Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-09-15
CHAPTER II

Steve had cooked the dinner him
self, and apologized for it, explain
ing that his kitchen technique had
fallen out of practice during his years
of bachelordom before Aunt Cynthia's
visit.
"You shouldn't be SO modest, Stew
en-" Aunt Cynthia chided him. "That's
begging praise - though goodness
knows you've earned it.
"He's been home all afternoon" she
smiled in Linda's direction, "and he's
been worse than a bride with her first
dinner. Although I don't know wheth
er he spent more time in the kitchen
or before a mirror plastering down
that shock of hair. It's just like
Dan's-my brothers ="
Aunt Cynthia couldn't see the eff
feet her words had upon her nephew,
but Linda saw that Steve was wear
ing a complexion to match his steak
which was medium rare, and ex-
cellent.
Coming to Steve's rescue, Linda
inquired if Aunt Cynthia were en-
joying her visit.
Indeed, yes, Linda" she answer
ed. "The city is so alive, so beauti-
full. There's so much to see and to
feel and to enjoy. Up on my little
ranch it's so tranquil and uneventful
that life just seems to stand still.
There's no one there but myself and
the Henedrsons-he runs the ranch
and she runs the house-and one day
seems just like the next"
"I imagine it would be very rest
full" Linda said, not knowing what
else to say.
cit is-if you want rest. But I've
rested for nearly seventy years, and
now want to kick up my heels and
how do they say it?-go to town!
Well, now that I've come to town to
see Steven and my doctor, both Of
them tell me that must take it easy
Just what I've been doing all my
life"
maybe that's the best way to en-
Joy life," said Linda. "Lots of peo-
pie would envy you-to be able to
to take it easy"
"But 1 fool them," Aunt Cynthia
smiled, "Steven and the doctor. If
they won't let me go out and see the
world, the world comes to me. I've
seen it all, in cross-section, right in
the lobby of your building, in Titan
Tower.
"I've seen life and laughter and
happiness and, little of the tears
and tragedy. I've sat on the bench
in the building lobby and watched
the world go although I couldn't
see it with my eyes. I've seen life
there, in all its phases, life that peo-
pie with two good eyes-too busy to
be bothered-would never look for :"
Aunt Cynthia paused for breath.
Her excitement and enthusiasm were
a strain upon her.
give heard the little boy, whimper-
ing in fear, on his way to the dentist
and heard that same boy come out
laughing. I've sat with young wife,
expecting motherhood, nervously a.
waiting great adventure, and talked
with that same girl later, over the
+. cries of the baby she bore. I've made
friends with several people who were
old and sick and sat there like I did,
watching life go by-but in a differ
ent way. And I lost these friends
because the end of life caught up with
them and they didn't come back any
more.
. "People's voices sometimes tell
more about their character than their
looks, because character, too, is more
than skin deep. That's the way I've
seen the thousands who come in and
out of Titan Tower. I knew you,
too, Linda, although you didn't know
me. That's why I said I'd seen you
when 1 first heard your voice here
so many times; that's why I knew,
without seeing you, that I loved you
tonight"
When the remarkable meal-one
that Linda felt was the most remark
able of her life-was over, it was
Steve's turn.
Linda" he said, after they were
comfortably seated in the living room
ct asked you to do me favor-a big
favor. 1 told you it meant more to
me than almost anything in the world.
This is it: Will you let me use your
name?"
If he had suddenly asked her to
take his, it would have surprised Lin