The Washington times., 1937-02-03

i
Under the dreamy spell of his
own reflections, Parker became so
detached from his environment
that the people passing by meant
nothing but a succession of shapes
and shadows. A man drifted
out of the stream and joined him
on the iron bench, but Parker,
thoroughly absorbed, took no
notice of him. Presently the man
spoke.
BEG pardon" he said, "but
aren't you Mrs. Norma PhelpS?"
The reunion with Corley was at
tended by some peculiar Sensa-
tionS. Not to have seen familiar
face for six months or to have
oneself addressed in terms aSso-
ciated with ones true identity,
had brought changes in the lonely
fellow which he himself had not
been fully aware of until mo-
mentarily tugged back into the
life he had surrendered.
For a little while they tried to
conduct the conversation III a
light and bantering atmosphere of
persiflage. Eugene admitted, un-
der much hectoring, that his busi-
ness errand in the city had been
fortunately timed to coincide with
Elise's appearance at Trinity
Cathedral.
And did you ever hear any
thing like it, Newell?" eXulted Cor
ley. "She had 'em completely
hypnotized.
Newell agreed that Elise had
indeed put on a very moving per
formance, acquitting herself with
high credit and added: "She
would have had to do very poorly
not to have impressed you. It's
easily seen that you were in a
hypnoid state, at least, when you
decided to come"
YES" sighed Eugene comfort
ably, shes a great little girl"
THAT settles it." drawled
Newell, when a hard-boiled old
thing like you calls groWn-up
woman a great little girl it's
time to make out the commitment
papers"
When, after a while, the talk be-
came serious Corley sputtering
impatiently of Paige's aimleSS vag-
abonding-the vagrant grew rest
less and suggested luncheon. He
must 60 and feed Sylvia, he said.
You don't mean to tell me
that you take that dog along
everywhere you CO." chaffed Cor
ley.
TT wouldn't seem silly to you,"
Paige muttered, IF the only
thing you had left in the world
was dog" Suddenly. it oc-
Cured to him that this state
ment was giving the lie to his
real feelings. Frightening, he
queried, What did you think of
Dean Harcourt?"
There was a long silence be-
fore Corley answered.
"Well-you See"-he heSitated
-"all that sort of thing is out
of my line. I never think about
it-one way or the other. So
my opinion really isn't worth
damn. But-I'll say this
much; if somebody had gone to
the trouble of drilling that idea
of life into me when I was in my
teens" The sentence was left
unfinished.
TOO late, now, eh?" queried
Newell moodily.
Certainly Nobody does
any new thinking after he's 30"
"NonSenSe!"
II mean" explained Corley,
zone doesn't do any thinking
after 80 that demands a brand
new outfit of hypothesis con-
cerning himself and his place in
the scheme of things. You don't
believe it possible, do you?"
Il don't know" soliloquized
Paige. Il would give a good deal
to find out. I'm in the market
for some new ideas about myself
and my place in the scheme
of things"
Phyllis turned to Patricia and
smiled as the congregation rose
to go. Sonia. at the end of the
pew. was leading the way
They had brought Pat almost
by force to the Cathedral. Once
inside and seated, Pat had re
signed himself to the affair
rather indifferently, but when
Dean Harcourt began to speak,
she had gripped Phyllis's arm.
Sonia, stealing sidelong glance
at Pats enraptured face, smiled.
The Dean had taken Pat over
completely. 1t was almost anus
ing.
Sonia now led the way into
the library. Dean Harcourt had
shed his surpiCe and sat at the
big mahogany desk robed in his
long black cassock The three of
them crossed the room and stood
before him.
we aren't staying long" said
Phyllis. We wanted to present
DR.. Patricia Arl9n."
Patricia was uncomfortable.