The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-06-04
Lonely Middle Age
lOriSiCal.l

aH bachelor or forty, an age
where a man must expect young girls
to consider him q MethuSelah. Last
summer l went to a resort where there
were many boys and maiGens 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 on
the hotel piazza and smoked. l 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 a will
Lowry figure that showed to especial ad-
vantage in tennis suit ! used to
feast my eyes on her when she was
on the court and listen to her mu-
steal call of '"rhirty-ff" "Vantage!"
''Deuce"' and the other counts in the
score. I wished she would call forty.
love" and give me just a bit of a
glance Indeed, she seemed uncon-
scious that was watching the game.
-One morning I strolled up noun
tain side back of the hotel and. turn
Ing clump of bushes. came upon a
summer house. There sat the young
girl l admired, reading. Hearing my
step. she looked up. and her face half
broke into smile. which was sudden.
ly checked.
Il thought you were some one else"
she said. Don't go away if you were
coming to enjoy the view here. You
needn't mind me. There's room for
dozen"
''And I wouldn't drive you out for
the world. On the contrary. should
not care to stay here alone. It's lonely
enough for me at this place. anyway"
why don't you minSle with the peo-
plef We all get acquainted right off.
There's no Formally. Everybody speaks
to everybody"
THE younger set seem sociable: but.
you see. l don't belong to the younger
set
Dear me. how antiquated you talkr'
AT any rate, you are the first OF the
young people who has spoken q word
to me. and l doubt If you would have
done SO had you not mistaken me for
another"
Don't sit there. 1t rained last night,
and that seat is wet"
There was no dry place except be-
side her, and as she glanced down at
it, then at me, reSuming the smile with
which she had received me, l sat down
SO close to her that her white skirts
brushed against my trousers. 1t was
like a 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
l been so Indifferent to such blessings
when Il younGSter? Doubtless many
of the boys who were fitting from one
amusement to another would grudGe
being shared in such L place and glad
to get away, but IL wished l could sit
there forever
''Do you play golf?" she asked.
Yes"
Good! And you will be on the links
tomorrow morning for the match?"
"Ccrtainly. But / Doubt if l shall
play. haven't my sticks with me-"
You must. l shall be there. I'm
going to play. Maybe you'll be on my
side
Il sincerely hope shall"
! The only thing to mar my happiness
I 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. l thought |
saw slight change of expression in
her eyes when they were turned on me
again and wished to discover If she
had seen anything or any one behind
me. but that would have been mex
cuSa BILE.
What n singular fowerr she ex.
claimed. and. reaching over the rus
tic rail. she pIucked it. DO you know
what it iS:
Botany is my favorite study. took
the flower from her and examined it
( while she bent over me. | soon rec.
: ogniZcd it as an odd specimen and was
giving her its name and properties she
lending near me. brushing my check
with few scattered hairs that had
been thrown Off from the main whirl.
pool on the top of her head. when I
heard !: stop. Looking up. l saw Il
young man in ncGliGee shirt and trou
scrS. Il straw hat. the rim turned very
straight down Ill front and very
straight up in rear. He was coming
toward the summer house from above.
There WAS blood i'll his eye.
Pardon me-" he said to nv compap.
ion cnlilE. II didn't think to interrupt
Il tctca -tetc."
Pardon me. rather | said rising
Il found the young LADY, meau''-
rose and Si,llcd away. The girl
gave me no encouragement to remain
though gave her Il bcSeeching glance
| went down to the hotel and resumed
my lonely place on the piazza. Pres
entity the couple had left came down
and went into the house. The girl did