Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-14
(By JANE PHELPS).
Il Youth an Asset or n Disadvantage

.
CHAPTER LXIV.
/ was so busy, the days so filled.
| that the time slipped by with light
ming rapidty. David claimed much
OF my time. lie had a new pan each
morning.
What shall we do?" he would
say. And Carl would reply:
Isn't II fine to be so young"
(that he was sarcastic, never worried
David, who usually scorned to reply
But one morning l said:
II don't know whether 1t is. or
not, Carl. In Moreland, being younc
seems to be rather Of disadvantage.
The older women knew so much
more-are so much more interest
ing than we younger Ones-that we
can scarcely hold our own" then |
told them something of Nndge Lor-
ing and Julia Collins, and OF how
both Evelyn Reeves and | dtsliked
them, but how we haG to compete
with them in society.
IF you will be a grand lady, you'll
have to do as the grand ladies dc"
Ralph remarked. Ralph thought
more OF position and money than
the rest, so was not quite so sympa-
thetic.
Never think youth a disadvan-
tage." mother Joined in the conver--
sation. You will ge old fast
enough, and youth, once gone, never
can be reclaimed
Il know, mother, but 1t is hard TO
have TO compete with women five
or six years older, and women who
have spent their lives in the social
environment OF which | know so
little
You'll come out top OF the heap
yet, sis, don't worry" David broke
in. His boyish faith in me always
comforted me.
The Last Night at Home.
I was to go back to Moreland the
next day. We were all rather quiet
until David rallied us.
You'd think sis had died and we
were going to bury her. Nice
thanks she'll have about her last
night at home, II we sit around'1tke
a lot of mourners."
That sort of woke us up, and we
each tried to dispel the thought OF
parting which had saddened us.
proposed that we make some candy
and, after Maggie had cleared away
the dinner dishes, we all-including
dad and mother-trooped into the
kitchen. smiled as / wondered
what Georges fashionable friends
would think II they could see us.
We made old fashioned molasses
candy, and while father and the two
older boys pulled It, David cracked
nuts and mother picked them out of
the shells for nut fudge, which l was
making. We had an awfully gay
time, after that, Mother found two
nice candy boxes and packed them
with the fresh candy for me to take
on the train, and we all ate and
talked until after midnight. Then
mother shooed US upstairs, for
all the world like an old hen with
her chickens.
But | could not so TO bed. | sat
long at the window-the same win
dow at which had often sat before
| was married. The night was soft
and warm, for the time of the year.
and as l opened the window the air
felt like a moist flower held to my
face. II had rained slightly during
the evening" soft spring shower
which was already dry on the side
walks. And from below there stole
the scent OF ralnwater In the wooden
tub under the ewes at the corner OF
the house. and OF the black earth
which the boys had lately turned
In preparation for the late flowers
A just set-out bed OF tulips and ny
acinths gave forth II delicate odor'
The old scent was insidious and SET
me dreaming. The nostalgia OF ola
things was upon me, and, without
any reaso. my eyes filled with tears
which fell unheeded into my lap, or
splashed upon the window sill
Sclf-QucsuoninS.
why should | weep surely. lie
had been Kind to me. had married
tho man owed: had a beautiful
home. moncy, and all that II meant
in the way OF comforts and luxurics,
could traV el--why should be
sad
Then, down in my heart there
arose a feeling; a thought came into
my mind
In spite of all these things which
were now nine, was disappointed,
had expected even more. And the
more | had expected was love, ! had
enthusiastic love OF which I had
dreamed when. as girl had sat
al this vary window on other such
nights.