Smyrna times., 1905-05-10
INDIAN
SUMNER
By KEITH GORDON
Copyright, 1905, by T. c. Mcclure

,ba presently unfurled when with a
.,rt of aimlcss reluctance she had
oossed down the steps and out into the
contpmber sunshine formed a vivid
a background for the small, well set
bood and face which was at once hu-
morous and quizzical, as if the pageant
~ life had raised in her an eternal
ouestion and an accompanying smile.
At the distance of a half block the
Trim figure in its severe white pioue
seemed all girl. A closer approach.
4 however, showed in the wavy dark
3 hair isolated silver threads-those ont
riders Of time which come to lay low
q the lOveliest.
3 And indeed, only a few days before
4 two placid matrOns who had cast off
q their girlish slimness as a snake does
its skin and achieved in its place So
! udity and double chins might have
been heard discussing her case.
strange that Elizabeth Ware doesn't
marry observed one, as with ewes
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-
4 tOber." Harold was her eldest child
one of those cantankerous Degs nv
which matrOns keep tab on the age of
a their unmarried friends.
4 "She must be nearly thirty-five if
she's a 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
madenhalr fern. "Her time is grow
ing short"
Her companion, engaged in a similar
employment, looked meditatively off
Y over the smooth shaven lawn which
seemed to share her own domestic
4 placidiry.
"Thirty-four think" she announced
in 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
bad plenty of attention"
In the absorbing interest Of the flow
erS they were fashioning the subject
was dropped, but the thought wave
I then started reached Elizabeth Ware
herself later on.
1t was a 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 it's splendors
IN mists."
The strong, white, unglOved hands
twrled the parasOl thoughtfully while
their owner drew in a deep breath.
There was something in the day that
stirred memories, brought back half
forgotten flirtations, filled 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 cOntentment-and 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
1t was with Harold, the fourteen-year-
old, that she preferred to walk and
talk, rather than with Harolds plump
and settled mamma.
Then she reviewed the thirty-five
years that stretched behind her, fam
ing like the tail Of comet, with vari-
ely, with pleasant wanderings, with an
ever changing group of men friends
VINO had added piquancy and deep
knowledge to her experience. Exchange
mat 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
man held her idle gaze. AS he came
nearer a smile of pleased recognition
ngnted her face. She could scarcely be-
neve her eyes-Fergus Blynn, lined |
anu his meaning deepened by his ten
years Of absence, but still undeniably
Fergus.
BEFORE the gladness Of the surprise
weu out Of her eyes he had seen her
anu they were wringing each others |
uauus In smiling delight.
The same old Elizabeth" he said |
marmly and yet with a little wonder
- us voice, which made her feel like
~ anomaly. "You used to be about |
NY age; but, great Scott, you might
~ r,llost pass for my daughter now! |
h" now DO you manage IT, and who's the
uappy manY"
he was kootJo - - MT.