The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-05-09
INDIAN
SUMMER
By KEITH GORDON
Copyright, 1905, by t. c. Mcclure

she presently unfurled when with a
sort of aimless reluctance she had
passed down the steps and out into the
September sunshine formed a vivid
background for the small, well set
head and face which was at once hui
morous and quizzical, as if the pageant
of life had raised in her an eternal
question and an accompanying smile.
AT the distance of a half block the
trim figure in its severe white pique
seemed all girl. A closer approach,
however, showed In the wavy dark
hair isolated silver threads-those out
riders Of time which come to lay low
the loveliest.
And, indeed, only few days before
two placid matrons who had cast off
their girlish slimness as a snake does
its skin and achieved In its place So
lidity and double chins might have
been heard discussing her case.
Strange that Elizabeth Ware doesn't
marry" observed one, as with eyes
bent upon her embroidery hoop she
caused a strange floral piece to bloom
upon piece of white linen. "She's
getting on. Let me see. She was In
the next class to me at Nine Dore's,
and Harold will be fourteen next Oc-
tober." Harold was her eldest child
one of those cantankerous pegs by
which matrons keep tab on the age of
their unmarried friends.
"She must be nearly thirty-five If
she's day." the speaker concluded
after brief pause, In which she de-
bated with herself what would be the
proper shade Of green to use for
maidenhair fern. "Her time is grow
ing short"
Her companion, engaged In a similar
employment, looked meditatively off
over the smooth shaven lawn which
seemed to share her own domestic
placidity.
'"Thtrty-fOur, think" she announced
In a voice whose preoccupation sug-
gested that she had been rummaging
In that prehistoric past which contain
ed neither husband nor babies. '"Thir-
ty-four, I'm pretty sure Still, she GER
tainly doesn't look it, and she's always
had plenty of attention"
In the absorbing interest of the flow
ers they were fashioning the subject
was dropped, but the thought wave
then started reached Elizabeth Ware
herself later on.
1t was wonderful day, full of mel
low, mature, indescribable charm.
Summer grows wise,'' Elizabeth
thought to herself, mo longer dazzling
and shriveling, but flooding the world
with tender light, yelling its splendors
In mists."
The strong, white, ungloved hands
twirled the parasol thoughtfully while
their owner drew in a deep breath.
There was something in the day that
stirred memories, brought back half
forgotten firtations, filed her thoughts
with vague, beautiful regret-the loss
of something she had never known.
Somewhere about a locust shrilled
its warning of the frosts to come
Miss Wares eyes grew dreamy, pen
sive with that questioning of the fu-
ture which will disturb the mind of the
minated woman until the last fence is
reached.
Had she perchance made a mistake?
She thought of her school friends wrap
ped In northumberland fiesh-who no
longer seemed contemporaries They
had secured their matrimonial prizes
yes, and sat down by the roadside Of
life, with no desire to fare further!
So far as she knew all were mildly
happy But beside them she felt ridic-
ulously young and joyous. A smile
touched her lips as she reflected that
it was with Harold, the fourteen-year-
old, that she preferred to walk and
talk, rather than with Harold's plump
and settled mamma
Then she reviewed the thirty-five
years that stretched behind her, fam
ing like the tail Of a comet, with vari-
ETY., with pleasant wanderings, with an
ever changing group Of men friends
who had added piquancy and deep
knowledge to her experience Exchange
that long, beautiful experience, that
brilliant after glow of youth which had
kept her radiant and alert, for the calm
happiness of her married friends?
Never!
Just as she reached this energetic
negative the approaching figure of a
man held her idle gaze. AS he came
nearer smile of pleased recognition
lighted her face. She could scarcely be-
lieve her eyes-Fergus Blynn, lined
and his meaning deepened by his ten
years of absence, but still undeniably
Fergus.
Before the gladness of the surprise
died out of her eyes he had seen her
and they were wringing each others
hands in smiling delight
'"The same old Elizabeth he said
warmly and yet with a little wonder
in his voice, which made her feel like
an anomaly. you used to be about
my age; but, great Scott, you might
almost pass for my daughter now!
How do you manage it, and who's the
happy man?'
He was walking beside her, and Ellz-
abeth turned her face to him inquiring-
ly. Then 1t dawned upon her, and she
voiced a rather superior "Ohp' before
she proceeded to explain that her life
partner tarried unaccountably. Blynn
eyed her shrewdly.
you seem to pass the waiting with a
good deal of satisfaction to yourself"
he laughed that is, If one may judge
from appearances"
ttV0T1 or,io5 80 oo,,~.1 -
questioned after she had assured him
that one might. He shook his head
with blithe gayety.
Yet l suppose we are the ones out
+ all that old set who would have
been picked out as likely to make ear
ly marriages" he went on. How I'M
der the sun do you account for it2'
ITS one of the things that can only
be accounted for on the theory that we
are both wise 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 1 used |
to go to school together oh, papa, he
must be an awful old mani! That's |
what you're going through again and
again. I've been through it until l
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 circum-
stances had sent Blynn to a distant I
land IN hY1cipacc oDtarr1y.ica po