Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-02
"The Insider "
BY Virginia Terhune Van de
Water
CHAPTER NLIN
Copyright, 1917, Star Company.

1t would have been unwise for me
to dispute with Mr. Norton about his
buying me the tennis racket he men
toned. At the time, any speech or
the subject was impracticable, as
Tom was present and l knew that his
father intended him to think l was
already the. possessor of racket
which / had left in town.
Later, however | did say to my
employer: You are kind to suggest
getting "a racket for me. If you
can make time to get me one, ! wi
be grateful and will pay you al
once"
Don't be silly" he said almost
sharply The idea of your Offering
. pay me for the thing That's
nonsense!"
''It is business" asserted.
You and | are not talking busi-
ness" he continued. 81 get enough
of business in town without having
it out here in the country. | forbid
you to use the odious word again"
He laughed. and went back fol
another set of tennis with Tom. II
would but veX him if l pressed the
matter so l decided to hold my peace
for the present.
Leaning back laZily against the
trunk of the tree, l read aloud tC
Grace, stopping every few minutes
to discuss some point in the story
with her. When she, in her turn
expressed her ideas, I let my eyes
rest on the two tennis players
Brewster Norton was six feet tall
and now that his coat was off
could see that his figure was be-
ginning to develop the rotund waist
line that is so often fatal to the
grace of the middle aged American
This increased girth was especially
noticeable by comparison with his
sons slender, boyish form.
The reading over, Grace and
were Joined by Mrs. Gore, who ap-
peared bearing several cushions and
a rug, all of which she deposited
upon the grass before sitting down.
Il usually sit in chair" she re-
marked, IF l come out here at all
l have a great dread of catching
cold. Aren't you afraid to sit or
the grass as you are now doing?"
Wonderful to BE Young
mo indeed" | assured her. 1--WE
have had no rain for some days, you
know, and the ground is warm from
the sunshine that has soaked into
it,"
1T is wonderful to be young!'
she sighed. Then, as her gaze wan.
dered to the two tennis players, she
| sighed again. Just see how long {
man can indulge in the pastimes o
| youth" she observed. "A woman
| of Brewster's age would not play
tennis"
"Oh. think she might" / argued
| In fact ! have seen women of fift!
playing-and Mr.. Norton is no
/ fifty"
mo, not yet" she assented. "Bu
he is forty-six. He is young nj
| longer"
At this moment the subject of he
comments came toward us, moppins
| the perspiration from his streaming
face with his handkerchief.
II think I've had enough for on'
day." he declared. throwing himself
on the grass. II tell you, had M
idea of how fat and scant of breath
| was becoming until / had to rur
and jump about like a two-year
old"
You must expect that at YOU
age, Brewster" Mrs. Gore reminded
him.
well, I don't expect it," he re.
torted. You talk as if l were ar
octogenarian, Adelaide"
You are not that" she sale
gravely, but you are no longer
young, and it is undeniable that you
are rapidly acquiring the figure oi
an elderly man"
"1'll work it off soon enough" he
asserted. ANY man. even If only
thirty years old, would get fat il
he took as little exercise as I take
But we are going to change al
that"
Miss Dart" Tom challenged from
the court, II dare you to play me q
game with fathers racket"
She can't--it's too heavy" Mr.
Norton said. Besides, l want her
to play her first game with me-"
A Hard Situation
The words slipped out as il
awkwardly and tried to laugh the
speech aside. Il mean-we'll wait
until she has her racket. I will
bring it out tomorrow"
Mrs. Gore turned suspicious
gance upon me. "Oh. have you a
glance upon me. "Oh, have you q
bring it with you?"
Il haven't began. But Brew
ter Norton interrupted me almost
roughly
She had no idea that she would
play tennis out here" he explained.
His interference had been too
energetic, and / knew that his
sister-in-law was not deceived by it.
II understand" she said dryly.
Tom began talking about the con-
dition of the court. Evidently this
little passage at arms had escaped
his notice, for which / was grateful.
His father answered his comments
with seeming interest, yet / was
sure that he was conscious, as was
l, that an unwelcome idea was
working in the widows mind.