Rockingham post-dispatch., 1922-08-10
A Mature
EIopenent
b CLARA DELAFIELD
SllIIINlIIlIIIlIllIlIllIIIllllIlIIl

"Amandas hard" said Mary Tyr
rell. "She's as hard as nails. And she's
been watching us like lynx ever since
we got to know each other so WELL"
"No worse than Bob" said Frank Ar
mold. That boys got eyes In the back
Of his head. He watches me like
like q bob-cat."
.It's hard that our own children
should turn against u.s. sighed Mary.
Il suppose they think we're pair Of
old fools who can't be trusted"
It certainly was hard on their ro-
nance. Mary was two years younger
than Frank, and Frank was-well, Of
that indeterminate age when the hair
Is as much white as black and the
tailor sighs reproachfully when he
passes the tape-measure round you,
They had been sweethearts In youth,
had drifted apart, and each had mar
ried and been left alone. Now, with
a grown-up son and daughter, they
found themselves neighbors in the lit
tie town.
Rob Arnold and Amanda TyrreIi
were engaged 10 he morried Roh had
4 fine position. ana II was only = mat
ter Of few weeks TIL the ceremony.
And the old people, fearing the lone
liness that would follow, had found
consolation in each others society.
.Msry." I've rot 1 scheme.p said
Frank one day. ,I,et's--let,s ret mar
ried toor
.Erant 81 sba nos stsooaraa nv rho
nronosa, .yor n,ustr.t toto shor,
that Those memories ara too--too
socraAn
.I ra.n q dar,,,. yvh, ,ho.,a,,,
a hara : ut.," h.nn,n.ss - ",r, o,d
80, stt.. ~, 80 a,,vavs corad
for eoch othsr hsvan., way,
:. .oo,. = lann .,.,a 80 nass,a 10 Aos
A .ss ~ - ,r,'s.,, ( -
= "Ss Nv. .Ass O., @ -, sn - "au
eeassu ~ ea Sne nau 49, ~. ~ aa .ss
esel si'.e .h1' lsss VII =" ~
aeo' " .ne o"'"' u' s'io s""u
sto"n '."u
FRANK aio persuaoe ner. ana it was
u o''hcuit courtsniI that was carried
Oh under the eyes ot tne young couple.
Ihey reared lneir chhorehs opposi-
tion intehseiy' a aozen Times MARY
oeciareu that she CARED not 40 IL,
linen frahK MT On piah.
What d'you say to an elopement,
darling? Remember how we'd planned
70 eIope IN the oid DAYS"
FRANK, II couldnt. ~ would be
--improper, at our age! BESIDES
Leave II TO me-, SAID Frank.
a week later ne came To- her AGAIN.
Come along, Mary ne SAID. It's
all ready. The judge Will fix 1t for
US as soon as we can get 70 MS mousse.
FRANK, don't pc absurd Why, =
I'm not dressed, and there's the pud-
olng 70 make ans
anu noo ana Aliai''ia on their way
UP me NH. its now OF never, moth-
G
eouleiio"-,Mary never khew now
atterWaru--he persuuuea ter. Aho az
tie oacN OIL the mouse, nor near enough
70 arouse susp'cion, tne buggy was
w'''iHs. FRANK neiped ner IN ana
tooh w tne relns.
rian an hour later tney emerged
Irom the Judge 8 mousse man ana wlfe.
Judge hingreW hau chuckied ana
Deamen' anu SEEMED 20 DC enjoying
the joke Immensely.
i guess thereH be surprises when
yon get homes he said.
i guess there WILL said Mary
mournfully.
All the way home her despondency
Increased, In spite Of her husbands
protestations.
Amanda Will never forgive me. and
Bob won't forgive you," she said.
II that young scoundrel tries any
OF his tricks on me, III break his
.eethE said frank Arnold severely.
III let MN know I'm ms father"
z coupe q .', olu ioois we are saio
Mary, as ne kisssn her.
aaso - @ 49, I pes 49, loN 'ns.n, VIZ
.',,.s -. a ~ IL. u.s.enu.u
w. w. .ssa. s s anu t'neu ~
@ ava - ss', ...., r,
.Wo,, -, ~ so,,.. !. 81. I 'ais a..
d.v W. ~ ,Sosoht S ~ rs.a !. h.as. s s,d,aa a !.
Nay' VIC tuousht "su ~ Dussy-riulhs,