The Topeka state journal., 1920-04-05
Eoening Story
December and May.
BY CRAWFORD LUTTRELI

young M4udS, anu E1AOls0 WAS sOpIllsll-
Gated enough to believe that no Cupid
waxed fat and healthy with the years
unless his tender flesh was swathed in
silk and protected from cold by wrap
pings of ermine and sable. So far
her father had only been able to allow
her dyed muskrat and skunki She
was ambitious. She had hopes of
hitching her mortal clay to a star of
riches.
II hate even the thought of being
DID, she said one day when she and
Jerry had been horseback riding to-
gether and he had stopped in the old
fashioned frame house to chat for a
while Then at the quick look he gave
her, fearing that she hadmade rash
statement, she appended. You know
what I mean. IL dislike the idea
of old age. Life is SO jolly when one
is young. Now, there's Henrietta.
She's beginning to be SO material in
all her ideas Instead OF sitting mere
talking to us and being gay and every
thing, shess trotted off to make sand
witches and to fix something cool to
drink"
''That sounds jolly to me, all right"
laughed Jerry happily.
Henrietta is twenty-six. you know,
and L suppose that is time to settle
down. When I'm DID," this with a
little shrug of horror. 'I dare Say my
own thoughts will soar no higher
than wherewithal shall we be clothed
and wherewithal shall We be
country roads and taking fences like
did today. That is certainly a fleet
footed hofse-ef yours that 1 rode"
He looked at the glowing girl be-
fore him.. There was the sheen of gold
in her hair and the color and texture
of pink rose leaf in her cheeks. Her
eyes, looking at him from under lashes
that seemed long enough to tangle,
were as dark as patches of a midnight
sky. He had never seen such beauty,
such health, such vitality.
I'm glad that you enjoyed the ride.
1t gives me a lot of pleasure to make
you happy"
Eloise thrilled at that Already the
star toward which she was straining
her eager young. eyes had begun to
twinkle. 1t seemed to draw nearer at
the look in the mans face before her.
I'm going to give a dinner dance at
the club Saturday night" he told her.
Sort of farewell affair before I sail
for the orient on business for dad"
Eloise choked down gasp of fright
that seemed TO swell her slim, white
throat. "Oh, I'm sorry that you're go
ing away so soon," she managed at
last.
1T will be six weeks before I SAIL"
he explained, watching her flushing
face with a sort of satisfied smile lurk-
ing around his wide straight mouth.
1T am planning to make the trip west
rather leisurely, stopping off every
day or two to break the monotony of
the thing
IT can't think of any trip being mo-
notonous in wonderful private car
like yours" chirped Eloise. We'll,
here's dear old Henrietta at last! I'm
simply starved" She tossed her rid
ing hat and whip on the porch floor
beside her and languidly stretched a
hand for the litte1 white napkin that
Henrietta's own hands had made and
laundered, too
when 1 get to be as old as you,
Henrietta, maybe I'll do lovely things
like this for thankless- young folks"
she laughed.
Jerry saw a slow blush burn the old
er girls olive cheeks. Her fine hand
pouring the icy drink from the bead
ed silver pitcher shook a bit The
laughter died in his own eyes.
-'She's relegating US to the shelf
Henrietta" he said calmly. 1t was the
first time he had ever used her Chris
tian name. He took the pitcher firm
ly from her hand. You sit downi
I'm going to serve you.
I'm really very good at this sort of
thing. I'm certainly not ornamental.
Eloise thinks we are octogenarians
simply because"
why, the very idea, Jerryl" inter-
posed the pretty girl. Il didn't say a
word about you. We're about the
same age. Henrietta don't mind my
telling her age. She says she looks
every day of it and doesn't care. Don't
you, old dear?''
1--WE learned, not to care" said the
older sister patiently.
I'm much older than Henrietta, -
Jerry told the startled girl in the
smart riding habit. I'll soon be
thirty-five."
"Oh, didn't dream of it. You look
so awfully young and are so young.
But then" complacently, ''men never
show their ages, do they?"
I was just telling Eloise," said
Jerry, taking several Sandwiches and
a glass; of lemonade and going to sit
down beside the surprised Henrietta.
who, from force of habit, occupied
the hard bench instead of one of the
comfortable rocking chairs, 'I am Civ
ing dinner dance on Saturday night;
just my best friends here. 1 dislike
big affairs = crushes you know.
Since Eloise has been SO vehement
about hating old age and as I have
come to see that December and May
are too fair apart-oh, every way
for comfortable companionship, I'm
going to send Henry Martin for her
and take you myself, Henrietta, If you
will honor this staid, elderly gentle
man" He laughed good-humoredly,
apparently enjoying the Mortified ex-
preston that somehow took the
beauty from the young. girls face.
I'm leaving Monday for the coast on
my way to the orient he added,
turning to look at Henrietta
How lovely!' cried Henrietta, en-
Enthusiastically. What wonderful
time you will hayei" She did not add
that she was sorry or that she would
miss seeing him around.
You know" he said earnestly, I'm
going to remember all the good things
to eat you've, fixed for me. It's the.
first heal home cooking I've had since
was a kid. Sometimes I've been
greedy. You've noticed it, of course.
but q chap does get so internally tired
of hotels and French chefs. And then,
there's something about woman do
ing it for you-a pretty woman like
you"
Henrietfa Turned smiling gray eres