The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-02-08
Copyright. 1919. The Bob
WV
CHAPTER XII
SanQer's Offer,

from different parts of the city,
hearing reports and making sug-
gestions with a detailed knowl-
edge of conditions which often
made his lieutenants to marvel.
There had been little in the re-
ports to annoy him. His or
ganiZation was intact, working
like the well-oiled machine it was.
Report sfrom the enemy's camp
gave further cause for satisfac-
ton. The independent-democ
lie candidate was not making the
headway expected. Yet Bob went
home disturbed in mind. The day
had been passed among men who
were devoting their time and en-
ergy in his interest. But through
all their conferences he had been
conscious of an unaccustomed, OPP
pressive sense of loneliness. And
he had not seen Remington since
their interview in his office.
When he entered the house,
he saw Kathleen sitting in The
| library, sewing. She looked up
with bright smile, as he hesitat-
| ed before the door.
MAY r come in?" he queried
doubtfully, as though not quite
sure of his welcome.
| ''Since when this timidity?''
she laughed. "Of course, come
in. l was just thinking about
you. Mother was bewailing today
that we don't see much of you
now the campaign has started"
WELL" he looked at his watch,
eff it won't make you sleepy, I'll
let you administer your company
for half an hour"
you speak as though my com
pany were bad medicine!"
Paul says it's the best medi'
cine for all ills"
80, Paul always speaks in fig
lures"
Bob smiled pleasantly. "I'n
lsure he's right. You're very
soothing person, Kathleen. / sup
pose it's because you have ne
doubts yourself, all your prob
lens are solved"
And have you doubts and I'M
solved problems?"
: Its an everlasting struggle,
said, a trifle YEARLY, she thought
"The old doubts and problems are
no sooner solved than new ones
arise" He stopped abruptly.
Kathleen asked no further
Questions. For a while they sa
in silence. Presently she be
came aware that he was regard
inc int oil
quickly.
Caught you, didn't I? You
look at me as though 1 were ont
of your problems"
You are. But / wasn't tryins
to solve you. l gave that up Ions
ago. l was looking at your hair
It's getting gray"
That's very unkind of you,
she reproved him smilingly, "tt
~"Old! You're two years young
er than l."
I'm nearly thirty-five," sh,
Isaid quietly. ''In all probabilit.
half of our lives has been lived
A few more years and We shall b,
in the sere and yellow leaf, you
and l."
Bob looked at her in surprise
as though he had just come upoI
a new and disturbing fact. NV
never thought of that" he sal,
slowly. Then he smote his chat
angrily. "Why must we grow oil
and feeble and contemptible?"
"Contemptible?" She looked
up quickly. You're an icono
clast, Bob. Ever since the worlC
was created, it has been reverence
ing age for its experience ant
Wisdom"
That's because the world i
too young to have acquired wis
dom. Why should we reverence
age-which means feebleness an,
decay? 1t is the most contempt
ible thing in life. Youth only
vitality, strengths admirable
:. To grow old is the easiest thini
we do; all one has to do is to eX
list few years. Experience is NJ
credit; we all acquire experience
we can't help 1t. AS for the wis
, dom of age, what is that? On
l up some wisdom in the course o
; fifty or sixty years."
Your logic is merciless. Can
you leave US just one comfortini
illusion?"
Yes, it is an illusion. w
don't really reverence age. We al
despise it in others and hate it Il
Yourselves. Reverence for age /
just one of the lies we keep tell
ing as a sop to our cowardice. w
must all grow old and we mus
all have an excuse for toleranc
from the young and strong"
Yes" Kathleen assetned, "w
must all grow old. But age ha
its compensations."
Decay its compensations
fail to see them"
Faith, Hope, Love. And tn
Ilgreatest of these is Love"
| Bob looked at her suspicious
lily. He was never quite sure whe
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