
s,Fine, o." the young man said
pocketing the checks and starting
in the car. The conductor laid
threatening hand on his arm and
said: ..
4Guess you'd better drop in a
couple of those checks II you want
TO stay on this car" 1-
soh, two?' the young man said
Zaily, raising his eyebrows.
And when they were duly tinkled
4 the box. the conductor turned to
ms spectators with the self-satis-
"a expression Of a man who has
tried his point