The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-03-23
The Younger
Set
By JANE OSBORN.
NOM Hf0 0li0 0ii7 Iif7 M ~ E0E0lF0aS;I

G. 1921 ~ Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Gosh /" said Mrs. Gleason, pushing
her small feet painfully into smaller
dancing slippers. Excuse me. Tom.
for saying gosh but honestly I'd
rather scrub floors than to go to that
dance"
Tom Gleason looked sympathetically
from his post before the chiffonier.
where he was struggling with the
studs Of his evening shirt. 81 suppose
we've got to CO."
"Oh, l suppose so," said the young
wife, now carefully brushing the col
lar Of Toms evening coat as 1t lay on
the bed. "Housework and the twins
are nothing to compare with what I
have to undergo for that younger set
/ promised to chaperone them. Grace
Hayes will meet us at the clubhouse
and will be back for the night. Your
brother, l suppose, will be there and
he'll want another spare room. I
thought once we'd pull! of q match
with him"
Them" echoed Tom sneeringly.
They're just like the rest Of the
younger set. Crazy for excitement
they'll never settle down and have
real happiness the way we did. Young
people are different nowadays" Tom
was all Of five years older than his
brother James. and Mrs. Gleason was
two years older than Grace Hayes,
yet these two felt the advantage of
many many years.
So the Gleasons, clad In their best,
went to the dance at the Country club,
leaving the slumbering twins In the
custodianship Of the maid Of all work.
who also slumbered In her room on
the third floor.
An hour later Jim Gleason tried the
front door Of the Gleason suburban
home. found II locked and made an
unceremoniOus entrance through
partly open front window. He took
off his hat and coat and then his shoes,
rummaged for and found a pair of
slippers and smoking jacket Of his
brothers In downstairs hall closet.
A foraging expedition In the kitchen
resulted In some crullers Of his sister
in-law's baking and some epples.
These he laid on the table beside the
easy chair In front Of the fireplace.
He filled his pipe with his brothers
tobacco. poked the embers, threw on
fresh log and sat down to enjoy all
the comforts Of q home that was not
his own.
This comfort he enjoyed alone for
an hour. At 10 80 he heard a knock
at the front door and opened 1t to See
Grace Hayes. In day clothes with an
overnight bag In her hand.
II thought you'd be at the dance"
she said with some hauteur and some
apology.
NO" drawled James, assisting
Grace off with her wraps and seating
her In second easy chair beside the
fire. 81 can't stand the pace. l said
l might come, but 1t was only for an
excuse to spend the night here. How
these married people want to CAD
about as they do l can't see. With
home like this-have cruller and an
apple" he interrupted. pointing to the
outlay on the table. Gee, IL l had
little house like this and a wife. be-
lieve me I'd stay at home! But then
we're different. Since the war fell
lows have known how to appreciate
home. But that older married set
all they think of Is excitement-tod-
ding and Jazz and all that sort of
thing"
Grace looked wIstfully into the fire.
II know" she said. Girls are differ
ent now. They are more serious"
There was long and rather painful
pause. Then James Gleason bent to-
ward Grace, who was sitting up
straight In her chair. "Grace, won't
you marry mel"
NO" Grace said. still very wistful,
and she nodded her head slowly and
looked into the fire. II think would
marry you II married any one. jim
my, but I'm afraid Of marriage. 1t
seems to change people so. I'm afraid
that once was married I'd be like
your slster-in-law. And you might
NhohBc uUOut anu uo ub uiuu aooue
dancing and excitement as Tom. I'd
rather 90 on dreaming about home
than to have home Of my own and
not appreciate It."
II was James turn to look wistfully
In the ERE and shake his head sadly.
he had been pleasantly surprised to
hear Grace say that she would marry
him II she married any one. That was
something Of comfort.
Il get your point of view, Grace"
ne said. ut would be frightful to find
yourself In a home like this, for In
stance, and not appreciate It, or to be
married to the girl you loved and find
her unwilling to stay home for quiet
evening. I'd be sorry for Tom, only
think he is as far gone as Mabel" An
other pause ensued. Couldn't we get
engaged and see how that affected us?"
That would be trial engagement"
Grace looked q little shocked. mo,
Jimmy, I never intend to be engaged