Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-30
BEING FORTY YEARS OLD

pied women ready to set their Gang
for every good looking young widow.
err"
but, sec here, Anne! You don't
seem TO realize that while you are
Getting old shall be growing old
90. guess they wouldn't want TO
'et their caps for me Ly that time.
There wouldn't be n chance for me-
lot much."
81 see. You gi-udgc me the few
months | have left. But you needn't
worry. will not be forty! won't
We forty! | don't sec why need al.
ways DO the one TO endure the dsa.
,reeablc things. And you don't sym.
1athize with HE one bit. Henry
Thompson! Yon can stand there and
grin like n heather image: but / am
the one who has to suffer-"
Thompsons vaclous grin was not
IN expression of amusement.--he felt
ar from mirthful.-.> was merely
his unfortunate habit when confused.
He was confused and at sea utterly.
To find Anne-steady. smiling, old
,hum. Anne-in this mood unsettled
Ill his foundations. At last he said:
But other women have been forty
md lived through II. Why" he grasp.
q at a sudden inspiration, I'm forty,
INST. myself"
other women may like Il. They
may enjoy sitting all bumped over in
n rocking chair and having the con
'ersation directed over their heads
rs II they were children, because they
can't hear. and being put TO bed with
4 hot water bottle at night. and hav.
'alse teeth but toll you. Henry
Thompson, don't enjoy the pros
,ect! I'd rather die first. And las
for you. what difference does II make
with a man whether he's n few years
older or younger. He doesn't seem to
mind. With woman it's different"
Dinner that night was sorry meal.
To one wholly Diseased with the idea
that premature age and early disso-
'utlon are Immediately unavoidable,
'ho preparation and service OF meals
are perfunctory duties, and eating is
l farce turned tragic.
Henry saw Anne's tears drip in her
tea. with Tightening at his throat
md mist In HIS eyes as he realized
that the situation was beyond him.
After dinner he excused himself on
tome trivial pretext, and made has.
ty visit TO the old family doctor. who
had known Anne since she wac n
and adviser. FEe told him the whole
Of the absurd story.
II tried to reason with her. TO ar.
que her out of It: hut the more
alked the worse she got 1t seemed
almost like what imagine hysteria
must be. though have never seen
Anne hysterical," he concluded.
"Oh. you stupid men!" groancd DIR.
Whitaker when will you get sense
enough to be husbands? Tried to ar,
que her out OF 1t! Let me see-how
long have you boen married. Thomp-
SOM"
Fifteen years"
And fifty. | do not try TO argue
with Mrs. Whitaker yet. and trust
/ never SHALL"
But what Is the trouble. doctor?
What shall do? can't stand il like
this"
You can't stand IT." and the old
doctors eyes flashed in their grlzzled
setting. 1T is she who can't stand
It, and don't blame her. You've
been good 10 her-of course. you have
IN your nice. proper. moderate, dead
ly. dull sort of way. Sued rather
you had beaten her. sometimes. 1t
would have varied the monotony. any
how. She is travelling In nut. Her
nerves are worn in one place until
they are rubbed thin and exposed
and they are unable to cope with any
great crisis or even small one,-
like getting to be forty, for instance
or anyone OF half dozen. other things
you stupid men are unable to under
stand. / have known Anne from a
baby, and her joyousness has been
like a tonic. | have often thought
YOU were unable to appreciate It.
What she needs Is change. Take a
vacation with her: make plans for it
Talk about that; and you won't have
TO argue
but shouldn't you see her?"
~ don't think that Is necessary. or
under the circumstances, advisable
But do as | have suggested, and. from
what you have told me. predict goo.
things for ber.--fcr YOU both. IL
am right. and think am, she WI
not mind being forty when her birth
day arrives"
"She will be cursd?"
81 have great confidence In the
remedy"
Nevertheless on her fortiisth birth
day, Mrs. Henry Thompson spent the
entire day in bed too weak TO rise
3ut she was not unhappy. Reside her
was Henry Thompson. junior. Aud n
her heart was a great content.
Her husband raped at the door
and as special favor was allowct
by the white capped young woman
who reigned there 10 come In quiet.