New-York tribune., 1906-07-01
Judge Dams Errand
By ALICE
LOUISE LEE

girlish: And her face too beied her
forty-hve years What would the local
board do with that? he wondered Il IL
was not beautiful FACET never had HI
been-but 1t shone with an inner IL
radiance, which lit it as the soft fire
hight illurnned the room There were II
hneS on her tace, it IS true lines of II
experience and age; but across them all III
ana almost concealing them were the II
hnes Oh buoyancy and hope Her dark II
halr was banded with white: but it was Ii
arranged as classically and becominglv II
as IN the old days, when he a son of H
Amherst, used to visit Smith where the IL
Empress Katherine ruled III
A halt-smIle interrupted his sigh as II
ne Iald his hat on a table and seated
himself on one side of the fireDlace
\ where he could watch the expressive
II face OF Katherine Rogers. He leaned IF
/ forward and rested both hands on the IL
mead OF his cane which he planted
II hrnlly between his knees The pre- IE
ceptress had seated herself in low
wicker rocker on the other side of the
CRATE, and leaned back with the restful
air which he remembered well
ou carry home with you wherever
you go repeated the Judge. And
then when YOU reach YOUR destination Won exnand
your ideas bit-and prestol there IS the homo
that all see. Yes, YOUR room IS very rleasan+
and the man looked around, feasting his ewes on
the httIe decorations trtes which he did not under
stand, but which made a subtle atmosphere that
his big stone house up the hill lacked
It's the first time you have seen nv room. is #
not: asked Katherine brightly, pulling a small
workable toward her
Yes. l have not thought of calling upon YOU
since you came, said Judge Damn simply for
several reasons one, that people would talk You
know people always will talk of the unusual 3"
with a glance at her skirt and another smile and
1t certainly would be unusual for me to call on any
lady. l am not considered social
The woman selected needle and some silks
- l am sorry to hear it. You miss much in life 1t
makes US old to avoid our fellow-men Did YOU
ever think of that, Your honor?" looking up with
a mlschlevOus CLEAN IN her eyes. She began work
on dov
The Judge looked at her delicate white fingers
IN silence TOR an instant. Yes, perhaps it does
make us old this retirement into self" he said
slowly, and added grimlv: But what if YOU
found yourself more agreeable than your neighbour?
Katherine Rogers eyes danced. She leaned for
ward and said quickly: DO you confess it? So do
/ and then tipping back her small rounded chin
she laughed merrily. 1t the laugh to which the
trustees Objected-too girlsh, mere giggle, they
said The Judge chuckled in sympathy with the
laugh.
But you know, Judge Damn, I am bound to be
young. Now, at twenty l felt old and worried.
was a caretaker. At fortv-ive the world appears
brighter. l have learned much of life that / can
afford to be Young. 1t was too costly an expert
ment at twenty | feel young l intend to act Young
and be young. See? and again her glad laugh rang
out. At fortv-tive defy the world to apply to me
a term | won at twenty old Am | not in the
right of it
Judge Damn looked at the window and smiled
1t was a smile containing more OF the wine of life
than his face had shown in years. He was catching
the spirit of youth so frankly shown him by this
slim energetic woman. You are in the right
of It surely, he said slowly. 1t is not a question
OF right or wrong. It's question of how young
YOU can feel
Ali" the reply came quickly, g I feel more than
dare show in nv present position. | should
nd me f,f 61icyl1