Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-12-20

ant The only thing ever rep
ted was that ! wasn't man
She paused and then wenl ~
voice that grew more raacous e'
cry moment. That was later r.,
a long time since I've admUleu
even to myself that there was
perod-after my husband death
when | hated growing old with
the best of them was. tfty ana
found myself with complete Id
erty for the first time in my life.
for the elder children were all mar
ried. and the younger in Europe at
school. had already begun to
look upon myself as an old woman
But soon made the terrible
discovery that the heart never
grows old. fell in love four
times. They were all years young
.er than myself and I'd have opened
one Of my veins before ia have let
them find it out Even then | had
as little use for old men as old men
have for old women. Whatever ii
may be in, men. it's the young
heart in women had no illB
sions. Fifty is fifty. NY complex
ion was gone, my stomach high.
and l had the face Of an old war
horse. But--and here is the damn
ed trick that nature plays on u.s.
/ hoped-hoped-E dreamed and
as ardently as ever had dreamed
in my youth. when was IN the
lookout for the perfect knight and
before ] compromised on James
Oglethorpe, who was handsome BE-
fore he grew those whiskers aud
got fat-yes. az ardently as In nv
youth dreamed. that these clever
intelligent men would look thron ~
the old husk and see only he
young heart and the wise brain -
knew that I could give them more
than many a younger woman Np'
II beauty Is only skin deep the skin
is all any man wants, the besl nf
,'em. They treated me with the
most impeccable respect for th'
first time in my life hated The
woodland liked my society be
cause was an amusing caustic old
woman. OF course they drfted Off
either to marry, or because ! terri
fed them with my sharp tongues
when loved them most and foli as
If | had poison in my veins Wen :
4 saved my pride. at ell events
by the time you came along
had sworn at myself once for all
van old fool. and in any case. !
would hardly have been equal to
falling in love with brat of TWEEN
ty-two."
She seized the stick that always
rested against her chair and
thumped the floor with it. Never
theless," she exclaimed with saw.
age contempt, my heart IS as
young today as Mary Ogden's That
is the appalling discovery | have
made this week. I'd give my i'm
mortal soul to be thirty again-or
look IT, Why in heavens name did
nature play us this appalling dirty
trick?"
But Janet" He felt like tearing
his hair. What was Mary Eat
tiany's tragedy to this? Banalties
were the only refuge. Remember
that at thirty you were in love with
your husband and bent on having
a family"
81 meant thirty and all ! know
now. I'm not so damn sure
I'd have tried to make myself think
I was in love with James--who had
about as much imagination as
grasshopper and the most Internal
mannerisms. I'd have found ont
what love and life meant, that's
what! And when did I'd have sent
codes and traditions to the devil"
"Oh, no, you would not. If you'd
had it in you you'd have done It,
anyhow. All women Of your day
were not virtuous-not by a long
sight I'll admit that your best pos
sibiHties have been wasted; I've al
WAYS thought that. You have
terrific personality and If you were
at your maturity in this tradition
less era you'd be a great national
figure. not a mere social power,
But nature in a fit of spite launched
-ou too soon and the cast-iron ira
'ans we're too strong for you. II
The epoch of the submerged
nan"
AIRY ogden was brought up in
.aose same cast-iron traditions"
yes, but Madame Zattiany be-
longs to a class of women that de-
rive less from immediate ancestors
fhan from a lo~ondary race Of 81,
rens-not So rely legendary,
perhaps we tAink. Convention
is or Lille farness tor sucn
w" sad plays 40 part whatever
ja.g secret lives"
You're In love with Mary"
Don't come back to me. I won't
AVE it. For the moment l don't
feel. as if I had an atom Of per-
sonality left, I'm so utterly absorb
cd in you; and I'd give my immor-
tai soul to help you"
"Yes, know that wouldn't be
turning myself inside ont II I
didn't. I've never talked to liv-
ing soul as I've talked to you to-
night and I never shall again"
She stared at him for moment,
and then she burst into loud laugh.
It was awe-insplring, that laugh.
Incifer in hell, holding his sides at