Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-10-19

BY GAIL WHITEHoUsE.
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&C. 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)


April was abroad in Parkville. In
the little square in front of the Elk
building there stirred breeze, elusive,
gay, carefree as harum- scarum April
herself; little patches Of very green
grass bad appeared miraculously since
the night before; a very fat robin
strutted about circle of wide blown
tulips and announced in a thrilled
twitter that ''he would a wooing go";
up and down the walks marvellous
hats Eyes, there were ladies beneath
them) Haunted their projections to
the world at large.
And on the row of benches on either
side of the walk portion of the male
population of Parkville, with
smattering of nursemaids and round
eyed children, relaxed and with puzzled
but approving eyes, wondered at the
latest New York styles. And everyone
felt young, and happy and
slightly romantic. Oh April Is a giddy
sort Of person!
Yet in spite of all this loneliness,
and fashiOnableness, and ninety-nine
per cent happiness which pervaded
Parkville, on the fourth floor of the
Elk building. in one Of the front
offices, stoutish gentleman sat
sulkily at his desk, and chewed a
stoutiSh cigar, and was quite unhappy.
OF course his collar still cut his
neck, he still remembered that the
barber had discovered a bald spot on
the topmost part of his head, and that
he had an appointment with the den
fist for the following Tuesday; most
of all, he remembered the hundred
dollar check with which he had parted
that morning at the urgent and rather
militant demands of his wife-but
still, he felt better.
He shifted cautiously of the atmOs-
phere Of the square; then he shifted
again. The air seemed to vibrate with
spring; mixture Of marbles, odes to
the spring-and romance. The next
time the stoutish gentleman breathed
he did not sniff; he gulped the whole
Of the April day in at one breath, and
grabbing up his hat he rushed to the
elevator and rang the bell five times
with unnecessary enthusiasm. 1t. was
several minutes before the leisurely
operator came to his assistance.
my goodness" grinned that young
person, as he opened the door. II
reckon you got It, too. It's mighty
pnnd thino fcp. this ho11 hot ADysiI
comes jest once year."
In just one minute the stoutish
gentleman had crossed the street and
was occupying the bench nearest to
the circle of tulips. Again he breathed
long luxurious breath. Then he for
got. Hundred-dollar checks, bald
spots and dentists chairs vanished
completely from his mental vision. He
felt strangely, unaccountably happy.
He lifted his eyes to the passers-by
The spirit of romance descended
upon the stoutish gentleman and in
spired him to straighten his tie and
to brush the dust from his shoes with
one Of his very best pocket-handker-
chiefs. AS he delighted in these visions
Of loneliness, millinery and dry goods,
suddenly it occurred to him that per-
haps his wife was a little too ia
stout. He didn't mean to be disloyal;
no, indeed, Mary was mighty fine
girl, yet somehow she didn't seem
quite to measure up to these fashion
plates. If only
Here the stoutish gentleman gasped
and nearly swallowed his lighted cigar.
A lady Cor was 1t an angelO was ap.
preaching, her face turned haughtily
away. From head to foot of her per-
fectly rounded figure (the stoutish
gentleman would never have dreamed
of calling her fat) she was perfect.
The little gray slippers filed him with
ave. the charming droopiness of the
lowered hat which hid from him
almost the entire profile Of her face,
aroused in him dreamy curiosity
life is worth living, after ALL" he
reflected sentimentally, as his eyes fol-
lowed the vision with complete help
lessness. ny
Suddenly he felt that he must do
something heroic. He wished that he
were Sir Walter Raleigh and that
there were a mud puddle. He prayed
that mad dog might spring from the
tulip bed that he might STAY 1t before
her very eyes. He prayed that
Ye gods! His prayer was answered
before his lips could form the words.
Directly in front of him the divinity
let fall at his feet a filmy. perfumey
handkerchief.
With the gallantry of Sir Launcelot
and the grace Of a dancing master,
the stoutish gentleman stopped and
clutched the square piece of frailness;
then not quite so gracefully he un-
stopped himself. His face lighted
with glad expectation.
Madame" he began, in inspired
tones, "AllOw me He looked
straight into a pair Of lovely blue