The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-05

wFinkled. bent old woman. some.
times she ran miles and miles NJ
stretch, darting sprlngng like
lawn, rushing thru the soft. green
leaves, lcaplng rock and rl. her
LAUGHTER echolng, her bare limbs
flashing, her gold hair streaming.
her sosnty silken drapcries whipped
TO shreds behind her by the very
swiftncss OF her going oh. the eos.
iasy OF that The excitement
OF course Ma did not actually run.
Neither did her bare limbs flash
being eneased In flannels. No. she
hair was not gold. II was gray.
what little there was OF t. No, she
amhled a bit. perhaps. where the
grass was short and the ground
smooth, then she stood still. closed
her eyes, and ran and lcaped and
swayed and darted-with her arms.
Anybody can do Il.
At other times she defied Eravlia
ton, a secret Accomplishment all her
own. which she manifested In this
wise. She would begin TO jump
higher and higher. and the higher
she jumped the lighter she became.
until finally she weighed no more
than a thistledown. and the effort
Of leaping became pure Joy and
an cNhilaration. Having attained
this perfect state OF buoyancy. she
would set out upon wonderful jour.
neys. springing lightly as far as II
pleased her TO spring. soaring grace.
fully over obstacles, and deriving a
dclirioua pleasure from the sensa.
ton. One cannot appreciate the en-.
toyment TO be had from this method
OF locomotion without trying II.
And always when Ma came back
10 earth and opened her eyes there
were tho great smiling mountains.
the clear. clean waters foaming
over The rocks. and underfoot was
the cool. green grass. not that hot.
hard 'dobc clay she had always
known. Trees. too, Beautiful wills.
pering trees. with smooth leaves in.
stead OF burrs and spines and stick.
ers. Nor was there the faintest
choking smell OF dust: no sand blow.
ing up her nose and smartinE her
eyes.
Ma Briskow had never dreamed
that the world was 40 clean. She
blessed God for making oil TO lie
in tho rocks OF the earth. and she
prayed that none OF them hotel
people" would discover her retreat
But, OF course. somebody did dis
cover u. Mr.. Deiamatcr. the dane.
Ing instructor. for one. stumbled
upon II while Ma Briakow was in
the midst OF one OF her imaginary
games, and he reported his discoy.
cry to the day clerk.
What ais that old dame, any.
how7" he inquired. after recounting
Mas peculiar behavior.
Not thing in the world except
money" the clerk declared
Doubtfully Mr.. Delamater shook
his handsome auburn head. People
with good sense don't act like that.
She was doing an IGadora Duncan
when ! saw her. Dancing-lf you
care TO call II that! Anyhow. her
hair was hanging. she was Tapping
her arms and juggling up and
down" Delamater laughed at the
memory. There's a big. awkward
bird-sort OF crane or buzzard OF
some kind-ihat dances. never
saw one. but Shc reminded me OF Il.
And che sang. Geel Il was fierceg'
Did she ace your
Scarcely. don't mind being
alone with Aiiier-Delams,er teeth
shone IN smile, then. seeing his
reflection in a convenient mirror. he
studied II with complacent favor.
He tried the smile again. aud. get.
ting IL to hts better satisfaction.
concluded--"don't mind /, bit. but
in a bosky dell with n mad woman Is
my idea OF no place 20 be-"
"Aliie?T The clerk lifted his
brows. "so-.Ailieg Has IL gone as
far as that. Del7"
oh. you know how II Is, A les.
son every day. soft music, arm
around the waist. kind word. The
girl Is human. I'm probably differ
ent to anything that ever came into
her young life. Look a, my ward.
robel She's not 80 bad TO take.
either, and yet" The immaculate
speaker frowned. Father smells
like a horse. and mothers a NUT
Gee, 1t would take some coin to
square that"
That's one thing they've got"
asserted the clerk. Nothing butw