Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-07
Begins Tomorrow

e"'Sh anu Souuu WHICH seemed 10 ne
trying to repeat over and over an in.
expressible delight. Q paused in his
arranging OF the volumes and stood
with his eyes hall. closed. He had
never so poignantly felt the spring be.
fore. He reached over to the top Of his
shelves and opened Mary's letter, which
ne had been saving to read at his
leisure. Suddenly, with spring in his
throat, he couldn't wait. 1t, was brief
and unsteadily written.s The little
father was dead.
II think happiness was too much for
him, .. He had never in his life been
happy.-only brave and patient. am
glad he lived to see his book. Aunt
Selda came to see him, Mt the last.
After he had sent her some money she
had lent him. 1t seemed to hurt her
terribly-his death. She cried. am
going away from this house. I can't
sen,sws,.a bear i any y more. I'll be teaching
@ put down the letter. He looked
pale and fierce. He strobe out, whistled
to his grazing horse. swung into the
saddle, and turned toward space. All
afternoon he rode, his hand resting for
comfort on the pony's neck, and, dark
coming upon him far from home, he
picketed the animal and lay down be-
fore a fire under the stars. Up there
beyond them now the little philosopher
was free. Doubtless, thought Q, he
sat and discoursed quaint wisdom to
the spirits of just men. What didn't
he know now? What didn't he under
stand ?-the shakiness made steady, the
watery eyes clear, the lips healed Of
their patience, the brave panache lifted
into light by the glow Of the lamp
fire Q rre-read Mary's letter. It was
and explained a memory Of the spatter-
crying over it--crying over his lessons.
Why-in the name of wonder? Why?
This small problem he pondered half
the wakeful night under those con-
stellations Henry Grinscoombe had
named for him once in July harvest
field. And, before dawn, guided by
the one small light, he slept with an
Illuminated heart.
Miss Myrtle Clayton. very slim, very
languid, very much waved as to hair
and very much manicured as to fingers,
minding the desk at the River Hotel,
was instantly aware of gently spoken
question and lifted her head.
"Can I have Room 90 on the fourth
floor, lady?'
She looked into the speakers eyes
and there her observation stopped and
stood quiet. Miss Myrtle Clayton
pushed forward the hotel register.
Eyes, SIR" she said. Room 90"
The stranger wrote his name, Q. 7.
Kinwydden, and added an address.
Then he turned to blond elevator boy,
who dropped his jaws and dilated his
prominent eyes.
"Hullo, Bill" said Q. They gripped
each other by the hand.
aren't you tired Of your buzz. box
yet? Have they given you raise?"
Nope" grinned Bill, regretfully:
I'm lucky to hold down my job"
They mounted slowly, Bill swallow
ing some incomprehensible obstacle un-
der his collar. r
haven't any buzz box in my hotel,
but, say. you can learn how to chop
wood. How'd you like to roustabout
for a change of air-and wages?"
The lift faltered, fell, caught itself
together and bounded upward, bound.
ing to a stop at the fourth floor. Q
murmured something and stepped out
precinitately. Good" he said,
Things is Just as dangerous In these
parts as they used to be-"
Bill tumbled after him along reno
waited hall. In Room 90, also renovat'
ed, he began to stutter. ,.,,
"S-say, mister. do you mean it|'
IT sure do. What you waitin' for
tig?" . ~. =. pm
shouted, and, crimson in the race, ne
bolted, slamming the door and reeling
along the crimson hall, drunk with the
thought of change, of liberty, OF un-
restricted hero worship. :,
O strolled over to tho window and.
looked down upon Main street. 1t was
unchanged-still cross between Sugar
City and Oil Corners, and no compli:.
ment to either. Q bathed and dressed
and ate his dinner soberly-a better
dinner, served by far less striking
waitress. Miss Sherman and Miss
Winters were away. School had closed.
1t was already June.
After dinner, the Westerner, with a
white face and brilliant eyes, strobe
down Main street and turned into
familiar lane. The beating, OF his
heart disturbed him: he found IT
difficult to breathe. The house was not
closed, the door even stood open IN lts
across @ it's threshold and stood, dumb
and breathless, in the doorway Of the
tinv parlor. 1t was stripped of the
familiar things. Mary looked up from
n trunk before which she was kneeling
on the floor, clapped her hands together,
and. falling back against her heels,
snread both those small, hard. working
hands over a throbbing, flaming face.
she was In black; very small and
slim she looked-her hair sparkled
ruddily. He came over and lifted her
IN and, shaking uncontrollably, drew
uo"S Miss M Mary--I haven't forgotten
vour copy-'Still waters run deep
NV pride and my will was set wrong,
but II was YOU my heart wanted from
the frst. Only-I'm sure the gol l-dern-
dest iEnorantest srowed man In the
She looked up, flung both her arms
about him, and, shutting her eyes
tight, she put her mouth quickly
against his.
And speaking stopped. a..
A little crescent moon above tne
still, high tops Of frs; below, a camp
fire glowing dimly, ponies cropping on
dewy hillside; up there a snow .peah
dizzily high " 80 lay In MS plahKets
and watched the crescent moon: a
shining figure seemed to shape itself
below 1t, dressed in silyer-it wore
small and scornful smile. turned
from 1t restlessly, rose on an elbow and
stretched out his right hand. 1t grasped
another hand, warm and small, and
Mary, waking, sighed contentedly and
MARY" Q whispered, II had to ask