Watch Your Step

It was the peals of laughter issuing from our Temperance Hall that made me pause. Laughter is rare to-day, and this was so infectious that I stopped to investigate. All I could see was a poster advertising a  visiting phrenologist about which there seemed nothing intensely humorous. The laugher came again and I slipped inside.

Round the hall strode a young man, face set, as if on a walking championship. On the platform the "professor” imitated the walk amid roars of applause. 

What is it all about? `` I whispered to my neighbour. "

“Character by your walk, Great funt" she whispered back. the young man had regained his seat and the audience leaned forward expectantly.

“You haven't a young lady, have you?" asked the Professor, “No? I thought not. and you won't have while you walk like that.”

He did a little acting and we saw a gasping girl trying to keep the pace and indulge in light conversation, As the laughs subsided, the Professor summed up the quick, decided, if somewhat intolerant character revealed by that walk, to a whispered accompaniment of "Would you believe it?" and "Isn't that just him, now?"

I had not realised as I passed up and down the streets how different from one another are the walkers in a e jostling crowd, and it came as a shock to see the contrast made by the next boy, Hands in pocket, cheerfully unconcerned, he slouched round the room, while the professor, imitating a few steps, interpreted

tI don't care a hang for you or for anyone.'" 

"You are the sort of chap", he went on ”who will simply weak out of your job one day because you feel like it - and probably forget to ask for your wages too.” The lad grinned appreciatively, but stiffened up at the words of warning that followed. 

 "Several girls had been fidgeting impatiently, and, no sooner were lady volunteers called for, than they sprang up one after the other. How different they were! How surprisingly they revealed themselves by those tricks of speed and carriage! Patter. patter, patter went the little, compact lady, fast, competent and purposeful. Blow end steady were the Poct of the middle-aged women whose firm jaw was additional witness to one who “knows her own mind," The gawky girl who followed supplied the contrast with her hesitating, uneven tread.

Pushed by her friends, the shy Little girl got to her feet and fluttered, round, hand to heart, dropping thankfully back into her seat with a gasp of “Why did you make me?" Hat a tilt, perfectly turned-out, the complete minx paraded. 

One by one we went through it, to our own discomfiture and the joy of our friends. Not to be outdone, I rose to my feet. As I tramped round, conscious of my short steps and the distance to be covered, the Professor's voices came to me hazily, and it was only as I regained my seat that I caught the phrase “Intensely individual.” I picked up my ears. He had certainly said it of mc. In a glow of pride, I missed the next sentence and only awoke to reality as the next victim began her march. It was all I  had hearrd, but as I passed out of the hall, I felt I had had my money's worth. Next week he will be there again. Perhaps if I tramp some more, I shall hear other pleasant things of that intensely individual person --