The Washington times., 1937-01-20

secure; and-outside in the street
you could hear it pouring in
through the open doors-the dull
mutter and rumble of traffic mum
bling. On. on, on, on'-and you
could hear the measured plop-plop
of big shaggy hoofs on the cobble-
stone? The same old loads were
still moving. Same kind Of strain
ing horses, bracing their lathery
shoulders against the same hot
collars, lashed and yelled at by
the same cloddiSh drivers; and
Elizabeth, up there, not listening,
but hearing; not gladly approving,
but accepting ...
"So-what .. Well-I'm afraid
I don't know. I can't quite define
it. Maybe it has no bearing at all
on the thing I've been trying to
talk about . Just know that
for an instant down at Saint
Olave's, there came over me an
almost sitting wave of-of COM
prehenSion. And I said to myself
If ever I get into trouble, I should
like to be able to come to some
place like this, where today's strug-
gle and pain is being hammered
down hard on top of yesterdays
and let mine be pounded into dust
and silence, along with Eliza
.beth's."
Phyllis had dashed over to a
little shop on Southampton Row
to load her camera. They were
going out to the old Caledonian
Market today.
While she was gone, Pat re-
ceived the cable. She sat down,
weakly, buried her face in her
hands, and dizzily considered how
with the least cruelty she might
break the shocking news. Phyllis
would be back at any moment,
eyes alight, eager to be off for the
days excursion. The door swung
open.
"Well-are we ready? It's going
to be lovely in an hour; you will
see What is it, dear? Don't
you feel well?"
Phyllis, would you mind very
much if we didn't 60 out there to-
day? I'm not quite in the mood
for it. Moybe the fog has been
dampening me. How about going
down to Saint Olave's-to talk to
Elizabeth? I believe I'd like to.
Well try out your little theory on
me. Agreed?"
"Of course, dear" consented
Phyllis cheerfully, a little dis
turbed by Pats sudden depression.
1--WE can go to the Caledonian
thing any time :. I think I would
be glad to have another session
with Elizabeth"
1t was only 10 when they
arrived and they had the little
church all to themselves. Walking
slowly forward through the
central aisle they seated them
selves in the right front pew
where they could look up into the
apse at the marble bust of Eliza
beth. For 10 minutes they sat
in silence. Stirred by the sound
of a suppressed sob and the sight
of Pats face wet with tears,
Phyllis interlaced their fingers,
and whispered, hopefully, Cant
you hear it, deal" :,
That doesn't matter so much,
said Pat thickly. Just so you
hear it."
"I do" Phyllis's tone was con-
fident. 1T thrills me! On, on,
on-not just going around and
around-but pressing on! Headed
toward something that has to be
worked out-not alone by Eliza
beth, or you, or me-or on some
particular day in 1869 or 1928"
Pat suddenly clutched Phyllls's
hand in both of hers, and whis-
pered, brokenly: "Darling-1 must
tell YOU now. Something quite
dreadful has happened I wish
it had happened to me. One more
tragedy wouldn't"
Phyllis paled a little and her
eyes widened, beWilderedly, as she
searched Pats distressed face.
She swallowed convulsively and
asked, with a nervous catch IN
her voice, "Pat-what are you try
ing to tell me?"
With agitated hands Pat opened
her handbag. took out the folded
and refolded yellow message,
tucked it into Phyllis's palm and
closed her fingers upon 1t. Then
she slipped to her knees on the
worn and faded haSock, bowling
her head over her tightly folded
I. arms The steady rumble of the
ancient city, symbolic of the ever
lasting procession. throbbed duly
. in her ears.
Phyllis stared at Grace's cable.
It was addressed to Pat.
FATHER AND MOTHER DIED
THIS AFTERNOON. ACCIDENT
TELL PHYLLIS GENTLY.
The message slowly slipped from
her relaxed fingers and drifted to
the floor.
Too stunned to concentrate, she
vvas conScio1lS only of a pang OF