The Pulaskian., 1920-08-26

tiic seuSdtlOh winch comes to diff dent man, unaccustomed to women when he dares to think for the first time that he has been interesting to young and beautiful girl. It is one of the Elysian emotions. We grow old and bald, and women are adventures dismissed from our lives. We know we do not interest them. We do not think of interesting them. We become pantalooned lay-fgures too scared of scandal or too confirmed in pr0priety to break out of the narrowed way There is an age which comes to man, a condition in which he finds himself. to which he submits if he have any morals, and when it comes and when he submits, the gates are closed upon faneiful, romantic adventures. If he has been fortunate, he is content. He sits at the west window, and his pros pect is the sunset. He no longer asks the great question of youth: Could make that girl like me?"
 To me, after that first dinner with Mrs. Sidney and her daughter, the ecstacy was romantic folly. IsobeI had captured me, my sense, my ra- tionality, my judgment, my miad, fancy and emotions. Beauty and youth alone are enough to do this for an imagina- tive young man, and when attractive aspects of character are back of beauty and youth, and when the young man looks forward to a probability of that eonquering circumstance, propinquity, he may be excused If his feet lightly touch the floor. I was captured and knew it after that first dfnner-knew it, and both 4oved and dreaded 1t. was about to make q fool of myself and be at once happy and a miser- able fool
 In the exalted state of egoistic emo tions which I have outlined, went to Mir. Sidley's room after dinner and sat with him for two hours. I began to appreciate how charmingly his life was decorated. A really rare subtlety of art was used to bring a warm color into this indomitable but feeble mans winter of life I did not fully appre- ciate until later what thought and care lay behind the unstudied comforts and sensations Hartley house offered.
 Mr. Sidney was white haired and very gracious. His manner was a> warG cordiality. It was not precise. It was robust, but 1t was be1ignant. Later saw how his presence peryaded the place.
 We had a cheerful talk. What he said suggested to me that my world could not have been more than hun dred years old at the most, and that his included. the period of inorganic evolution in which the period of or ganic evolution is but a pin prick. Youth Is startled by such conceptions of life, but I had an interesting evea- ing
 Before I said good night, Jed came in with two bottles of wine. He stood and looked at ne unp1easantly. arose to go, and MT. Sidney said:
 q think we shall like each other. At least, I hope you will be comfort able, even happy. And don't be dis tressed about the wine. don't drink 1t any more. Jed drinks 1t, and I en- joy seeing him do it."
 
 A whippoorwill was reiterant in the woods at night, and it's call came from dark recesses odorous and myste- riousIy yelled Having said good night to Mr. Sidney, had gone to my room with a book from the library. The night was fresh, sweet-smelling and cool. I had read for several hours when I heard the cut bolt in my door thrown against the piece of metal which had been left in the socket.
 There was no transom above the door, and evidently the threshold kept light from appearing beneath it. had been reading. as I said, for three hours at least, and whoever tried to bolt me in had good reason to think I was asleep.
 knew who the person was. It was Jed. Knowing I was not locked in I was undisturbed and continued read ing.
 Shortly afterward l heard woman's voice in expostulation far down the hall Z. arose abruptly to q sharp cry and had tp lay aside my book and expose the fact that my door was not locked. q thing I had not wanted to do until the secret of its being locked could be discovered by revealing that 1t was not.
 I hurried out and down the hall Jed had. q woman by the wrist. Both of them saw me coming. She released herself from his relaxing grip by quick jerk and ran. He stood until came up.
 "What is the nfatter?" asked.
 ~What makes you think anything Is the lnatter?" he asked.
 Don't take me for fool" I said. "That was Mrs. Sidney who screamed. You were holding her. It seems to ma if needs an explanation"