Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02

WHAT A LITTLE FOOL WAS IN THOSE
days."
did not occur to her that there was
any reason why she should marry.
What did she know of the waning in
terest in this worlds affairs that comes
to all who grow old, except in chill
dren-children of their own? At
twenty she was at the summit of
earthly contentment. The woods were
as full of game as ever. At twenty
four there was falling off, not in her
attrac tiveness, but there were not as
many men within range. At twenty
eight all the men seemed to have
grown backward and were nothing
but boys, while on looking in mirror
she saw unmistakable signs of change
in herself. The bud had fully opened,
and the rose was beginning to pass
beyond bloom.
Meanwhile the fifteen years that had
passed since she had begun to emerge
from childhood had brought changes in
her surroundings. She was far more
alone than she had been. Social at
fairs, even tennis and golf, had lost
much Of their charm. Those of her
friends who had married had passed
from her to their children. They were
as glad as ever to meet her. but she
realized that their little ones had taken
her place in the hearts of their par
ents. She began to envy her friends
the possession of their children. Tho
parents were still young, and their on
spring were still children. Miss Rath-
bone had not reached an age to under
stand the value of a grown son OF
daughter TO an old person
When Miss Rathbone was nearing
thirty she was still an attractive wo-
man. Having come to realize what
she had missed, or believed she had
missed, in not having taken steps to
build her own nest, she resolved to
make hay during the brief season
when the sun would still shine. She
remembered regretfully the superiority
OF game within range during past
years and recognized the fact that the
woods for her had been pretty well
cleaned out. AS after civilization has
encroached on hunting grounds sports
men must go farther for game. so did
Miss Rathbone come to think. that she
must seek new fields. Spring was COM
ing on, and she thought of summer re-
sorts. But she knew that the only
game to be found at such places are
old men and boys. She had discovered
that she had passed the age when
college student had ceased to be some
thing for her to look up to.
Travel next suggested itself to her.
When a young girl she had been more
nearly caught in her own traps while
touring in Europe than at any other
time. She had found sightseeing in
company with young men an admira-
bic field for her flirtations. And as
for an ocean voyage. after the wearing
off of NAL de mer. there seemed to be
something about salt water to, induce
love. Miss Rathbone decided to Join
the hegira of those sailing for foreign |
ports the next season.
Miss Rathbone Joined party of her !
acquaintances who were going to make |
three months tour of Europe. How |
changed were her circumstances from |
1T Miss Rathbone who had often had |
aifieulty "a staving OF the Emporium.
ties of several young men, each OF |
whom was bent on receiving an an, I
swer To proposal. Could it be posi- |
bic that she was going abroad for the |
purpose OF bringing down some bach /
eior who, having arrived at middle
age, had lost much of that spirit which |
impeis man to tumble head over
heels in love on the slightest provoca-l
ton: But Miss Rathbone remembered
that while the older man is not ag-
gresslve he is vulnerable.
During her trip abroad Miss Rath-
bone met bachelors, but found them
confirmed celibates. They seemed to
her like wild horses that had never
been broken TO a bit or a saddle. Their
own comfort, their independence. were