Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-02-04
SHORT STORIES BY Three MODERN FICTION WRITERS|
The LAST LAP
BY LOUISE HOFFMAN.
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Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicatel

\COpyrl&ht, lSlS, by Mcclure Newspaper
! Syndicate.)
Aunt Gratia r.. was fair, fat and
forty. She could hardly be called fat
in the Objectionable meaning Of the
word. She was plump. well proper
toned and good to look upon. But
there was no extenuating excuse for
her age. For she was forty. Her fair
complexion and golden hair, with ever
so faint trace Of silver at the TEN.
pies, lent an air Of distinction to her
general appearance.
She had just passed her fortieth
milestone and had decided to give up
going about. ostensibly to chaperou
her pretty niece. Wilma. It bored her
to go to dances and sit around with
nothing to do but gossip. TO be sure
the young men occasionally asked her
to dance out Of courtesy to Wilma.
And now she was forced to admit
these late nights were telling on her.
She must give them up and she would.
"Oh, here you are!" broke In the
silvery voice Of Wilma, as she opened
the living room door. 1--WE been look
ing all over for you"
"What's the trouble nowt" inquired
Aunt Gratia cheerfully.
Its about tonight" explained vii.
ma. "Bob was going to take me, but
his train gets In too late. He'll be on
time for the supper dance, but l
thought I'd better let you know early
enough so you can take me-"
"But I've just been telling myself
I'm not going out to dances any more, ~
replied Aunt Gratia.
Wilma's great brown eyes grew wide
with amazement..
"Why. Aunt Gratia, you can't mean
it. Why, I've no one to 60 with me,
and just can't miss this dance. It's
Bob's last night"
It was hard to refuse Wilma. She
was q picture Of distress. But she
would be firm. Aunt Gratia laid down
her knitting.
why can't yo,r mother. take your
Mother has neuralgia. Do come"
pleaded Wilma.
II haven't a gown ct to wear" pro-
tested Aunt Gratia. my wardrobe
has been neglected this fall.''
"Wear your adorable old blue
Crepe" suggested the niece. The blue
just matches your eyes,"
1--WE worn that so much, and think
it's time wore more subdued colors
anyway"
'Why, you're not DID," asserted Will
ma, with some warmth. "A stranger
meeting you for the drst time would
not think you a day over twenty-eight.
OF course" she temporized, seeing the
doubt on Aunt Gratia's face, "every-
one in p knows your age. But l
mean strangers"
"You little 1atterer," laughed Aunt
Gratia, pleased in spite Of herself.
you'll say any complimentary thing
just to win your point"
"say you'll Co." tormented Wilma.
Aunt 0ratia reflected a few mo-
ments. 'I'll co." she said at length,
ION condition that this will be my last
dance, and"
"You're a DEAR" broke in Wilma.
I'm going this time," finished Aunt
Gratia, "only because your mother is
Ill and Bob can't take YOU"
Wilma and her aunt arrived at the
dance in due time and Wilma was &C.
cordingly whisked away by admiring
youths. Aunt Gratia sat talking to an
older matr0n, tanning herself and
wishing she were home because dances
were for young people and her dane
Ing days were over, when someone
brought distinguished looking mid
dle-aged gentleman up to introduce.
Then the miracle began. Aunt Ora
tia, fair. fat and forty, was whirled
away to indulge. in dancing Just as her
twenty-year-old niece had been carried
away. AS by magic her dance card
seemed to I'LL up. All the young men
seemed suddenly to remember Wilma
had an aunt. To be sure there were
a great many dances by the middle
aged gentleman, but Aunt Gratia
seemed suddenly young and In great
demand.
"Just look at Aunt Gratia," whis.
pered Wilma over Bob's shoulder.
"She looks as though she were cele.
brating and having the time Of her
life. She told mo this morning this
was her last dance. She retires to
her knitting, tea and cats after to-
night"
"Jove, but she looks young. I won.
der If you'll look like that 4. FORTY"
he leased.
"Be careful, Bob, you're getting out
of STEP" scolded Wilma.
"Who is her stately part1er2" in.
quired Bob.
'That," said Wilma 80 impressively
she almost forgot to dance, '.ts the
Hon. Stephen G., member Of the
firm Of B 4 c., Maiden lane
jewelers. Of New York. Incidentally,
he was also schoolmate OF Aunt Ora
tia's. I've just had the pleasure of
meeting him little while ago.
Bob whistled softly under his breath.
1T looks as though you'd have an
Uncle Stephen" he prophesied.
A short time afterward Aunt Gratia
was seen to wear the LARGEST and
most brilliant solitaire ever seen In
p.
Only brief engagement and Aunt
Gratia became Mrs. Stephen o.
"Aren't you glad you took mo to
that dancer" teasingly whispered VIII
ma Into the radiant brides ear.