The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-05-25

"Yet l suppose we are the ones out
of all that old. set who would have
been picked out as likely to make ears
ly marriages. he went on. "How I'M
der the sun do you account for it?'
Its one OF the things that can only
be accounted for OH the theory that we
are both wiSa beyond our time," was
the mock grave answer. Then in a
teasing tone she continued: MY, but
you're going to have a lovely time.
There are about two dozen little and
big Johns, Marys, Charles and Franks
for you to admire.
This is your Uncle Fergus the
fond parents will say He and l used
to go to school together .Oh, papa, he
must be an awful old man. That's
what you're going through again and
again. I've been through it until
wish the word aunt were blotted out
of the language"
On and on they walked, talking with
undiminished interest AS he remark
ed in reply to her suggestion that it
was time she turned toward home,
the more they talked, the more they
had to say.
Never had there been the slightest
sentiment between them, though they
had been good friends until c1rcum-
stances had sent Blynn to a distant
| land on business enterprise. He re-
| called her as the best of cOmrades-a
| girl with no nonsense about her. But
he could not remember that in the
| eXuberant days Of his youth, when he
| had made love in turn to most of the
| girls of their set, he had ever included
her. AS he watched her now from the
corner of his eye, losing no whit Of her
mature grace, he wondered by what
charm she had been held immune.
Up to the moment Of their accidental
meeting II he had thought Of her at
all his mind had only brushed her
identity along with the group Of old
friends, all of whom 1t would be gen.
tie, half sad pleasure to see again, II
only to fix a standard by which to
measure how far he had gone, for it Is
only thus by comparing ourselves with
the friends with whom we were once
abreast that we can gauge our progress
or estimate our failures.
Yet now he had q curious sensation
| Of having stumbled upon something
| that he had craved-something the lack
| of which had made him restless and
| Ill at ease, and as the conviction over
| spread his mind in all its amazing GER
tainty his manner grew distracted.
Then he became alert with a sudden
purpose. With something Of his old
| impetuosity he reasoned that here was
| a matter that had been deferred long
enough.
II his instinct told him so much at
| that first meeting he was doubly sure
Of it at the end Of the following month.
He seemed now 30 himself to have re-
turned home for the express purpose
of seeing Elizabeth. Her society was
I like long drafts Of cool water from
some boyhoods we'll. He hadn't
thought much about the water at the
| tiHe. One never does. He had sup
posed that all water was cool, clear and
|
| There was but one such well-but one
| Elizabeth.
cit isn't decent for a woman Of your
age to be husbandless," was his scorn-
full way Of beginning the attack.
/ ''Oh, l don't know was that lady's
easy rejoinder. ''We spinsters have
our uses Think how we serve to point
morals. Why, I've no doubt that my
self have been the object lesson that
has saved more than one sweet young
thing from celibacy. / can just imag-
inc a, mother saying, You'd better not
be too particular or you'll be an old
maid like Beth Ware!"
| He grinned into the dark, debonair
| face for a moment and then scOwled
portentously.
! you've had your own way too long,
| young lady! What you need Is the sub
DUNG effect Of masculine guidance, and
| frankly should like the post.
Remember, you let me go away once
BEFORE" he went on in an aggrieved
tone, seeing that she was about to pro-
test. 'Of course you did. If you had
been the right sort Of a girl, wouldn't
| you have taught me that loved you
even then?
4 She laughed outright.
| 81 happen TO remember that you
| were head over heels in love with Har-
| ODDS mamma about that time" she
| jeered. Anyway, we're too old for
| sentiment. Our spring and summer
| are over"
eyes, they are" he admitted, with
gravity. 'But this love Of ours"-his
tone rang with the mastery of one who
Is sure-''we'l call it Indian summer"
c s.-..