The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21

tervals: Its positively the first year that
I've missed having a birthday party; or
4 always look forward to- the celebration
of my birthday as much as | do TO Christ
mas or the Fourth of July and 1 do hate to
miss it,; or some such gentle hint as that;
so finally said Well. Matte it's just going
to be little informal party, but if you'll
put I'D with il we'll call 1t your birthday
party. OF course IL had known that you
were going TO spend your birthday with us
I'd have made more elaborate arrange
ments. But evidently Matte thinks that
any paTtys better than no party so in
stead of being just a George Washington
party, father and 1 are giving Matte
birthday party"
Pretty Aunt Killy snuggled her dimpled
chin down in her muff. well. l think ii 1
Were Matte I'd choose a Washington party
rather than a birthday party, she said,
way" Mothers face crinkled into a smile.
"Oh, Mattie's perfectly frank about it, she
said with voice that gurgled in a way that
Della. listening. knew meant laughter pres
emily. ''She admits with insistence that it's
actually her thirty-fourth birthday and she
isn't bit ashamed of II. She thinks it is
so silly for girls to attempt TO hide their
"Oh; then she really is over forty" said
Aunt Kitty sweetly. But then / was GER
tain of that before"
Fathers deep voice joined in just then.
''Well. il said. I'm not particularly fond
of discussing such uncertain matters as
wOmans age. but in the bosom OF my fam
lily | don't mind admitting that my cousin
Matte IS forty-one years old. And IN view
the manly thing in owning up to thirty
four"
Aunt Kitty's face crinkled, too. Deed,
and / think so, too she cried. when I'm
forty-one I'm only going to own up TO
twenty-eight and when Mela is forty-one
I'm going 10 be just forty" She flung away
her muff and gathered 'Melia, fairy book
and all. up against her nice snugly seal
skin coat.
dinner table that night. She wondered how
IN felt 10 be forty-One-Aunt Kitty seemed
TO think II was a thing 10 be avoided. She
knew however, that she couldn't ask Cous-
In Matte anything about II. for father said
that his remark was for the bosom OF his
family. and while Cousin Matte was rela-
tives il was only mother and father and
Aunt Kitty and herself who We're FAMILY.
Father had said also that II was nice
manly thing OF Cousin Matte TO own up
10 thirty-four, and go a feeling or distinct
admiration for Cousin Matte, mingled with
the usual kindly federation OF Melia s feel
ing as she watched Cousin Matte glancing
from the corners OF her eyes or bobbing
her head coquettishy at Mr.. Smythe, who
was fathers very best bachelor friend.
The next day, which was Saturday. some
thing delightful happened. Aunt Alice who
lived in a little town just short distance
away. teiephoned mother that she was
Obliged to go East suddenly and could she
leave little Cousin Joe and little Cousin
Madge with herr And 'Melia had scarcely
time TO realize the situation before Aunt
Alice and Cousin Joe and Cousin Madge
and Samantha Burberry cousin OF
Madges best beloved dolly, were whi-led
up 20 the house In an automobile cab, and
then presently Aunt Alice was whirled
away ana Cousin Joe and Cousin Madge
sure neither OF the cousins was as big as
'Melfa. But then they were more delightful
playthings than dolls and since Melia was
the biggest the little visitors followed her