The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-21
By Juliet w. Tompkins.

NV at the crossing, fretfully
AVA tapping the edge Of the
pavement with his stick. Fifty
years of robust health, and a life
whereof every moment was filled
with absorbing business, had not
fitted him to yield gracefully to
his doctors orders. For him,
to put his keen eyes into double
sided blue glasses and feed the
park squirrels every afternoon
was a humiliation.
Companies were coming and
going, new plays opening, new
stars rising and old ones making
trouble, and the hand that held
the complicated threads of all
these movements was commanded
to take the peanuts while his
assistants bungled matters under
a scanty two hours supervision
day.
"Wait minute I'll take you
overv
The brisk voice spoke from the
region Of his shoulder, and a
hand in battered glove touched
his arm. Mr.. Rice stared down
in establishment at plainly
dressed young woman who had
taken charge Of him, but who
was not giving him so much as
a glance. The traffic poured by
them, but she stood serenely at
his side.
He was about to protest that
he was not blind, that, in fact,
he saw as well as she; but at
that moment she turned her
head. for better assurance Of his
safety, and her face was revealed.
'Why, you homely little thing!'
He nearly said 1t aloud in his
surprise, for the back Of her
neck had prepared him for some
thing quite different.
Nov, am going straight up
Fifth avenue" She spoke with
businesslike directness, as If femi-
nine shyness were not for her.
You are most kind" he said
gravely, yielding his arm more
generously to her guiding hand.
THAT was F'ifty-sixth street"
she told him with impersonal
cheerfulness. do you want to
go into the park?"
tive got to- he answered
gloomily; then, at the surprised
turn of her head, he made his
eyes blank under his dark glasses,
like the eyes of a blind man.
Doctors order" he explained.
The tightening of her hand
warned him of the next crossing.
IT suppose you think it isn't
bad fate, to spend the after
noon sitting in the sum-" he said
gruffly.
ut is what I often do myself"
"Why, in Heavens name? Why
should any able-bodied person sit
in a park?'
1T is better than sitting in a
lodging house, isn't it,"
But haven't you anything to
do?"
ooh, / attend 10 that morn
ings," was the vague answer.
She did not leave him at the
park entrance. When they had
bought the bag If peanuts. she
lead him to a pleasantly sunny
bench.
You'll like to feel that it's
there" she said, sitting down be-
side him.
II like to feel that you are
there" he threw cut aHnusedly.
so long as you can't see me-
she amended. 1--WE got the sort
of face that stops machinery"
"Really?" he asked gravely.
Yes. I look like a funny pic
ture postal" she stated calmly.
Il don't believe it is as bad as
you think was all he could find
to say.
Its worse. And you don't
know what stunt it is for a
homely girl to get a job"
You said you were busy morn
ings,' he encouraged her.
Yes. Chasing a hope" She
brought flat parcel from under
her other arm, and lovingly pat
ted it. I've written a play" she
added.
OF course she had written
play. He might have known it.
In Mr.. Rice's experience, young
women in shabby gloves had al
ways written plays. He cast
hastily about for an escape. But
before he could discover a dan
gerous chill in the breeze, she had
laid aside her package on one
knee. clucking encouragingly
fat gray squirrel
Mr.. Rice handed her the bag.
"You feed them" he said.
81 l.