The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-07

The barbaric red Of the parssol which
she presently unfurled when with a
sort OF aimless reluctance she had
passed down the steps and out into the
September sunshine formed vivid
BACKGROUND for the small, we'll set
bead and face which was at once hu-
morOus and quizzical, as II 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 a few days before
two placid NATIONS who had cast of
their girlish sIimness 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 a 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 c6ntankerous pegs by
which matrOns keep tab on the age Of
their unmarried friends.
''She must be nearly thirty-fve If
she's a day." the speaker concluded
after a brief pause. in which she de-
bated with himself what would BIS the
maideshair fern. Her time Is grow
Ing short
Her companion, engaged ina similar
employment, looked meditatively of
over the smeoth shaver lawn which
seemed TO share her own domestic
placidity.
Thirty -four, think she announced
in a voice whose preOccupation sug-
gested that she had been rumznaging
In that prehistoric past which contain
ed neither husband nor babies. "Thir-
ty-fouT, I'm pretty sure. SdlL 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 fashionfng the subject
was dropped, but the thought wave
then started reached Elizabeth Ware
herself later on
II was a wonderful day, full Of mel
low, mature, indescribable charm.
Summer grows WISE" Elizabeth
thought TO herself, no longer dazzling
and shrivehng. but fooding the world
with tender light, veHing its splenders
Ia mists."
The strong. white, ungloved hands
twirled the paFasOi thOughtfulIy while
their owner drew in a deep breath.
There was something In the day that
stirred memories, brought back half
forgotten Airtations, filed her thoughts
with a vague, beautiful regret-the loss
Of something sheshsd never known.
Somewhere about q locust shriIled
fits warning OF the frosts to come.
Miss Wares eyes grew dreamy, pen
sive with taat questioning OF me Tu-
ture which VIII disturb the mind Of the
minated woman until the last fence is
reached.
Had she perchRnce made a mistake?
She thoughtsof her school friends wrap
ped in contentment-and flesh-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 ride
ulously young. and joyous. A smile
touched her lips as she rejected 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 Ike the taH of a comet, with vsri-
ETY., with pleasant wanderings, with an
ever changing group Of men friends
who had added piquancy and deep
knowledge't o,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?
NeVeFt
Just as she reached this energetic
negative the approaching figure Of a
man held her Idle gaze. AS he came
nearer a smile OF pleased recognition
lighted her face. She could scarcely be-
Heve her eyes-Fergus BlyRn, lined
and his meaning deepened by His ten
years Of absence, but still incidentally
Fergus.
Before the gladness Of the surprise
died out OF her eyes he had seen her
end they were wringing each others
hands In smiling delight.
1.-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 10 be about
my age; but. great Scott, you might
almost pass for my daughter nowl
How do you manage II, and who's the
happy manT'
BE waswalkfng beside her, and Ellz-
abeth turned her face ID him inquiring-
- H.