The Washington times., 1937-01-27
NOW READ ON
By LLOYD g. DOUGLAS
Cosmopolitan Production Soon to Appear in War

piece was entitled Evening. The
minister rose, and everybody
stood with him. He closed his
eyes and said, Shall we pray?"
It occurred to Parker that
the psychology of this query
was unfortunate. Surely, If
other people were as Indifferent to
the exercise as he, himself, they
should be urged, if not positively
commanded, to make the adven-
ture. He was still thinking about
this as he held one side Of the
frowsy hymn book from which
Mrs. Brock sang with ferVor. The
Bible, a sad book, was read with a
becoming gloom. And our Elsie
arose to sing.
Her selection was a simple little
thing, probably chosen with con-
sideration for the organist'S in
experience, but our Elise could
sing! She was a pure contralto.
Parker was amazed and delighted.
Elise meditatively leafed through
the album of Chopin Preludes on
the desk of her cherished baby
grand until she came to Number
20. Tilting up her chin and clos
ing her eyes, she gathered up into
her strong, slim fingers dozen
resounding measures Of the most
potently heart-stirring chords she
knew.
Thus cleansed and reinvigorated,
she rose, carried the tall glass vase
out to the kitchen, changed the
water she had poured in at 6, care
fully shipped off an inch from the
long stem of the white chrysanthe-
mum, and restored it to its place
on the piano.
Resuming her seat, she sang
"He Shall Feed His Flock" realiz-
ing that she was doing it uncom-
monty we'll. She drew a deep sigh
and her fingers softly Stroked the
ends of the white keys. Now Slip
pered footsteps and the familiar
reek of iodoform brought her back
to say, gently, Through for to-
day, Gran'pa?"
Elise had not turned her face
toward him, but her mental pic
ture of the kindly spirited old man
was, she knew, entirely accurate.
An affectionate smile softened the
white-bearded lips. The great mop
Of silver hair was tousled. The
knowing eyes were so black you
couldn't define the pupil from the
iris.
Sure you don't want anything
more to eat?"
"I should say not! The Pipers
had everything they'd ever raised
on the table, including a tough old
gander. And I was ready for 1t,
you'd better believe. Big job Of
carpenter-work I had to do out
there.
bad break, was it?" Elsie had
heard the details twice, but knew
he wanted to talk about it.
'Nastiest fracture ever saw, I
think. Young Jud-maybe told
you this-had been up in an old
hickory shaking limb when it
broke with him. All of Is feet. 1t
was a nasty one Right there.
"Potts fracture" we call it. Look.
He put UP a foot on the piano
bench, rolled down hs woolen sock.
and diagrammed the accident.
Elise was appropriately Sympa-
thetic and presumed that the Piper
tribe was badly upset about it.
well" sighed the old man
wheezily, sinking into the deep
chair that was still warm with
farm machinery, ''it can't be
helped. How did you find the folks
over at Clara's?"
Suddenly Frightening, Ellis e
swung herself around on the
bench. and having casually dis
missed the perfunctory query
about Clara's folks, remarked,
"And I met the Mr.. Parker who
has come here Toto get away
from everything while he does
some special study. Perhaps he's
writing book about it, though he
didn't say so. He wouldn't, OF
course. Very modest. Doesn't
talk about himself, at all"
"Oh, yes; he's the tall, city-look,
ing fellow with the white sweater
and the bird-dog. Where does ne
hail from?"
"I didn't ask him. Up North,
somwhere." Elise's hasty dismiS
sal of this question proved its un,
Importance. But he is a gentle.
man; perfect manners. I know
you would like him, Grandpa. He's
your kind of a man"
They walked out of the post
office together. Elise completely
forgetting the apprehensions that
had bothered her a few minutes
earlier. 1t seemed the most natu
raj thing in the world to be walk
ing down the street talking to Mr.
Parker, and the fact that Leeds
could see him accompanying her
home did not disturb her in the
least.
Grandpa's indisposition being
L. l. Hka