The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-28

HIS LIFE Was DULL
BY CLARISSA MAckIE.


A sound of fresh girlish laughter
rippled across the quiet street ant
Professor Tringle, smoking his pipe IL
the shadow Of his vine-wreathed porch
frowned impatieutly.
1t was annoying indeed to have his
summer evenings disturbed by silly
chatter and senseless laughter; he had
come to Littleport to spend a few
weeks with his sister Hannah, and he
had expected to find the sleepy village
life an antidote for the nine months o1
excitement he endured at the hands OF
prankish students In . university
town.
Now he went indoors, his tall. lean
form making grotesQue shadow on
the gravel path as the front door
opened and closed.
Hannah" he said to his sister who
was embroidering q bureau scarf for
the coming church fair, 1t must be
very disagreeable to have those young
people across the way-why, l thought
the Browns owned the place" He sat
down in a rocking chair and swayed
slowly to and fro, the lamplight falling
on his fine gray eyes and revealing the
few silver threads that frosted his
thick hair.
Hannah smiled cheerfully. Amos
Tringle. I believe you grow more ab-
sent-minded every day." she said.
placidly. Il told you in my letter that
the Browns had sold the place to city
folks for. a summer home. This is the
FIRST time the Desmonds have been
here, and must say l like to have
young folks around-it makes 1t real
cheerful for me. l told you all this in
my letter, but do believe that you
skip everything like that-you think
I'm gossiping.
y dare say" murmured Amos
guiltily, only there isn't much
peace"
who wants peace" interrupted
Hannah quickly; for my part may
be hfty-fve years old, but I'm not 20
old that cart remember how blissful
It was to feel young and foolish-and
to laugh and talk and have a good
time! Why, just laugh right out
sometimes at their nonsense! It's
company for me. They're real good
too; Mrs. Desmond has TAX
on me out in her motor car once or
twice and the girls are sweet and
pretty-especially Desdemona."
"Desdemona! Listen to that-and
her name is Desdemona!" groaned
Amos as rich chorus pulsed across
the street.
"Ill love you. nah honey--if you've
got money!"
"Ragtime music!" shifted Amos con-
lemptuously.
Il like it," cried Hannah excitediy,
beating time with her embroidery
hoop. humming the refrain, entirely
'ff the key.
Amoswatched her in growing amaze
nent Hannah had always been the |
of old-maiden dignity;
ecoIlection Of other summer vacations |
'ssailed him-long, quiet days when
he bees doomed in and out of the
lowers. birds sang in the little or
hard, and Hannah moving quietly |
bout the house preparing delicious
meals that they ate without enthusi-
SIN; delightfully."- dull days during
which he dreamed of many things that
night have been or that might be. but
lever living in the present save when
10 went back to his college classes.
ACROSS the street. in those days, the
'rowns, an aged couple, sat and stared
t the few passersby from their big
hairs on the long piazza. 1t had been
cry quiet, very peaceful, very dull!
He reused himself to hear Hannah
peaking.
TITS bad enough for me to be fifty
I've and getting on in years, Amos, but
'ouYe 15 years younger and you act
Ike an old man. l should think you'd
Ike to have motor car and get out
nd have some fun. l would II l was
mani"
"A motor carr" repeated Amos.
Are you crazy. Hannah Tringle?"
Hannah laughed heartily.
OF course. I'm not crazy-but you
an afford to buy one-why don't you!
II learn to drive it II you don't! I'd
Ike to have it tomorrow-I'm going
'ver to Petawick for the day and Sam
going to drive me over in his
II horses were slow
'eside motors!"
Hannah" gasped Amos, realizing
hat all his plans for drowsy old age
With Hannah as sole companion, were
offering to earth.
I'm not going to be a back num-
'er!" protested Hannah as she folded
lp her work aud took the clock key
lown from the shelf; 'T'm not going
o be has-been!"
"A-what?" gasped Amos.
"A has-been," repeated Hannah, glo.
ying in her newly acquired slang ex-
'ression. Il heard Cleopatra Desmond
'ay that-it's very expressive, isn't
t."
1T is-very expressive" assented
Amos dazedly, as he kissed his sister
,ood night, going out on the porch for