Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-02-06
Lonely Middle Age


| were many boys ana maidenS. the lat
| ter all of an age that forbade my offer
| Ing them any attention. The young
| sters danced. played tennis and went
on straw rides together while | sat Oh
| the hotel piazza and smoked. | would
| have given much if one of The girls
| had treated me as she did her boy
companions.
There was one girl who especially
| struck my fancy. She was of viii
| lowy figure that showed to especial ad
| vantage in tennis suit | used 10
| feast my eyes ON her when she was
| on the court and listen 10 her mu-
! steal call Of Thirty ffr' Vantage"
Deuce" and the other counts in the
| score. | wished she would call forty
| love" and give me just bit of
| glance. Indeed, she seemed uncon
scious thai | was watching the game.
one morning | strolled up a noun
tain side back of the hotel and, turn
| ing Il clump of bushes, came upon
summer house There sat the young
| girl ! admired. reading Hearing my
step. she looked MP, and her face half
broke into n smile. which was sudden
| ly checked.
II thought you We're some one else.
she said Don't go away if You were
coming to enjoy the view here. You
needn't hind me. There's room for a
| dozen"
"Aad | wouldn't drive you out for
the world. On the contrary, | should
| ST. If'S IDnnlX
| enough for me at this place, anyway
why don't you miagle with the PEG
Pile? We all get acquainted right off.
There's no formality. acknowledgements
to everybody"
'"rhe younger set seem soclable; but,
you see don't belong TO the younger
set"
Dear me, how antiquated YOU talk!'
AT any rate. you are the first of the
young people who has spoken word
to me, and | doubt If you would have
done so had YOU not mistaken me for
another"
Don't sit there. II raned last night,
and that seat is wet
There was no dry place except be
side her and rs she glanced down at
1t. then ut me, resuming the smile with
which she had received me- sat down
so close TO her that her white skirts
brushed against my trousers. 1t was
Ike draft of nectar to one dying Of
thirst She did not hesitate to keep
her face turned toward mine, her eyes
sparkling her parted red lips display
| ing two rows Of white teeth. Why had
been so Indifferent to such blessings
when n youngster? Doubtless many
of the boys who were fitting from one
amusement 10 another would grudge
being shared in such a place and glad
to get away, but II wished could sit
there forever.
do you play golfg" she asked.
Yes"
Good And you win he on the links
tomorrow morning for the matchf"
Certainly But I doubt if | shall
play. | haven't my sticks with me"
You must shall be there. I'm
going TO play Maybe you1l be on my
side"
II sincerely hope ! shall"
The only thing to mar my happiness
was the fact that she kept looking
down the walk as though she expected
some one Then she turned her head
and glanced back OF us. | thought |
saw a slight change of expression In
her eyes when they were turned on me
again and wished to discover il she
had seen anything or any one behind
me- but that would have been mex
cusable.
what a singular lowcrr she eX-
claimed. and, reaching over the rus
tic rail, she plucked It, do you know
what II is"
Botany Is my favorite study. l took
the flower from her and examined it
while she bent over me- soon rec
ognized it as an odd specimen and was
giving her It's name and properties she
/ bending near me, brushing my cheek
with a few scattered hairs that had
been thrown off from the main whirl-
| pool on the top Of her head, when |
! heard step Looking up, | saw a
| young man in neeligee shirt and trou-
sers, a straw hat, the rim turned very
| straight down In front and very
] 0AiHlEnl UP III rear. lie WIS coming
! toward the summer house from above.
| There was blood in his eye
Pardon me-" he said to my compan-
/ ion coldly. II didn't think to interrupt
. tete-a-tete."
| Pardon me, rather" | SAID, rising
! Il found the young LADY, mean
! rose and sided away The girl
/ gave me no encouragement to remain.
though | gave her besecchng glance.
/ went down to the hotel and resumed
( my lonely place ON the piazza. Pres
emily the couple ! had left came down
| and went into the house The girl did
not notice me Indeed, | fancy she
! did not see me She looked little
flushed bur happy The young man
was still scowng
Who are ihey:" asked OF LADY
sitting near me
An engaged couple"
/ had served f1r snare TO bring
The fellow hack after a lovers quar-
rel
Tho paNf ln,.lfftftr ,,Itfl. -f+ty,r, -,