The Washington herald., 1908-01-05

away from the links.
Three Of the women we're not young,
although the signs OF age had been modi-
fed by careful grooming and dlligent
massage. Mrs. Amesbury even looked
young, with her slender figure, her shin
ing hair, and her grace of gesture and
of carriage,
But Tressie Stuart was young, and
therein lay the difference that made Mrs.
Amesbury uneasy One might give the
lie to age by attention to complexion and
costume, but there WAS a quality in
Tressie's laugh. a light In her eyes. a
buoyaney Of spirit. that separated her
from the other women. and cast the
blight OF contrast upon their beauty.
'Tressie," Mrs. Amesbury said, stop
roaming around the room. You make me
nervous" ."
"Oh do II" Tressie's apology was i'm
mediate "Its something In the air.
think. These fall days make me feel like
a young colt. want to be out of doors,
and here we are drinking tea By the
fire like a lot Of old tabby cats"
I'VE are a lot Of old tabby cats Miss
Angela Amesbury agreed, cheerfully I'm
like her sister-in-law. she did not aspire
TO youthfulness. Having steered herself
safely out Of a somewhat emotional girl
hood into "a calm old matdism. she was
prepared 20 claim all middle-aged priv
iIeges, and tea drinking at the country
club was an indulgence that appealed to
her comfortable soul
You are the only kitten In the crowd,
Tressie. she went on; run on out and
meet the men. They must be coming in
| by this time"
Angela" Mrs. AmesbuTy reproved her,
''Tressie can't go without chaperon."
why not?" Angela asked, bluntly.
Two Of the men are her uncles, the third
is your husband. and she has known
Junior Mason since she was baby"
"Oh, well" Mrs Amesbury shrugged
her shoulders, you know We don't think
alike on such matters"
NO, thank goodness" said Miss An
gela. and then the hitherto silent Aunt
Georgia Stuart. who was officially Tres
sizes chaperon. Interposed. "TressIe al
ways does as she pleases, Mrs. Ames-
bury" and Mrs. Amesbury. with another
shrug Of her shoulders. gave up the
argument and poured herself a second
cup Of tea
And so it happened that as Junior Ma
son came up the elm walk toward the
country club, with the dull orange Of the
sunset behind him. he saw, hurrying 80
meet him, Tressle Stuart IN scarlet coat
l and ff-brlmmed hat
Il should have died If / had stayed in
there another minute" she told him.
Cant we walk somewhere before dark
comes? This air is like wine"
It's awfully muddy" he stated, dub.-
ously. in this path under the trees
The other men are coming around By
the road. but this was the shorter way,
and I wanted to get a few minutes with
l-you before the whole crowd began to
/ pitle-pafiie."
-5 nj he slangy." Tressie admonished.
you wouldn't call their small
talk conversation, would you? It's pifie-
panIc. and Mrs. Amesbury is the worst
OF the lot"
Il am ashamed Of you" Tressie scoid-
ed. "to criticise your elders"
Mrs AmesbuTy wouldn't thank you
4 for calling her anybody's elder. She con
siders herself the leading Juvenile Of the
country club That's why she's jealous
of you"
Tressie started at him.
Junior" she said. severely, 4 didn't
know YOU could be so critical of q
woman"
He had the grace to look uncomforta-
BILE.
She's made me so unhappy about you,
Tressie," he blurted out at length
About me?"
Yes. When you were away all sum
mer and didn't write TO me once."
Tressie's eyes were on the sunset.
No; ] didn't write" she said, after a
pause.
why not?"
Mrs. Amesbury said-that there was
another girl. Junior
"What?'
es. She said you were paying devoted
attention to a little Kentucky singer"
"Oh," Junior flung up his head, "and
she told me you were going to marry old
Gen. Barnes"
who told you?" Tessie demanded.
Mrs. Amesbury"
Well Of all things" Tressie's cheeks
were flaming, and you believed her.
Junior"
,sxKToI1 ,.,,, t,1ie,.1.7 49,. a.. 4-,.,,,
girl"
For a moment accusing brown eyes met
accusing blue ones, and then they both
laughed, the joyous laugh OF youth that
has come into its own again.
She Is good at fiction, Tressie summed
up, ''she ought to be punished, Junior"
"Oh, let her go Junior asserted, "and
we VIII go for walk, Tressie, and I will
tell you all the things l have wanted 20
write, and didn't dare
But she would not go.
1T Is getting too dark" she said "and
even if I have known you all my life
Junior, we must have some regard for
conventions"
Then let us slip in through the Frencn
windows, and sit In the curtained alcove.
They won't see us come in, and we can
talk until dinner time"
Inc aicoFe was oppNlte the HIeplaces
and gave a full view Of the three women
at the low wicker tea table. Mrs. Ames-
bury was prattling gaily.
you see dear Juniors money is a
great temptation to the girls-now even
Tressie---"
Tresgie I'm conceaiment gasped, and
there Was wrath in her eyes,
Don't mind her" Junior whispered. 81
know you love me for myself,
Tressie turned around on him.
who told you that / cared" she
demanded, you are taking a great deal
for granted, Junior.
Please, can't I take 1t for granted"
he urged 4 am going to propose to you
right now, Tressie or Mrs. AmesbuTy viii
never give me another chance"
They came out of their dream of happi-