Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-01-20
Observation-Disclosures
Lonely Middle Age


am bachelor of forty, an age
where man must expect young girls
10 consider him a Methuselah Last
summer went to a resort where there
were many boys and maidens. the lat
ter all Of an age that forbade my offer
ing them any attention. The young
tiers danced, played tennis and went
IN straw rides together While sat on
ne hotel piazza and smoked. would
lave given much If one of the girls
hSo t.eated me as she did her boy
eonirlaieas.
rhe.a was one girl who especially
struck i-.y fancy. She was of Il will
lnyy figlrc tat showed to especial adj
va;!iage In a tennis suit. | used TO
feat tly eyes on her when she was
Gu IL court and listen to her mu-
stall call of "Thirty-fif!' Vantage"
Deuce and the other counts in the
score. | wished she would call forty
love" aud give me just bit of
glance. Indeed. she seemed uncon-
scious that was Watching the game.
One morning ! stroled up a noun
tain side back of the hotel and. turn
in.. Il cump of bushes. came upon a
summer house There sat the young
girl | admired. reading. Hearing my
step. she looked up. and her face haIf
broke into smile. which was sudden
ly checked.
Il thought you were some one else
she said. Don't go away IL you were
coming to enjoy the view here You
needn't mind me. There's room for a
dozen"
And 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 mingle with the peo-
pile? We all get acquainted right of.
There's no Formally. Everybody speaks
| to everybody"
1.-THE younger set seem sociable; but,
| you see, 1 don't belong to the younger
set"
Dear me, how Anticipated you talk.
AT any rate. you are the first of the
| young people who has spoken word
to me. and 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, 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
| | been so Indifferent to such blessings
| when youngster! Doubtless many
of the boys who were fitting from one
| amusement to another would SrudGe
being shared in such place and glad
| to get away, but IL wished could sii
| there forever.
do you play goIf?" she asked.
eyes" s
Good. And you will be on the links
tomorrow morning for the match?"
Certainly. But l doubt If shall
| play. haven't my sticks with me-"
"You must. shall be there. I'm
going to play. Maybe you'll be on my
side"
II sincerely hope l shall"
The only thing to mar my happiness
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 a 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
| cusable.
what singular fower"' she ex-
| claimed. and. reaching over the rus
tic rail. she pucked 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
| ognzed it as an odd specimen and was
giving her its name and properties, she
bending near me. brushing my cheek
with few scattered hairs that had
been thrown off from the main whirl-
pool on the top OF her head, when
heard step. Looking up, saw
young man in negligee shirt and trou-
sers, a straw hat, the rim turned very
straight down in front and very
straight up in rear, He was coming
toward the summer house from above.
There was blood in his eye.
Pardon me-" he said to my compan'
ion coldly. II didn't think to interrupt
a tete- a-tete."
Pardon me, rather" l said, rising.
II found the young LADY, mean
l rose and sided away. The girl
gave me no encouragement to remain,
though l gave her beseeching glance.
I went down to the hotel and resumed
my lonely place on the piazza. Pres
emily the couple | had left came down