Middletown transcript., 1921-06-25
APRIL WEATHER
Bv GAIL WHITEHOUSE.
A99o9P9P9E R9gg * xxx,

UullulnS there StlEttu d uIecLc, ~
gay, carefree as aarum-scarum Aprli
herself; little patches Of very green
grass bad appeared miraculously since
the night before; very fat rooin
strutted about a circle of wide blown
tulips and announced in thrilled
twitter that "he would WOoing go
up and down the walks marvellous
hats Eyes, there were ladies beneath
them) Haunted their perfectiODs to
the world at large.
And on the row of benches on either
side of the walk a 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 :. ana
slightly romantic. Oh, April is glddy
sort of person!
Yet in spite of all this loveliness,
and fashiOnableness, and ninety-nlns
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
stoutish cigar, and was quite unhappy.
OF course his collar still cut his
neck, he still remembered that the
barber had discovered 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 batter.
He shifted cautiously Of the atmos-
phere of the square; then he snlffed
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.
"NIy goodness" grinned that young
person, as he opened the door. Il
reckon you got it, too. It's mighty
good thing for this here bell that April
comes Jest once year"
In Just one minute the stOutish
gentleman had crossed thee street and
was occupying the bench nearest to
the circle Of tulips. Again he breathed
a long luxurious breath. Then he for
got. Hundred-dollar checks, bald
spots and dentists chairs vanished
+ completely from his mental vision. He
felt strangely, unacc0untably 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 loveliness, millinery and dry goods.
suddenly it occurred to him that per-
haps his wife was little too fa-
stout. He didn't mean to be disloyal;
no, indeed, Mary was a mighty fine
girl, vet 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 it an angelD 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 filled him with
awe, the charming droopiness Of the
lowered hat which hid from him
almost the entire profile of her face.
aroused in him a dreamy curiosity.
life is worth living, after ALL" he
reflected sentimentally, as his eyes fol-
| lowed the vision with complete help
| lessneSs.
Suddenly he felt that he must do
something heroic. He wished that he
were q Sir Walter Raleigh and that
there were a mud puddle. He prayed
that q mad dog might spring from the
| tulip bed that he might slay it 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 a Sir Launcelot
and the grace Of 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
eyes.
MARY" gasped the stoutish gentle
man, "M-Mary!"
For a moment he stood with the
little handkerchief dangling from one
plump hand. Then quite profoundly
he stuffed 1t into his vest pocket. His
gaze fingered wonderingly upon the
youthful face; then, with unheard-of
daring, he slipped his arm through
the cool, gauze covered one Of the
beautiful lady.
"Cm on. Mary" he suggested
radiantly. Lets 60 to the Chin'man's
and have a chop suey and ice cream
and-let's 60 to the movies and every.