The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-03-31


neverforeiven example OF Il. what.
ever's the joke ~ itg- she demanded.
when ono day she found sabre
speaking OF Major Mtilet. another
neigheor and great friend of hers.
as ''old Hopscotch Millet."
''whatevcr's the joke OF M lie
doesn't play hopscotch.-
NO. but he bounds about" Sabre
explained you know the way he
bounds about. Mabel. He's about
ninety"
I'm sure he liant. nor fifty
well. anyway. he's past his first
youth. but he's always bounding
about 10 show how agile he Is. He's
always calling out Rite or and
jumping to do thing when there's
, no need 10 jump. Hopecotch. What
can you call him but Hopscotchf-
"But why call him anything" Ma
bel said. 'fiis names Miii-t."
Her annoyance caused her voice
20 squeak. why call him any.
thlngs-
sabre laughed. wen. you know
how a ridiculous thing like that
comes into your head and you can't
set rid OF Il. You know the way"
Mabel declared she was sure she
did not know the way. "They don't
como into my head. Look at the
rcrches--not that care what name
you call them. Rod. Pole or prrchl
What's the sense Of 1T What does
II mean"
sabre said II didn't mean anything.
You Just get som, one called Perch
and then you can't help thinking Of
that absurd thing rod. pole or perch.
II Just comes"
Il call II childish and rude Mabel
said.
Mrs. Perch was a fragile little body
whose life should have been and
could have been divided between her
ever. as she said. always on her
legs" And she was always on her
legs and always doing what she had
not the strength TO do. because. az
she said. she had always done u"
She conducted her existence In the
marrow space between the adamant
lwaIi OF tho things she had always
|eonc. always eaten. and always
worn. and the adamant wall of the
ninEs she had never done. never
Atrn. and never worn. There was
not much room between tho two.
She WINS intensely weak sighted.
bet she never could find her EiasHes
and she kept locked everything that
would lock. but She never could find
her keys. she held off all aeauaint.
ances BY the rigid handle Of that
hsfxs their names. but she was very
fond OF that Mr.. sabre" and Sabre
returned a great affection for her
With hia trick Of seeing things with
his u~nfal vision he always saw old
Mrs. Perch toddiing with moving lips
! and fsmbiing fingers between the
iron walls OF her prstudices. and this
was a pathetic picture to him. for
!, ease or pleasure ~~rs not dlscernibls
between the walls. Nevertheless Mrs.
, Perch found pi~asnr-s therein. and
tho way In which her face then III VI
adtsed. 70 Sabre. an ind.acrthabls
, poirnancy 20 the pathos Of the pic
tur-. she never could pass n baby
| wfshou, Stopping 10 adore IL. and m
astounding tide OF Regeneration
would then flood up from mysterious
, mains. willing upon her silvcrre
! cheeks and thru her dim eyes. stiil
! ing the movement Of her lips ane
the fumhlirx motions OF her fingers
{ Also amazing tides Of glory wher
: shs was watching for her son. ane
) saw him
!, Young Perch was a tail and Sigh
Z young man With a happy laugh ans
an air which suggested TO Sabre
= after ptnziemrnt. that his spirit wa
1 only aiighs.d In his body as birs
!, alishts and swings upon twig. no
!. engrossed In his body. lie did no
/. look very strong. His mother sais
; he had n weak heart. He said III
y had a particularly strong heart ans
8 used TO protest. 'oh. Mother. d
= wiah you wouldn't talk that bosi
}. about me- To which Mrs. PEREZ
y would say. ITS no good saying yol
1 haven't got a weak heart bccaus'
) you have got weak heart an.
K you've always had a weak heart
9 Surely ought 20 know
q Young Perch would reply. -Yo'
4 ought TO know. but you don't kno.
> You get an idea in your bead ans
n nothing viii ever get II out. Som
Q day youTl probably get the idea tina
, I've got two hearts and II Sir Fred
e crick Trevcs swors before the Lor'
4 Chief Justice that I oaly had on
:. heart you'd just say. The mans |
e perfect fool You're awful. yoi
:. know. Mother
!. He used 20 reprove his mother iik'
that
Mrs. Perch would give a grim iItti
= laugh. accepting his weatness.
Z That was how they lived
d Young Perch always carried abou
in one pocket a private pair OF spec
= tacIes for his mother and In anothe
d a private set Of keys for her mos
5 used receptaeics. when the searci
3 for her spectacles had exhausted
L even her own energy. Young PEREZ
= would say. well. you'd better US
d these. Mother" IL was OF no use q