The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-04-13
Rejuvenating
Edward B.
BY ELSA S. GRANT
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

maps Emma couldn't herself, unless
1t was because she loved him so
much. Whenever the neighbors saw
Emma filling her pulley line with
clean clothes or dragging her little
cart through the streets with a bas-
ket of washing they would shake
their heads and tell one another
what they thought of that Hawley
man, Edward B.
Edward B. was a tall, gangling
man with thin hair and black mus
taches under straight nose. He
had a limp in his right leg and
carried a thick yellow cane. Be
cause of this limp Edward B. had
not done stroke of work for six
years.
One morning he found a letter in
the front hall as he was leaving for
the park. He brought it out to the
Kitchen. Emma dried her hands on
her apron and sat down by the
kitchen table where the light was
good. Letters were rare and Ed
ward B. lowered in the background
watching Emma's face for signs
that would indicate whether the con-
tents were fortunate or otherwise.
ITS from sister," Emma con-
fided at last, tucking the letter in
her apron pocket. "She sent us a
little something to keep us going"
"How much?" Edward B. asked,
holding out his hand for the letter.
Twenty dollars" Emma an
sWered, ignoring his hand and re-
turning to her tubs. Her thoughts
were on needed shoes and clothing
for both of them.
Twenty dollars!" Edward B.
was elated. There's a swell little
radio" he crowed, chat I've had
my eye on for a long time. It's
Just the thing to put up here in the
kitchen. Only fifteen-ffty."
When Edward B. returned for SUD-
per - he had prudently remained
away at lunch time-he found EN-
ma sitting alone in the living room
attired in her best clothes.
Edward B." she called out to
him, you change over. We're going
to the Jewel Box for supper"
The Jewel Box was fronted by
two wide plate glass windows with
brass rails. In each there was a
rubber plant in green tub and
green baize curtains hanging from
brass rings on poles across the
back. In one window a card an
nounced that supper was seventy
five cents and in the other a card
stated: Dish Washer Wanted.
They ordered the seventy-five cent
dinner and it was brought to them
SavOury and warm. Edward B. sat
straight in his chair looking down
his nose at the other patrons. He
pictured himself as an actor giving
a small dinner party. He joined
Emma's conversation only in mono
syllables. He was distant and pre-
occupied and at first Emma did not
notice she was so buSily engaged
in enjoying the dinner and her sur
roundings. When she did become
conscious of Edward BIS distant at
titude toward herself, his detached
manner, then was she truly hurt.
She was trying so hard to enjoy
herself, to make the most of this
little excursion into a realm so long
denied to her, that Edward BIS in
difference to her presence hurt be-
yond measure.
The waiter brought the charge.
Edward B. looked at it and then
nodded at Emma. She'll pay it,"
he murmured. Anger famed white
hot in Emma.
"But you have the mon
ey," she heard herself saying soft
ly.
"Me?"
Edward B. went slowly through
his pockets, all of them. Emma
looked in her purse. The manager
came and spoke to the waiter.
whats wrong, Joe?"
Cant pay" the waiter answered
gruffly.
1.-TWO dinners, eh?" the manager
observed 81 noticed you two before
you came in here. Well, you can't
get away with that game on me-"
He turned to the waiter. crush him
out to the sink, joe" Then he took
Emma by the arm as she picked up
Edward BIS hat and yellow cane.
"You can just wait outside"
1t was embarrassing. Edward B.
was hustled out to the kitchen and
the diners were watching as Emma
was led toward the street. At the
entrance, where the cash desk stood,
she jerked her arm free.
Here's your money" she said,
opening her purse. The manager
looked surprised, but took the bill
and went behind the counter. Emma
counted the change and slowed it
carefully away.
You've card in your window
for a dishwasher, she said. ''Take
it out, you've hired onel"
In the kitchen Edward B. was
soap to his armpits before an ever
increasing stack of dishes. He
looked helplessly around. He had
1oef eOropthino vital his cana FIN