The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-17
TIE EVENING STORY
Aunt Judy.
.(By Philip Kean.)

no object. There were motor cars, rid
ing horses and dogs, golf sticks, half
dozen trunks, a man and two maids
and a housekeeper. His coming revolu-
tionized the dull little place.
He says he likes the Oaks so well
that he's going to buy it. He enjoys
quiet life, and he hates the city, Ma
talie said to Aunt Judy as the older
woman fitted a sheer pink lawn on the
girlish figure.
Hes sensible said Aunt Judy.
There isn't a prettier place in the
world than the Oaks"
Natalie turned to get better view
OF herself in the mirror. Don't you
think you'd better make the skirt a
little shorter in the back?'' she asked.
Aunt Judy pinned it up obediently.
st like pink she said, sitting back on
her heels to view the result, IT used to
wear it a lot when I was a girl"
Did your" said Natalie, vaguely
do you think you can get my dress
done by Tuesday,"
I'll try"
Mr.. Hale is going to give a NOON
light garden party. I guess you'll have
to chaperon us, Aunt Judy. He said
we'd better ask some older person"
81 don't know what I'll wear"
"Oh, anything nobody'I1 notice." said
Natalie.
Aunt Judy had momentary sense of
resentment. Nobody took any interest
in her.
An old white dimity, scant of skirt
and with an embroidered collar proved
rather becoming, and Aunt Judy de-
ciGed to wear it. Some impulse guided
her to pile her wavy hair on top of her
head in a style which accorded with
the quaintness of the gown. At the
safe she stopped and picked two sprigs
of white lilac and tucked them in her
belt. Then she wandered across the
road and up a long lane and entered
& 1n1 o-6n
There was the old sundial in the
garden, and Aunt Judy loved the motto
which was carved on it: Grow old
alCng with me-the best is yet to be-
AS she came out from a long lane
of poisoning almond bushes she saw
the master of the house standing at
the top of the terrace. He was in white
fannels. and from the top of his hand
some gray head to the toe of his whipls
buckskin shoes he was up-to-date well
groomed.
He came down quickly. (Which of
the Morgans is it?" he asked, smiling
81 always know them by the color of
their hair-it's like old copper with the
freight on it,
Il am Aunt Judy" said the little
lady. ct fancy I'm early-but like it
here in the garden
. Il like it, too,'' he said.
Then the young folks came, and
Natalie took possession of their host.
you said we should have a ride in the
rdotorboat."
Surely" he responded.
There was room for all but one.
Aunt Judy won't mind" said Natalie
carelessly, will you, Aunt Judy?"
When they came back they trooped
to the dining room. Newton Hale gave
Aunt Judy tn. place CT honor After
dinner she went out on the porch, and
Newton Hale followed her Natalie.
coming out later, looked in vain for Mr.
Hale. She did not think of Aunt Judy
She was probably curled up in the IL
brary over a book, or was amusing
herself in some quiet corner. Aunt
Judy was never lonely.
AS a matter of fact, Aunt Judy at
that moment was skimming over the
waters of the bay in a motorboat. and
the owner of the boat was saying
make up to you for the ride you didn't
have today"
That night Natalie talked. some dis
contentedly about her evening. ct don't
think Mr.. Hale was very polite not to
look after his guests, do you? He was
away half the evening"
The next day the big touring car
came around to the door, and Natalie
came presently to her aunt. HE wants
you to come she said with a shadow
Oh her face. Some of the boys will
have to stay at home. But as he asked
for you especially, 1 suppose he thinks
a chaperon is necessary. Some city
people do, you know
Yes, they do" said Aunt Judy.
Mr.. Hale helped her into the seat
comfiture. 81 don't see why he should
carry the chaperon idea quite so far"
she murmured to her sisters.
But Aunt Judy had a lovely time
Newton Hale and she belonged to the
same generation.
The young women and girls of to-
day are a bit too strenuous for me-"
said Mr.. Hale, that's why left town
I wanted to get out of the whirl.'
They stopped at a roadside inn for
lunch. There was an Armenian wo-
man selling lace at the doorstep. Mr.
Hale made her display her wares
There were some collars and the girls
exclaimed delightedly when he pre-
scented one to each of them.
But you have chosen nothing" he
said to Aunt Judy, and Natalie said
quickly: There's lovely table square
We could use it when we have carl
parties in the evening, Aunt Judy
Mr.. Hale shook his head. she must
choose something for herself and
when Aunt Judy protested that the ia
BILE square would be very nice, he said
to the woman, Haven't you some
thing?' and with a quick glance at his
interested face, she opened a sandal |
wood box. and showed scarf of ex
Quisite fineness.
saThat's lust the thing" said New
ton Hale but Aunt Judy protested. !
1.-THE poor woman needs the mon
ey.,' he said, half humorously, asl he
handed the scarf to Aunt Judy. Look
upon it as a charity to her."
Il really think, Aunt Judy, said
Natalie the next night, that the lacs
scarf Mr.. Hale gave you would be
,,,,,eb more apDropriate for one of Us