Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-01-02

HIS LIFE Was Dull
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

frowned impatiently
II was annoying indeed to have hi
summer evenings disturbed by sill
chatter and senseless laughter; he ha'
come to Littleport to spend few
weeks with his sister Hannah. and h
had expected to find the sleepy villag,
life an antidote for the nine months Q
excitement he endured at the hands O
prankish students in universit,
town,
Now he went indoors. his tall, lear
form making grotesque shadow on
the gravel path as the front dool
opened and closed.
Hannah" he said to his sister who
was embroidering bureau scarf fol
the coming church fair. 1T must be
very disagreeable to have those young
people across the way--why, thought
the Browns owned the place" He sat
down in 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. believe you grow more abb
sent-minded every day" she said.
placidly. Il told you In my letter that
the Browns had sold the place to city
folks for summer home. This is the
first time the Desmonds have been
here. and must say like to have
young folks around-it makes II real
cheerful for me. told you all this In
my letter. but do believe that you
skip everything like that-you think
I'm gossiping.
Il dare say" murmured Amos
guiltily. Only there isn't much
peace
who wants peace?" interrupted
Hannah quickly; "for my part ! may
be fifty-tive years old. but I'm not so
old that can't remember how blissful
1t was to feel young and foolish-and
to laugh and talk and have good
time! Why. just laugh right out
sometimes at their nonsense! It's
company for me. They're real good
neiGhbors. too; Mrs. Desmond has TAX
en- 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 honeyIif you've
got money!"
''Ragtime music!" shifted Amos con-
temptuously.
Il like It." cried Hannah excitedly.
beating time with her embroidery
hoop, humming the refrain. entirely
off the key.
Amoswatched her in growing amaze
ment. Hannah had always been the
Impersonation of old-maiden dignity;
recollection of other summer vacations
assailed him-long, quiet days when
the bees doomed in and out of the
flowers, birds sang in the little or
chard, and Hannah moving quietly
about the house preparing delicious
meals that they ate without enthusi-
asm; delightfully."- dull days during
which he dreamed of many things that
might have been or that might be, but
never living in the present save when /.
he went back to his college classes.
Across the street, in those days, the
Browns, an aged couple, sat and stared
at the few passersby from their big
chairs on the long piazza. 1t had been
very quiet, very peaceful. very dull
He reused himself to hear Hannah
speaking.
ITS bad enough for me to be fifty
i've and getting on in years, Amos, but |
you're is years younger and you act
ike an old man. should think you'd |
ike to have a motor car and get out
and have some fun. would II / was
, mani"
"A motor carr" repeated Amos.
Are you crazy. Hannah Tringle?"
Hannah laughed heartily.
"Of course, I'm not crazy--but you |
ian afford to buy one-why don't you? |
II learn to drive it II you don't! I'd |
ihO " hdfC ~ tOhiOlIOW-l III bOlu6 |
,ver to Petawick for the day and Sam
oinney's going to drive me over in his
IL horses were slow
reside 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
Ip her work and took the clock key
lown from the shelf; I'm not going
0 be a 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
u"
TT is--very expressive" assented
AMOS dazedly, as he kissed his sister
God night, going out on the porch for
final pipe
Across the street there was the
ound Of laughing goodbyes In which
he bass of mems voices mingled with
he sweet treble Of the Desmond girls.
hen motor horn honlSed loudly, and
nth a rasping ''swo-o-o-osh" large
ar swept out Of the Desmond gates
nd, disappeared down the street. He