The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02
A BRIEF FOR SPINSTERHOOD

parently grown stale and her manner
 was nervous and restless.
 Get in, Georgie, I was about to eal'
 for you. I've a lot to tell you. I'm
 on the road to the tailor's now, but We can chat on the way"
 Miss Brant knew from experience
 what the chat would be like, and her 1 refusal was promopt.
 ITO the tailor's on day like this l not I, Mamie. You forget that a young
 thing like me must have sunshine and
 fresh air. How's Fred?" she asked
 suddenly, noticing the expression of the
 others face. Everything lovely, I hope"
 l Mrs Carew shook her beautifully | groomed head, and then gave. a shrug expressive of a weary indifference to
 Fred and his affairs.
 i You won't come?" she queried.
 Well, goodby. I must be getting along.
 I don't see why you want to go to
 the park at this hour. There'll be mo- l body there but nurses and children"
 As the carriage rolled away Georglana
 drew a sigh of relief. Mamie was a shall 1 low little creature. Still, husband with a seemingly inconquerable penohant for
 soubrettes must be somewhat trying. And I don't wish I were you,' was
 the thought she sent after the rapidly :, disappearing carriage. IHlIk prefer 1 the ineompleteness- of splnsterhood!' | She kept her face turned toward the i park, renecting that there were still two i friends on the way who might feel the 1 spring as she did and have little leisure {! just to live As she pushed the button of i the electric bell at the first place. she be-
 came aware of a quickened interest In
 the outcome of her call. The affair had suddenly assumed the aspect of blanc ;1a at ha iOt n married and the unmarried woman, and :, the zeal of the socioligist, bent on original
 research, burned within her Hitherto she 1 had thoughtiessy accepted the common view that there Is nothing to be said on the old maids side of the question,
 except possibly "Too bad!" She now held her Judgment suspended, approaching the subject Tn an admirable spirit Of inYes- tigation.
 Hello, Marion" she called gayly, polk l ing her head in the door of her friends l sitting room. The stout figure bending 1 industriously over a desk on the opposite 1 side of the room turned toward her
 "oh, George-glad to see you. Come I In and don't mind If I seem distraught' | for I'm worried to death Miss Brant seated herself on the arm
 of a chair, to emphasize the feetlng na- | ture of her visit, and faced her friend
 with broad, knowing grin.
 "FiddlesticlSsl Why should you be wor- l ried to death-a lady with a luxurious home, a fine husband and two straight | limbed sons? What Is 1t that you find
 worth worrying about on a morning like | this? Let one of the servants worry for 1 you and come up to the park with me" 1 Mrs Parker sat back in her chair. al ! lowing the hand that held the pen to drop at her side, while she stared at i Georgiana with pitying amazement for
 fully moment before replying How little you know about life, George,
 considering your age,' was her Juoiclous | comment
 Georgiana winced Here it was again, the hateful and absurd question of age | that had dogged her since early morning, | doing It's best to take the light out of life. Then and there she made gallant re-
 solve to fight 1t to the end.
 Must you consider my age?' she in | quired demurely. Because I'd rather 1 you wouldn't. It doesn't seem altogether l gracious"
 l Here you are"-Mrs. Parker went on 1 inexorably-"35, shall we say?-and you don't seem to have the slightest under
 standing of a married woman's respon- | abilities"
 I'm trying to learn" ventured her caller meekly.
 This morning for instance" the ma
 
 i reason why I can't put on my things
 and idle away the hours in the park, l lust because spring has come. Spring.! | her voice rang with disdain What Is l spring to woman whose husband IS giv-
 Ing stag dinner at which everything
 must be impeccable, whose butler has
 just been taken i'll, who must write full l instructions for the new man, get canole 1 shades call at
 1 With her fingers to her ears and laugh
 ter ripping her face. Georgiana was tip ] toeing from the room.
 1 Poor martyr!" she threw over her
 shoulder as she disappeared.
 Her last hope lay in Nettie Gordon Nettie was somewhat different from the i others impractical enough, 1t seemed to 1 Georgiana, to see that the elusive claim
 of the first spring day might outweigh 1 more substantial things. At the Gordon residence she was directed to the nursery 1 Mrs Gordon was seated in low chair ] with her back to the door. As Georglana | entered she caught sight of round, downy head lying in the bend of her | friends arm. Nettie was genuine moth CT. not content, like most of the mothers of their circle, to select handsome cloth
 ing for her offspring and let underlings
 provide the real motherhood. In answer to Georgianas whispered greeting, she turned her head and smiled a welcome.
 T don't need to ask" murmured the caller. "I know from your tired face that the baby's been sick again The mother nodded, putting out her free hand to her friend. Shes been rather bad for two nights. Somehow never can turn them over to nurse, as sensible woman would do. I should just lie awake and worry, so I might as
 well give the nurse chance to sleep. Georgiana stood looking down upon the slender little mother-creature. with eyes half worshipful. Here, at least. was a legitimate worry. Nettie hadn't taken
 silver and gold and good gifts and made them into a pack to weigh down her shoulders This claim of the baby, Miss Brant admitted ungrudgngly. Dropping on her knees by the little mothers chair' she gazed at Mrs. Gordon solemnly. "Nettie," she demanded in puzzled tone what Is the matter with me? How Is 1t pohsible for lady of my mature years to be so appallingly young inside? You've all married off and left me and ought, by every law of fitness, to be long ing for home of my own But I'm not. I had touch of 1t this morning. sort of forlorn left-at-the-post feeling, and sometimes when I see little round bald heads like this" she broke off laughing