The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-29
EOeningStory
The Age of Julia.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.

Miss Marsh of the trimming counter
touched her beautifully waved hair
with a polished finger tip. then she
tilted the tiny mirror so that she could
see er wistful brown eyes and hunt
out a suspected line near her mouth
Suddenly, she closed the vanity case
with a little snap, and regarded its
gold and pink enamel beauty with
cold disfavor.
That she said bitterly, would
have bought a whole set OF aluminium
cooking utensils"
what are you talking about?"
painted stout Mrs. Cadge. buyer Tor
the corset department. Cooking uten-
sils are of no use to you In your eight
and believe me. Julia, at your age,
you should be glad to have such fine
prospect as marrying Herbert Lind
say suppose it will be soon"
How long have we been engaged ?"
demanded Julia.
II don't know few years
'"TenP interrupted Julia.
That's better than nothing-p1enty
of girls here in Spinnakers would be
glad of your chance"
1T suppose So" murmured Julia as
they returned to their respective de-
lpartments.
Mr.. Herbert Lindsay, who had sold
mems clothing for twenty years in the
handsome sapphire pin he was thrust
ing into his scarf. III 1 had all the
money that Julia has invested in scarf
pins" he thought, Il could have built
for 200 fowl" he sighed and turned
away to sell a suit to sunburned Gus
toner who ran a small stationery and
ia ncy goods store in a country village.
Lindsay had sold Peters clothes for
twenty years, and they knew each
other we'll
"How's the clothing business?"
asked Peters as he pulled out big
roll of money.
About the same as usual; and how's
the store coming along-and the
chickens?" asked Herbert eagerly.
'.All right; but I'm selling out"
Selling out. why?'
Moving to California-ny wife's
folks have gone there and they say
tits great and she's anxious to go-l
so if you hear OF any one who wants
to buy the house and chickens and
store-it brings in as much as you can
earn here, young mani" he boosted.
The young man" of forty smiled
grimly. Tell me all about it," he
suggested.
That evening he took Julia Marsh
wanted for g. Christmas present. Julia |
glanced at him from tired eyes. Il
don't dare tell you. Herbert" she said
bluntly.
Cost a. lOtL ne asked.
She shrugged. "Do look old, Her |
bert-much older, to your she asked. |
You always look just the same to |
me-" he said gallantly, ''the prettiest
girl in Spinnakers.'
mot now. Ten years ago-when |
we became engaged. Haven't the |
years gone, tho?" Her cheeks were
pink now.
''Ten years-we never thought we
had enough to take one of those apart |
in ha "a hut M war /
of course you wouldn't want to go any |
where, else, Julia ?" He looked at her |
doubtfully. and she saw with a pang !
that his hair was threaded with gray, |
there were fine lines about his eyes
they were both drying up in the long |
daily grind under the artificial lights |
at Spinnakers. i
1.-THE Larr.da % she repeated. IL
don't want to go there. now"
There's new one going up-non-
Housekeeping. maid service, valet serv- |
ice" he said drearily.
II don't want maid service--non- |
housekeeping or anything like that
Herbert. Don't you understand, Her |
bert" she was near to tears and he
was glad that their table was partly
concealed behind a screen of palms. !
IA hotel, then?" he ventHred |
desperately.
work" she said distinctly. "Of course
you are Mortified, and disguised, and |
your ideals are shattered, but 1 am |
tired of being dressed up all day and |
just selling things. I've had to be |
dressed up every day for years and |
years--and want a chance to have a /
little house of my own, and wear cot |
ton house dresses. and go to the butch |
er's and grocer's, and have some |
chickens, and belong to the Ladies' |
Aid Society and go to church every 1
Sunday, and wash every Monday !
morning and iron Tuesday-and never |
eat in boarding house or restaurant /
again. Soft you want to give me |
anything for Christmas-just let me |
pick it QUIT don't want silver mesh
bag, or bracelet or anything like