Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-09-17
SEEKING oNE's YOUTH.


AS from the shelter Of the trees we
watched the youngsters on the lawn,
Mrs. Veralour gave a sigh.
Youth" she apostrophised golden
youthi''
l. too, sighed Yeralour seemed
to expect it of me. Besides, one must
conform to the customs of the society
in which one lives. As matter of fact,
had no particularly painful yearning
to resume the somewhat clumsy and
distressing habit If youth.
Youth" felt it my duty to point
out. lis not properly phase of time.
1t is not a possession, it is feeling.
One has only to desire, and one has.
Seek and one has found. The Spirit of
Youth is within reaching distance of
everyone" Then it struck me that Mrs.
veralour was quite near to me, so l
ventured a slight bow.
Mrs. Veralour tried to suppress a
laugh.
| raised my eyebrows.
1T was such an obvious after
thought" she explained.
Before | could protest Miss Seymour
detached herself from the others and
came over to us.
aren't you going to play, Mr. Blake Z"
she inquired.
] shook my head regretfully.
Il am too old for your games" l in
formed her.
But you're not. Is he, Mrs Vera
lour?"
Mrs Neralour turned critical glance
in my direction.
"A man is as old as he feels" she
said sententiously.
"And the woman is as old as she
looks" said Miss Seymour, finishing the
tag with all the taetlessness of youth
Nobody had asked Mrs. Veralour to join
in the game.
Nonsense / corrected "a woman is
as old as she-says."
well, anyhow, I'm sure you don't
feel old-not now She smiled at me
brightly. DO come. It's hide-and-
seek"
But | shan't know where to hide"
/ objected '1've forgotten the places
since l was young"
/
me- She swung on her heel and looked
mvitingly over her shoulder
| avoided Mrs. Veralour's eye as | rose
and followed her But q sarcastic
chuckle which reached me Strengthened
my shoulders and added a springiness
to my gait.
My arrival was hailed with a shout
of joy and ] was promptly elected to
the post of Seeker. l looked at Miss
Seymour appealingly, She's gave me a
| reassuring smile.
| He's not going to be anything of the
Sort" she said authoritatively. You
will, MIR. Miles, won't your"
For a moment | failed to recognize
Jack under this title, until his scowling
face revealed his identity.
| "All right" he said surlily.
At Christmas they had been Molie
and Jack to each other Since then,
however, Mrs. Seymour had decided
that Mollie was grown up. Pretty girls
always grow up sooner than plain ones.
Miss Seymour seized my hand and
waved off the youngest members of the
party, who came crowding round
NO, you can't hide with me- You'll
have to find places for yourselves. I'm
going to hide with Mr., Blake Come
along, Mr.. Blake"
where shall we hide?" / asked as
we reached the shelter of the rosery.
There used to be little nook among
the laurels. wonder if it's still there y
Yes" said Miss Seymour. Don't
let's hide there, though"
"0h, you know it too do your" /
said why not hide there? Nobody
could possibly find us unless they know
of the place; and not many do"
Miss Seymour shrugged her shoulders
protestingly
"0f course, if you're very keen" she
began.
My dear girl /" cried hastily. where
YOU please. Heaven forbid that | have
reached the age when | can sist with
ladies'
Accordingly we sought shelter among
the rose trees, and. seating herself upon
an upturned bucket. Miss Seymour
smiled up at me / know no more
pleasurable sensation than that which
comes from being smiled at by a pretty
girl. Although something under 40 is
the ideal age for man, at that moment
l would willingly have retreated twenty
years from this perfection.
/ mentioned something of my desire
to my companion.
YOU'RE not old" she protested-"that
Is, not very"
shook my head sadly.
Il hate boys" she went on: they're
SO undressing and conceited.D
Youth | said wisely. lis the only
age at which conceit is possible. Then
one can be eoneeited over what one is
going TO do
! .p0ohtp said Miss Nroll;o 81 4h:-,.