The Washington herald., 1922-06-27
Mknn)Mzzuer,
BY
ALBERT
pAYSON
TERHUNE

Thats part OF what i was. thinking
about as I came along just now.
And somehow / wanted to talk 1t
over with you. You're sure you're
not sleepy?'
Not a bit." she reassured him.
Talk away. You were thinking
about our not being awake, usually.
after 10 o'clock? What is-"
mo, not that exactly. But what
IL implies. Here's the idea, as near
ly as I can put 1t into words: I've
been plugging away, year after
year in the same old rut, till I for
got there was any kind OF life ex-
cept my own kind. I've been think
ing OF myself as elderly-well. mid
die aged. anyhow-and sedate and
all that, and fit for nothing but to
grind out my days work and to
rest up in summer by going to bed
at nine. That sort Of thing makes
a man old And I'm not old"
He spoke almost defiantly, as II
fearing ridicule or contradiction.
He got neither from the sympa-
thetic woman on the veranda step
beside him. Instead Nadia said
soothingly:
NO, you're not old, Dirck. I never
think of you as old. Nobody could"
We'll, middled aged. then" he
challenged. And now ! find I'm
not even that. I'm young, MAZDA!
You can laugh at me II you want
to. I'm young"
Again he paused, in defiance. But
there was no laugh or other sign
of mocking dissent from the calm
eyed woman beside him. He took
up the recital.
I'm young. l tell you, A man Is
as old as he thinks he is. I've been
a Methuselah from the time I was
20. And-for some divine reason
my youth has come back to me.
I'd be fool to throw 1t away,
wouldn't II"
This time there was more of ap-
peal than challenge in his words.
And an innate wistfulness in them
touched some mother chord in
| Maida's heart.
Yes, indeed"' she made haste to
| answer. 1T would be the most
foolish thing in the world to throw
away such a gift. And-isn't it
wonderful that it's come to you
when you have the money and the
| leisure to enjoy 1t? So many people
haev TO spend their first youth in
working. and when they are able
at last to enjoy youth they've for
| gotten how. Or else the world has
hammered all the youth out Sf
them. You're lucky, Dirck; lucky
| and wisew
With impulsive gratitude at her
% AA 4.
Mbylan caught her cool white
hand in his eager grasp. There was
something boyish and irresponsible
In the gesture. Assuredly there was
| nothing in 1t to account for the
woman's drawing away her own
hand in reproving haste, as she
| did.
I've been so busy and so blind"
he rambled on. too interested in his
theme to note her action, that I've
never remembered till now to be
young. I've associated with middle
aged people and so I've thought
middle aged thoughts. In a few
years more I'd have been fit for the
chimney corner and a bowl of Cruel
The way to be young" he continued
oracularly. "the way to be young
and to think young thoughts and to
get the real joy out of life, is to
surround ones self with young peo-
pie and to live and laugh and jab-
Der as they do. You've no idea
how many years it rolls off of ones
shoulders. And that brings me to
the point. I was coming over to-
morrow to ask you about it. Dr.
you happen to know Thetis Varick,
Tall. slender, glorious looking kid
with"
Yes, I've met her." said MAZDA
evenly as she fought an annoying
twinge at her heart. And she's
all you say, Dirck. A beautiful
girl. She"
Continued Tomorrow,