The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-03-13

uor1ng her question, "that women re-
tain their youth so much longer than
men"
She paused with her hand on the
candle and looked back. II think" she
replied thoughtfully, its because they
insist Oh doing youthful things"
There it is again." he thought, with
IN internal groan. He would be obliged
10 skate and dance and do all the other
uncomfortable things which forty years
ana 30 pounds shrink from. Still as
w watched her move about the room
the burden OF it did not seem so oner-
Gus after all.
Therefore he danced not badly, but
laboriously, all the while admirlng the
graceful ease Of Gertrude Angeles mo-
tons.
AT least" he determined resolutely,
"I'll not be caught skating, as l was
dancing, without n bit of practice" 1t
was / Il. m. when he made this resolu-
ton and issued the command to his
man, peter, get me up at 7-unless,"
in sudden inspiration, lit Should be
storming."
Promptly at Z he was awakened in
rebellious frame of mind. "Stid as
cart horse" he grumbled. II hope it's
showing like blazes.'
The man raised the shade and looked
out. "Sky clear as whistle, sir"
SO, with his sleep cut short two hours
at both ends of the night, Merriwether
dragged himself and the pair Of skates.
produced by his thoughtful nephew,
out to the pond behind the hill. For
an hour he skinned his knees, bumped
his head and disturbed the equanimity
of his temper before he was able to
move alone with moderate speed and
keep his feet under him.
When he went in to breakfast he was
thankful for a few moments alone in
front Of glowing CRATE fire. He
stretched his aching legs toward the
heat and rubbed the back of his head
where bump was appearing which is
not laid down in chronological charts
and pains from which were darling in
every direction. He listened idly to
voices in the hall until Siis attention
was chained by two comments made
just outside the door.
isn't she perfect delight of a chap
eron? And so young too! She can't be
thirty"
The reply was given In a doubtful
tone. "Why-e-e, yes, she must be all
Of thirty"
"Forty-one," muttered the listener
Il 90 u; Ixra
shining again in his ayes.
At 10 o'clock the entire party went
out to the pond, and Merriwether skat-
ed and skated and skated until mis-
teeth were clinched in desperation and
his forehead knitted in his efforts to
hold out as long as Mrs. Angel did.
That he was becoming'a man Of one
idea he acknowledged to himself that
afternoon on the sleigh ride. "What
Gertrude dares, I dare" he told HIM
self in feeble jest That sleighng par
ty was n nightmare to him for days
afterward. The drifts were deep, and
the sleigh was overturned again and
again. generally with Merriwether ut
the bottom of the heap, owing to the
fact that sleighs incline readily in the
direction OF 220 pounds. Then. to vary
the monotony of the tip-ovcrs, there
were miles of hllsides with a souther-
ly exposure where the sun had melted
the snow and obliged the party to
walk.
Merriwether toiled up, the slopes, hus-
banding his wind by maintaining ST.
Ience watching Gertrude's elastic steps
ruefully and feeling his resolutions in
respect to youthfulness ooze from his
chilled finger tips.
"All out for our last climb" cried
Roy as the horses stopped at the foot
of steep rise. This Is our last hill"
"Thank the Lordv' said Merriwether
devoutly behind his mustache. He