The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1910-04-07
The Youthfulness
Of Maud

an unaccustomed flavor of slang in her
voice and words. Never again will
venture back to the home Of my early
youth"
why not!"
Didn't you have a good timer"
What was the matter with Glen
ville?"
The bachelor girls, who had gath
ereS in Maud's pleasant rooms to well
come her on the evening of her return
from holiday visit to the country.
asked these and other questions in
chorus.
Tell me, do / look very aged?"
Maud inquired Of them in turn.
Aged" repeated the chorus with
the proper air OF amazement.
"Our blooming Maud look aged!
What preposterous ideal" said one.
Maud smiled approximately at the
author of this last reassuring remark.
THANK you, DEAR" she said. Now
feel better. | was afraid that what |
have recently gone through might
have left traces of decrepitude You
see, my mind is now on the subject
OF age. Gray hair, round shoulders
and dotage seem dangerously imml.
nent, l only hope I'll be a real cheer
full. nice-looking old woman"
what nonsense are you talking?"
I'm not talking nonsense. On the
contrary, I'm quite serious" she pro-
tested.
You'd be serious" explained Maud,
'if you had suffered an experience like
the one I've had. You see, girls, I've
been so awfully busy and so happy in
my work that never noted the pass
ing years or reflected upon the fact
that am no longer 16. Even my birth
days haven't meant anything less de-
lightful than candy, flowers and matt
nee tickets. l seem to have been sing.
ularly neglected about watching the
fight of time. But all is different now
I've been to Glenville.
1.-THE first blow / received was at
the railway station when l was look
ing around for the man Aunt Sarah
had promised to send to drive me over
to Glenville proper, which is few
miles from the railroad
"'You amt Maud Stearns, are you?
doubtfully asked the only man in
sight.
"'Yes, l am I answered, joyously
"'Well, seen you when you got
OF the train, but I didn't speak to
you, because want expectin' to see
such young-lookin' person. Amt you
Jedge Abel Stearns' girl?'
YES said.
az thought 30. I was flgurin' up
your age as was drivin' over here
and as near as I could reckon 1t you
was born In rs, the summer of the
great centennial show in Philadelphy.
l remember your pa went to it, but
your ma couldn't go, cause you were
too young to leave at home
"'You have a wonderful memory
remarked weakly, and earnestly hop
ing that the other inhabitants of Glen
vile were not so gifted in that direc-
ton.
Mercy on us, Maud said my
dear old Aunt Sarah as she embraced
me. You're a perfect wonder.
never saw any one change as little as
you do. l declare. you don't look a
day older than you did when | was
in Chicago six years ago, and then
you looked mighty young for woman
of 2S. don't see how you keep so
| fresh She held me of at arms
length and gazed at me adnliringly
and | could only smile and thank her
thank her for making me feel older
than | ever had felt before In all my
long life"
"You poor dear!" said her sympa.
thizing friends.
"Oh, that was only beginning.
Every old settler remarked at my
marvellous youthfulness until | began
to feel like centenarian One of
the neighbors asked me confidentlally
how | kept the wrinkles out of my
face. Wrinkles, indeed! And the
dear old doctor who took care
of mother when she was a little girl
said 1t did beat all how well preserved
was.
"But the last straw was the night
that a cousin of my aunt's came in tc
ask me to look on at young peoples
dance. Not that you don't look as II
you could still dance yourself she
said when my face, l suppose, be
trayed little surprise at the invita-
ton. You certainly are mighty girl
ish and spry for your age. Dear me
how times have changed! You know
your mothers mother was a grand
mother at 81, and you amt even mar
ried at 33-or are you "a? But will
your young looks you needn't give VI
hope yet"
IT don't see how you stood It," sait
one Of the girls, alphabetically.
II didn't. l. fed the place, inward,
youiru aavor IN Uo hock until m,