The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

tone. ''Why-e-e. yes, she must be all
of thirty"
Forty one," muttered the listener
doggedly, the light of his new resolve
shining again in his eyes.
At 10 o'clock the entire party went
out to the pond, and Merriwether skated
and skated and skated until his teeth
We're clenched in desperation and his
forehead knitted in his efforts to hold
out as long as Mrs. Angel did.
That he was becoming a man of one
idea he acknowledged to himself that
afternoon on the sleighride. What
Gertrude dares, dare he told him
self in feeble jest. That sleighing party
was a nightmare to him for days after
ward The drifts We're deep, and the
sleigh was overturned again and again,
generally with Merriwether at the bot
tom of the heap, owing to the fact that
sleighs incline readily in the direction
of 220 pounds. Then, to vary the mo-
notony of the tipovers, there were miles
of hillside with a southerly exposure
where the sun had melted the snow and
obliged the party to walk.
Merriwether toiled up the slopes, hus-
banding his wind by maintaining 81
1ence, watching Gertrude's elastic steps
ruefuIly, and feeling his resolutions in
respect to youthfulness ooze from his
.'AH out for our last climb" cried
Roy, as the horses stopped at the foot
of a steep rise. This is our last HILL
Thank the Lord said Merriwether
devoutly behind his mustache. He
watched his chance when the atten-
! ton of the others, especially Gertrude,
was directed elsewhere, and then, as
sisting his pedal extremfties Iaborious-
ly over the side of the sleigh, he fell on
them heavily trusting to luck rather
than to his tired legs to keep him up
right.
Near the end of their climb he re-
marked to Mrs. Angel, with all the
nonchalance he could command, Il
should think you ladies would be a bit
tired"
a light laugh put him to shame. and
pair of dancing blue eyes met his
in a glance which stripped him of If
teen years and led him back to the days
when he had walked beside her with
never a thought of fatigue. ''Tiredi"
she returned carelessly, land by such
| little trip as this!"
That reply, coupled with the days
unparalleled sexertions. turned the tide
of Merriwether's resolutions. In his
room, before dinner, he eased his ach-
ing bones in a Morris chair and de-
I ESEiitttSH - ICluAA 10 the city early
next morning He would be old and
sensible and comfortable once more
He would forget Gertrude, as long as he
could not keep up with her youthful
ness
But. alas for his determination. He
nearly forgot his bruises and sprains
that. evening in the charm of Mrs. An
CELLS presence, and he noticed, too. with
a pang of something very like jealousy,
that Briggs, the youngest man in the
party. occupied his spare moments
looking in her direction.
TN see what the weather promises
for tomorrow" was his irresoIute COM
ment as he reached his room at mid
night and noted that Peter had ODE
dientIy packed his things. ready for he
$40 train. "If it should storm, maybe
was his last conscious thought, and
then he drifted off into land where
Gertrude spent her Christmases with
him beside a quiet hearthstone and
chaperoned house parties no more.
Next morning, when he awoke. the
snow was driving against the window,