Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04
BY HOLWORTHY HALL

ears and unbearable pain, and then
oblivion.
A century or two later he OPEN
ed his eyes, breathed deeply Of a
s1ckly odor and made an indeterminate
squeak. and some one kissed him, and
an officious voice said, Get away from
there! What are you trying TO do
choke him? And then he was drowned
again In pain.
In another 100 years or SO he woke
up once more. to find himself gazing
up at a large strange woman in
nurses costume. who clucked at him
very annoyingly.
II fell downstairs" said Haviland.
conversationally. He was still slightly
fuddled by ether.
THE mischief you did," said the
nurse. Those stairs were broken,
and you fell through EN-. Lie still"
II hurt my arm" said Haviland, sur.
prisedly.
Hurt you ARM" The grenadier
nurse smoothed his forehead. why,
l should say you did. You broke il in
two places-and three fingers and
rib
Then. across his suffering, he was
mysteriously aware of n divine pres
ence. which spoke to him from afar
off. and in language with which he
was unfamiliar. He wondered, vague
ly. If this meant that he were dead.
But the illusion didn't last long, for
Alice was too convincingly real.
"Only-only what am I going to
do?" he said. II suppose they'll have
to pay me to the first Of the month.
when my contracts up, but after that,
what am l going to do?"
Her expression was remarkable.
PAY you the first OF the month?
Why, daring, when 1t was the hotels
fault-just plain negligence-and
you're q pianist-and-and it'll bs
such long time before you can
play again"
Can ever play AGAIN." he whis-
pered.
She didn't answer him, but went on
| with her previous speech. Why.
| darling, I've been talking to the man.
ager, and they'll compromise for S20,-
600 right now!''
What" said Haviland. and tried to
sit upright and half-fainted.
What did you talk to him for?"
She kissed him. Because I'm en-
gagged to you, and had right to!
But said thought you'd want twen-
| ty.f1ve."
"Oh," said Haviland. when would
/ get it?'
She kissed him. The minute you
sign a release. But I'm going to try
to get you twenty-five. Why, what's
the matter, darling?"
His eyes had suddenly filled with
tears. He was thinking Of his future
| "a future for which he could now
pay the premium in advance. He was
thinking of Alice's future. which
was pretty we'll guaranteed. He was
thinking of his mother, and he was
| thinking of Irwin. and he was think.
ing, too. of his crippled hand. A man
| Of Haviland's age can't break three
| fingers and play the piano too we'll
afterward. And he had loved to play.
| Alice's arm was around him, and she
was saying Cant you tell what it is.
darling? Can't your"
| "Oh, it isn't anything" said Hav:-
| land. Only when a mans spent 19
years-10 hours a day-to master his
profession--and then gets his chance
by falling through a servants stair
case"
He stopped short and grinned. But.
| by gosh.'' he said. Wasn't it lucky
. the boss was there 10 throw me out
| of the main entrance and chase me
around to the stage door? Wasn't 1t?
| But how can tell you about it-!f
you He sighed beatiflcally.
Conversation was too difficult, and II
was Alice who made 1t so. Never
mind: hadn't he a whole lifetime In
which to share the Joke with her?
Copyright. 1920