The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-03
TODA Y'S SHORT STOR Y
Hard As Nails

y gathered in knots on the wide porches or under the trees. But Miss Thorpe always kept apart and was allowed to do so.
 II shall make no furthe rattempt to get on with her." Mrs. Tabor said. She was the stout, rosy one who was knitting the buff sweater.
 1T gave her up long ago" replied Miss Yale drowning over dropped stitch.
 "Sbe doesn't appeal to me in the least" said Mrs. Daleny. Why, the instant I haw her 1 knew I wasn't go- ing to like her. Don't you feel that way sometimes about people:" She ap- pealed to Mrs. Tucker who was thread ing needle. But as far as Miss Thorp is concerned I don't believe she cares whether we like her or not. She is hard as nails"
 Lima Dart spoke suddenly.
 I'm sorry for her." she declared, and flushed when she saw all the other women looking at her.
 Lima Dart was Magnus Darts daugh- ter and if it had not been for recent attack of influenza she would not have been at Lakeview at all, but at some other gayer resort. Aseit was she was the simplest, quietest, youngest thing there, and all the other women petted her
 I'm sorry for her" Lima persisted. "She is missing so much. If she'd only reach out little and let others reach out to her. 1 cant understand why she won't.''
 A little later she strolled out to a tree that dropped over the tiny lake where Miss Thorp was sitting alone on bench scowling into a closely printed book.
 Do you read philosophy all the time?" Lima asked gently. Don't you ever indulge in poetry or good novel?''
 Poetry" replied Miss Thorp, lis drivel, and I'm too old for romantic stuff, I like something that will stay by me-"
 Meat and potato will do that" Lima said, "but we all have Ito have our bit of dessert now and then"
 Miss Thorp gave the girl sharp look.
 You are 2O," she said. T am 45. You can't get my viewpoint, neither can I get yours"
 But" persisted Lima, while have not yet been 45 you must certainly have been 20, and you cannot have for gotten all of it."
 Instantly she perceived that she had touched q vital spot. Nothing so aghast, so affrighted was. ever seen as Miss Thorp's gray eyes. Presently she slapped her book shut
 Life" she said, sis volume ana you can close it just like that"
 II never shall" Lima said, glowing. "I shall want to turns the pages con stantly to see where Ishave failed, or what I've forgotten. Of course it all depends on what my volume contains, '' she conceded If it's that kind of a book it will be prosy."
 Yours won't be-" Miss ThOrp tuck ed back a lock of graying hair. Your volume will be chiefly lyric-now, if you don't mind, I'll just finish my chapter"
 It was no use. Lima could not get into the shell that incased that rigid nature, as sRe told herself. Miss Thorp was hard as nails" yet what had made her so? Lima with her boundless young sympathy and warm-heartedness loved everybody and could not get over the fact that Miss Thorp, too, had once been 20.
 So while the other women turned away from the consistently reserved woman she befriended her, going to her side at every opportunity. And grad ually she began to perceive that Miss Thorn regarded her at least in a diff ferent way from the others; it might almost be said that she welcomed the girls companionship.
 Still they never arrived at q point of intimacy where Miss Thorp ever re vealed to Lima any of her past history. She could talk amazingly well on cur rent topics, and the girl learned much from her, but she avoided mention of herself. Even when Lima in a final attempt to soften that hard heart poured out her inmost beliefs, Miss Thorp only listened without betraying any parallel in her own nature.
 Lima nevertheless was able to piece together bits about her. She had taught for 25 years-stiff subjects, mathematics and psychology. She boarded, having no home. Her salary was good and she had such excellent health that her work did not drain her energy. Summers she spent in the mountains, at the seashore, by the lakes. She liked change" Seeing a great many persons every day of the teaching year-her classes were always fuAl-Sne Olu nut CdIG uluCA AuE pcuplc' They bored her. She said once scath- ingly:
 Human nature is all of one piece, only cut in different patterns.
 1T don't like the stuff it's made of, that is all" Yet she did like Lima, That was apparent to even Lima after while.
 Then came the last night of Lima s stay at the Lakeview. She was leav- ing early the following morning to join her father With real feeling for Miss Thorp, whom she was leaving to un- believable loneliness, she drew the older woman to the bench by the lake and they sat watching the moonlit water.
 Suddenly a boat appeared, drifting, and from it came an exquisite young voice singing. The air, the words, came clearly It was that old song, Say Au Revoir."
 Lima, impressed by the beauty of the sound and scene, was snatched from her pretty musing by the sObbing of her companion. Miss Thorp,s head was on the back of the seat and she was crying as only women cry when their hearts are broken.
 Instantly Lina's arms were about her, her young cheek close to the wet one. And Miss Thorp allowed herself to be so held, so caressed.
 'sThat song" she breathed. Tt A.. L. IL. .