Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-04-29
is YOUTH AN ASSET OR A DIS
ADVANTAGE
CHAPTER LXIY.


was so busy, :he days so filled, that
the time slipped by with lightning rapid
ity. David claimed much of my time. He
had new plan each morning.
"What shall we dos" he would say.
And Carl would reply:
Ism t it fine to be so young!" (that
he was sarcastic, never worried David.
who usually scorned to reply). But one
morning said:
81 dom know whether it is or not
Carl, In Moreland, being young seems
to be rather of a disadvantage. The
older women know so much more-are
so much more interesting than we
younger ones-that we can scarcely hold
our own," then l told them something
of Madge Loring and Julia Collins, and
of how both Evelyn Reeves and l dis
liked them, but how we had to compete
with them in society.
I" If you will be grand lady, you II
have to do as the grand ladies do, :"
Ralph remarked. Ralph thought more of
position and money Than the rest, so
was not quite so sympathetic.
''Never think youth disadvantage
mother joined in the conversation. "You
will get old fast enough, and youth, once
gone, sewer can be reclaimed"
81 &now, mother, but it is hard to-
have to compete with women five or
six years older, and women who have
speat their lives in the social environ
ment of which l know so little +"
"You II come out top of the heap yet
sis, don't worry" David broke i'll. His
boyish faith in me always comforted
me.
The Last Night at Home
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 thinks
she II have about her last night at home
If we sit around like a lot of mourn
ers."
That sort of woke US up, and we each
tried to dispel the thought of parting
which had saddened us. proposed that
We mako some candy and, after Maggie
had cleared away the dinner dishes,
we all-including' dad and mother
trooped into the kitchen. smiled as l
what Georges fashionable
friends would think if they could see
Us.
We made old fashioned molasses can
iy, and while father and the two older
Boys pulled it. David cracked nuts and
mother picked them out of the shells |
Tor 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
ne to take on the train, and we all
ate and talked until after midnight.
Then mother shooed us all upstairs, for
al the world like an old hen with her
chickens.
But | could not go to bed. sat long
1t the window-the same window at
which l had often sat before l was
married. The night was soft and warm
Tor the time of year, and as l opened
he window the air felt like moist
'lower held to my face. 1t had rained
dignity during the evening" sopc
pring shower which was already dry
N the sidewalks. And from below there
tole the scent of rain-water in the
wooden tub under the ewes at the cor.
Ter of the house; and of the black
arth which the boys had lately turn
d in preparation for the late flowers.
just-s9t-out bed of tulips and hya-
inths gave forth a delicate odor. The
Id scent was insidious and set me
reaming. The nostalgia of old things
vas upon me, and, without any reason,
ny eyes filled with tears which fell
nheeded into my lap, or splashed upon
he window sill.
Self Questioning
Why should weep9 Surely, life had
een kind to me. l had married the man
loved; l had a beautiful home; money,
nd all that it meant in the way of com
orts and luxuries. Icould travel-why
hould be sad?
Then down in my heart, there arose
feeling; thought came into my mind
In spite Of all these things which
we're now mine, 1 was disappointed.
ook Mrs. Peeve along to help choose