Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-26
WhyHe Wondered


1t was a skillfully placed lamp, and
In its rays she showed not the tlnieSt
trace OF age. One would have given
the bloom upon her cheek the boneIit
Of the doubt and her hair was a'mar'
vel. Even the man who was calling
observed il admlringly-and that IS
triumph in case where the man con.
cerned has been calling oil and on for
some twelve OF fifteen years.
How do you do it, Lutie?' he in
CURED. I've noticed II lot-you
don't look five minutes older than
when We were is the same high school
classes. I-why sometimes feel old
er than the hills
YOU" she laughed protestlngiy.
Why, to hear you talk, one would
think it had been forever! 1t isn't such
a frightfully long time
HUH" broke IN the man. reaching
fer a match, longer than you want 10
think about, I'll bet. Why, the gram
mar students OF those days are wrest-
ling with rent bills and infant-feeding
problems right now No, were no
longer as young as We used 10 be-.
Well" she said with touch OF
sharpness. Il shouldn't make such
heap OF trouble about it. Arthur II
were YOU. Why. | never think about
it, And you're silly to act so, because
YOU are awlully young looking-no
body'd ever suess within ten years
your real age"
"Honest?" he begged, with some IN
terest OR are you just trying 70 De
sociable as the etiquette columns
teach you to be? I've thought lot
about it lately. l went to football
game the other day and l tell you 1t
made me blue to see all those strap
ping young huskies tearing around
like wild Indians and the girls cheer
ing-and he sitting scrouged UP under
blanket wondering whether was go
ing to get rheumatism for my foolish
ness.
II never heard anything like you!
she said. There's no more reason Tor
YOU to feel that way-why, | THINK a
man of your age, with good looks and
brains and experience, can put 1t al
over lot of silly boys, You don't
give yourself credit, Arthur"
I you really think so?' he asked.
1 you and WE'VE been awfully good
friends, haven't we. Lutte? Jove.
don't know anybody | can talk TO ana
be my real self with as can with you !
I'VE thought about it lot"
Have you, Arthur she asked soft
/ ~. Her lashes looked very lone
against the fairness of her cheeks
"You certainly are a locker he
burst out feelingiy Il don't wonder
you've been so popular. What gets
me, with al the beaux you've had, Is
how you've escaped matrimony.
"All of them didn't want TO marry
me, you know" she reminded MN
modestly, Then she sighed. Il guess
I'm particular" she admitted "Ther'
always something lacking in each one
| couldn't quite see myself"
That's exactly the way with me.
the man told her triumphantly. IL
be simply batty about some girl Tor
while and then I'd come out OF M
trance and do a quickstep TO get ava
in time! My. the escapes I've hao
Kind of funny that both of us nave III
gered along this way. isn't it, Lutte
All the rest Of the old crowd are maj
ried and yet here We are. Really
haven't you ever seen man yo
thought you'd care enough about I
marry"
That's teiling!' she cried gayi!
How about YOURSELF"
He fiicked his cigar end into the as
tray. Well" he said when he ma
leaned baclssin his chair. "as matte
of fact, gIess~I have,- It's just lat
ly that it's dawned on me what al
me. | think SIN in lovelsssAnd that
why I'm blaei~ I've realized that II
| So and have 4 bald spot and. like