The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-02-21

A " cafeteria table and arranged
n the dishes. He thought bitter
ly of the dinners he had eaten
with Helen at that table. Not fash
i0nable restaurant, yet it served food
that was extremely satisfying, remind
ing them of the meals in the small
town from which they had come. There
was the same baked ham. full quarter
cuts of pumpkin and mince pie, and
coffee piping hot.
Gregory sighed as he tasted his to-
mato soup. Never, he thought sadly.
would he face Helen and hear her
comments on the happenings OF the
week. He recalled the quarrel, which
had terminated their meetings. He
realized that 1t had been largely his
own fault but he was too proud to
attempt a reconciliation.
"If she wants TO make up, let her
say So" he reflected.
His soup grew cold as he tried to
concentrate upon the Sunday paper.
At last he pushed away both the pa
per and the soup and reached for his
roast. How different the meat looked
from that which Helen had comment
ed on the week before.
"This roast is just like Aunt Tidy
cooks" she had said.
Gregory pushed his plate away, his
appetite gone. From his table near
the rear he looked toward the street
and debated whether to go into the
storm, raging with winter fury. ! 1t
seemed foolish to let a mere woman
take away his appetite. Suddenly, he
sat up as IL an electric current had
passed through his body. Four tables
away was a woman he recognized.
There was no one else who could wear
that blue hat with that air. Yes, it
was Helen!
She, too. seemed without appetite.
Her knife and fork lay unused beside
her and she looked into the street.
Her back was toward Gregory and he
could not see her face. He wondered
If she felt as he did.
A form passed and repassed the
street door, that of man wrapped
in worn overcoat, its collar turned
up to keep out the icy, snowladen
wind. The mans face was covered
with a stubble of beard, the growth
of at least q week. His cheeks were
emaciated from lack of food Greg
DRY did not look at him. He knew
that he was passing and repassing but
his thoughts did not go beyond the
fourth table. He did not notice that
the man looked hungrily at the food
displayed in the window and once or
twice moved as If to enter.
Gregory almost forgot his resolution
not to attempt reconciliation as he
watched Helen, so attractive. so charpl-
ing! Although her back was to him,
he could picture her eyes, SO beau
tiful. SO tender 1t is strange that
he did not think of his last glimpse
of them. They had been far from
tender then But he remembered only
more pleasant days when they had
reminded him Of violets or June skies.
The woman arose and started to-
ward the door. Gregory unthinkingly
moved to follow, but remembered him.
self before carrying out the instructive
action. Helen opened the door but,
instead of going outside. she beckoned
toward the form moving back and
forth there. The man obeyed her sum-
mons eagerly. Gregory could not hear
their words but, moment later, Helen
led him to the counter and told him
to fill a tray.
"Ill pay for it," Gregory heard her
tell the cashier before returning to
her table.
Later. the cashier presented check
and she counted out several coins. The
object of her charity sat at a table
near Gregory. who watched him. fas
cinated. He ate soup eagerly and aud
ibly and fixed his eyes eagerly on the
meat and potatoes to follow.
Evidently hasn't had quarrel with
his sweetheart" Gregory thought,
taking a sip from his lukewarm coffee
He finally gave up the task Of try,
ing to eat. His neighbor had emptied
his tray ard was resting in his chair.
as emaciated as ever. but his fam
ished look gone Gregory saw Helen
coming In his direction. His heart
beat foolishly as he wondered If she
would ask forgiveness. But she paused
at the next table.
"Was everything all right?" she
asked the man.
Great" he answered. "And thank
you. It's been months since I've had
a meal like this"
'That's all right" Helen said. hast,
lily. II just thought that you must
be hungry"
AS she was about to turn away. she
saw Gregory. Her eyes flashed and.
tossing her head. she went toward the
door. The tramp, with not crumb
left. followed. Gregory. realizing the
impossibility of eating. trailed behind.
Outside, Gregory turned up his fur
collar Although it was only midaft-
ernoon, the atmosphere was gray and
nlurlzv He Inohad .,hn.,t - - -.