The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-01-14
ruth BENTLEY'S
DREAM Lover

Dh[AM LUvLh
Dreaming when Dawn's left hand
was Id the sky,
II heard voice within the Tavern
cry;
Awake, my little ones, and I'll the
cup;
Before LIES liquor in Its cup b.
dry
Omar Khayyam-
The heat was intollerable, even
Mrs. Spencer's energy was not
proof against 1t. 1t survived, how
ever, to this extent that although
she had succumbed so far as to
throw herself into hammock she
swung herself violently to and fro
in what seemed to her cousin,
Josslyn Curtis, very unrestful
fashion. She famed herself jerk
lily, spasmodically, with a slightly
aggrieved air as though she wished
to intimate to the clerk OF the wea-
Their that she was not satisfied with
his present performances.
Josslyn, lying back 10 rocking
chair, his Panama tipped over his
eyes, was the very personifcation
of reposc.
How frightfully hot it must be
i'm town today" he observed quiet
" without the movement Of an eye
lid.
"What time is it ~ said Mrs.
Spencer abruptly.
DO you really want to know e.
returned her cousin lazily.
"Of course 7 do lazy; what do
you suppose L asked you for ~
IL am not lazy but / understand
the art Of repose You don t. You
are always on the 60 from morning
until night, wasting unnecessary
energy on absurd trifes. It's your
cxubrant energy, your feverish
modernity. But wait, my active
cousin, wait till you re my age
wait I'll your forty. You're how
old Twenty-three, not yet out of
your honeymoon. 4"
Rubbish, Josslyn, we're old
married fogies now," said little
Mrs. Spencer with an elaborate air
Of boredom that would have de-
ceived an infant, Twelve been mar
ried six months. But then you
don't know anything about it,
you re not married. Why haven t
you married, Joss. You're not SO
bad"
Thanks, Ena, for your testi-
monial. Would you mind putting
it in writing SO that it would do
for any situation, matrimonial or
otherwise ? / have not married,
my inquisitive cousin, for the sim
pie reason that ! have never seen
anyone I wanted to marry. Some
how, the modern girl and L are not
suited to one another
Don't be stupid. Matrimony
is-well, it's ordained by heaven. :"
And consecrated by man to his
own misuses.
"Now, Ruth Bently, who is COM
ing down by the five O'Clock ex-
press has a much better reason for
remaining single. It's pathetic,
not frivolous like yours. 7 feel
deeply for her, Mrs. Spencer
tried to make her sharp, alert face
express sadness.
'She had a very unfortunate
love attachment when she was
quite young. He died suddenly
and she's remained faithful to his
memory every since. Ism t it sweet
Of her ? She always wears a kind
OF in memoriam' colors -greys,
hlacs and black and whites. of
course, it happened long ago.
"She sounds a quite delightful
old fashioned person, said Josslyn
quietly, "faithfulness is 50 out Of
date-it went out with crinolins. !"
"Oh but they say crinolines
are coming in again No. she 5
not really old fashioned, only she 8
always lived a very quiet life, wo-
mems clubs, parish tea fights and
things like that. Of course, she s
quite an old maid +! She must be
about thirty-fve," she concluded
vaguely.
IF she's coming by the five
o'clock express she may be here any
minute, " remarked Josslyn, put
ting back his watch
Gracious! Why didn It you tell
me that before when i asked you
what time it was RI said Mrs. Spen-
Ger bouncing out Of the hammock.
IT must 60 il and See If Mary has
put out the iced tea. Fancy I've
wasted a whole hour just talking to
you
"Thank you,'' laughed Josslyn.
anyone would think We were hus-
band and wife, Mrs. Spencer
rustled across the veranda with a
newly-wed would-be-matronly air
Of dignity. The big st. Bernard
dog gazed after his mistress. but
even M was tOO hot fnY. aynrnica 49,