The Washington times., 1938-04-16


DO she was, at 81.
She wondered if she looked so.
Though she knew that tie firm
for which she wrote good advertis-
ing copy rated you by your brains
and their output, she began to
imagine she had only imagined so.
She held out until the middle
of Saturday afternoon. Then she
put on her things and marched
her gray hair into beauty par
lor.
When everything was in readi-
ness for the regeneration. she
suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, this is
ridiculous!" and fled.
She faced the wind, hold-over
from winter, that was swlrllng
down Fifth Avenue.
LITTLE WHITE HOUSE
At Sixtieth Street she turned
off the avenue, towards home.
From habit she observed as she
passed the unrolling film OF pic
lures that is city block; hut the
one that she really watched was
In her own mind.
Nearing her present aboGe, Ma
rianna was reluctant to exchange
that picture for the reality of her
commonplace, if pleasant three
room flat. She was tempted to
step to a telephone and take back
her refusal of a weekend invita-
ton. But she was ashamed to.
Shed spend tonight and tomor-
row alone whether she liked it or
not.
She went part way up the steps
to read it. Antiques, it announced,
were being sold within. Mariana
was not the one to resist that lure.
AS she reached for the bell, the
door was opened by people COM
ing out.
MOURNFUL EYES
Through the first doorway she
could see a room that must have
been lovely before pictures and
mirrors had been taken down,
bookcases and mantel shelf turned
into display counters for small
things. and furniture pushed out
of arrangement.
She hesitated, then crossed the
threshold and began to look about.
A dining room was beyond the
wide arch at one end. Voices in
there were discussing a purchase.
In a few moments their owners
came through the archway. The
hatleSs man bringing up the rear
shot Mariana a glance, escorted
his customers to the front door,
and then returned.
He was tall and thin with
mournful blue eyes. His clothes
were nice but awry. He had a
haggard air.
We'll" he began, scrutinizing
her, what do you want to buy?
Got everything here" Before she
could speak, he motioned towards
a plump armchair and said des-
perately, sit down, will you
please? Because I have got to-"
With a groan, he cast himself
into a rocker and drew his feet
gingerly up from the floor an inch.
"This has been going on all day"
pranrncn1Ey
Mariana sat. She looked SYM
pathetic but slightly critical. You
must be half dead" she said. But
if you were so peremptory with
everyone as you we're with those
last two, you can't have sold
much"
TIME 1 MOVED"
He replied Grossly, well, I
didn't want a nice. self-respecting
old piece go to such dumbbells. :"
Its too bad these things have
to leave such a perfect setting"
Mariana said, looking around.
He rocked moment. "Oh, well,
ne I6GuI1eQ, WIldG ) G1le ullIcI-
ence? All out of date anyhow.
Time I moved into something
modern. Can't have people say
ing, oh yes-him. Bald old man
who lives in the brownstone front
with all the Victorian junk"
He was so serious, Mariana
smothered her laugh. "Why care
if they do?" she admonished.
But don't imagine anyone will. :"
mop" he retorted triumphantly.
"Well, I'm close to forty, and
they've said it already. I hap
pened to overhear them"
You'll survive it," she pre-
dicted. Don't you-aren't you
fond Of these things? I think
they're sweet. Are they heir
looms?"
Collected them" he told her.
"My grandmother left me an old