The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-12-30
APRIL WEATHER


90. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

herself; little patches ut -ery green
grass bad appeared miraculously since
the night before; a very fat robin
strutted about a circle of wide blown
tulips and announced in a thrilled
twitter that The would a wooing GO;
UP and down the walks marvellous
hats Eyes, there we're ladies beneath
them) Haunted their PROJECTIONS 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 a
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, a stontish 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 dem
fist for the following Tuesday; most
Of all, he remembered the hundred
dollar check with which he bad 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 a 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 mt one breath, anc
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. Il
reckon you got it, too. It's Il mighty
good thing for this here bell that April
comes jest once q year..
In just one minute the stoutish
gentleman had crossed the street and
was occupying the bench nearest to
the circle ofa tulips Again he breathed
a long luxurious breath. Then he fer
got. Hnndrcd-dollar checks; ,bAid
spots and dentists chairs vanished
con- pietely from his mental vision. He
felt strangely, u~naccountably happy.
He lifted his eyes to the passers-by
The spirit of romance descended
upon the stoutish gentleman and in
spired him to s%traighten his tie and
to brush the dust from his shoes with
n Of his very best pocket-handker-
chiefs. As he delighted in these visions
of loveliness, millinery and dry goods.
suddenly 1t 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 a mighty fine
girl, yet somehow she didn't seem
quite to measure up 10 these fashion
plates. II only
Here the stoutish gentleman sasped
and nearly swallowed his lighted cigar.
A lady Cor was it an angelD was aI-
preaching. her face turned h~aughtily
away. From head to foot of her per-
fectly rounded figure (the stoutish
gentleman would v 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 Il dreamy curiosity.
life is worth living. after ALL" he
reflected sentimentally. as his ayes fol-
flowed the vision with complete help
~leSsness.
Suddenly he felt that he must do
something heroic. lie wished that he
were a Sir Walter Raleigh and that
here were a mud puddle. He prayed
that a mai dog might spring from tie
tnlip bed that he might slay it before
lfti fe1y SNtS. I1e 1IdSpd liIdl -.
Ye gods. His prayer was answered
before his lips could form the words.
Directly IN trent Of him the divinity
let fall at his feet a filmy, perfumey
handkerchief.
With the gallantry Of a Sir L%auncelot
end 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" lie 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 q moment he stood with the
little handkerchief dangling from one
plump hand. Then quite profoundly
he stuffed 1t into his vest pocket. His
ra~o In Ooro1 wcnnAorinw1v rrcr 49,