The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-29
The aalieha nai1y gag SUNDAY lorino, alay g. 1904

nature. She would not have much
strength to stand alone. she would be
what life made of her.
Il don't know" said Gertrude Some
times 1 wish that someone would teach
me. Mother is always so busy. and les
sons are all right, but it isn't what I
mean. There is so much all round us,
and its like being blindfolded. L wish
l knew"
Gerald stared. Reveries like these had
never troubled his head. Life TO him
was a time to be happy and TO enjoy ones
self; certainly not a problem TO be
wrestled with.
Its all right. Gerty, dear" he said;
don't worry. In a few years we shall
all be grown up and as jolly as possible.
] wish it was now he added. This
place is well enough'-he looked through
the trees at the old house all bathed in
glory by the setting san-''bat its very
slow here"
81 wonder If We shall be happier?"
said Gertrude slowly. II tell you what.
You are going to school, Gerald. in a
week. and L suppose things win be diff
ferent to you. And Ada will be out in
mother Let's agree to meet here five
years today, and talk truly and tell each
other what has happened. Do let's
I'VE shall forget said Gerald. the
practical. Five years is a long time"
mo, we won't forget answered Ger
trude- The rare color came into her
cheeks. and flushed them with a tender
rose. She pulled down a branch of honey
suckle from the roof and tenderly de-
tached three flowers: THAT is for you
and for you-and for me. will send you
another flower when The time comes. ahd
then you will know
But where will you be?'' said Ada,
wonderingly. You will be out, too.
Gerty. and going about. You Will not
remember either
Gertrude shook her head, and her eyes
sought to glowing skyi that was begin
ming to pale into twilight. That would
not be her life. She knew it with the
makes no mistakes.
"Mese enfants. mes enfants, mais en-
trez done. Maeame votre nero serait
desolee de yous savior lei a cette heure
nduer'
The shrill voice cut the evening air.
Mademoiselle could be heard exclaiming
and wondering and appealing. apparently
to the frightened rabbits, and one be-
lated bird, who was complaining from a
bush, as she approached their
hiding place. They had no mind to be
&, scovered, and she hated damp grass,
so they met with mutual satisfaction at
the edge of the wood. and proceeded
homeward as quietly as mademoiselle's
excitable nature would permit.
Meantime Lady Verrier was pursuing
her usual round of life at Homburg. She
was a person of little or no. ina gina ton.
so she always did the same things at the
same time of year. and this was her sea-
son for taking the waters, and for giving
herself leisure for observing the symp-
toms Of mysterious nerve complaint
which she kept as resource for mo-
ments when other occupations failed her.
Lady Verrier was-well, certainly over
she had not given up the
of youth. There had been
cotilliou at the gursaal the night before.
and she had pleasant remembrances of
the many tinsel flowers paper flags, and
pretty toys which had fallen to her
share from various admirers. Yet she
was not quite happy. She had always
been a popular woman, but she had
come to that difficult moment when the
of youth, if it is to continue,
must emerge into something different.
under penalty of looking ridiculous. She
had a glimmering of this. for she was
not quite a fool. When a woman is
quite young, it does not matter to the
outside world what she is or what she
says, but how she looks Sand how she
saws it. Only, as she gets older, the
froth of appearances becomes ridiculous
unless there is something solid under
Meath it, Even the most frivolous feel
this more and more clearly as time goes
on. But there Is no help And they
stifie the temporary misgiving by an
Extra dose of frivolity.
Lady Verrier was, as always, exquisite
V dressed. She had been very beautiful.
md even now, with her parasol at the
right angle. and a becoming veil. she
ooked hardly older than she had done
twenty years before.
Not that it would have mattered. Her
avorite partner of the night before was
sitting beside her He was young. Her
,avorite partners were usually young
nen now. He had been told that Lady
verrier was beautiful. and a person to
De seen with. He took her on trust, and
lnless some malicious person pointed out
o him that her charms were on the wane
t was almost certain that he would never
notice il for himself.
The little tables on the terrace began
% fiji up for tea time. German officers
n their becoming blue uniforms, were
making the most of the scanty knowl- !
,dge of the English language, and Eng
ish girls. knowing no German, were smll-
ng back at them in the universal lam |
.uage of the young. Solid fathers OF
English families. who had been doing the |
,ure, gave their sofe hats knowing |
ock. and frightened up in way which |
would have seemed impossible at home. |
md over all was the brightness. the ir- |
the general air of taking !
ife less seriously. which makes for
IGN town so attractive, and hides the I
,rim struggle with poverty fercer still |
han at home. which is going on around /!
n the while.
You are going away tomorrow? said I
'a0t. PerFfSpN. NIltNNiAAS Il AAeAiS 90 - 1
eptinnent into his eyes, which somehow /
eemed appropriate to his domburs hat. /
nd the general surroundings of the /
lace.
Lady Verrier sighed softly. Alas. /
es." she said somehow il always /
,appens; when one is almost happy, it is
ime to move on"
WHY move on?" said the man at her /
ide. still more gently. surely there can /
,e no necessity. And think how We
ONE of us especiaI'y-wiIl miss you.
LADY Verrier smiled up at him. She