The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-02-05

WhyHe Wondered
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1t was skillfully placed lamp, and
in its rays she showed not the tiniest
| trace Of age. One would have given
the bloom upon her cheek the benefit
! of the doubt and her hair was mar
vel Even the man who was calling
observed it admiringly -and that is a
triumph in a case where the man con-
cerned has been calling off and on for
some twelve or fifteen years.
How do you do it, Lutie?" he in
quired. I've noticed it a lot-you
don't look five minutes older than
when we were is the same high school
classes! why sometimes feel old
er than the hills!"
"You!" she laughed protestingly.
'Why, to hear you talk, one would
think it had been forever! 1t isn't such
a frightfully long time"
'Huhi" broke in the man, reaching
for match, longer than you want to
think about, III bet! Why, the gram
mar students Of those days are wrest-
ling with rent bills and manufacturing
problems right now! No, we're no
longer as young as we used to bel"
"Wen,' she said with touch of
sharpness, Il shouldn't make such
heap of trouble about it, Arthur, if
were you! Why, l never think about
! it! And you're silly to act so, because
you are awfully young-looking-no
body'd ever guess within ten years
your real age!
"Honest?" he begged, with some in
terest. "Or are you just trying to be
! sociable as the etiquette columns
! teach you to be? I've thought a lot
about it lately. l went to a football
game the other day and l tell you it
made me blue to see all those strap
| ping young huskies tearing around
| like wild Indians and the girls cheer
ing-and me sitting scrouged up under
blanket wondering whether was 60
ing to get rheumatism for my foolish
ness!"
Il never heard anything like you'll
she said. There's no more reason for
you to feel that way-why, l think
man of your age, with good looks and
brains and experience, can put it all
over a lot of silly boys! You don't
give yourself credit, Arthur"
'You really think so?" he asked.
"You and I.-we've been awfully good
friends, haven't we, Lutte? Jove!
don't know anybody can talk to and
be my real self with as can with you!
| I've thought about it a lott"
''Have you. Arthur" she asked soft
| ly. Her lashes looked very long
against the fairness of her cheeks.
"You certainly are a looker!" he
burst out feelingly. Il don't wonder
you've been SO popularl What gets
me, with all the beaux you've had, is
how you've escaped matrimony!"
"All of them didn't want to marry
me, you knowl" she reminded him
modestly Then she sighed. Il guess
I'm particular" she admitted. There
always something lacking in each one.
I couldn't quite see myself"
THAT'S exactly the way with mel"
the man told her triumphantly I'D
be simply batty about some. girl for a
while and then I'd come out of my
trance and do quiekstep to get away
in time! My, the escapes I've had!
Kind Of funny that both of US have lin
gered along this way, isn't it, Lutte?
All the rest of the old crowd are mar
ried and yet here we are. Really,
haven't you ever seen a man you
thought you'd care enough about to
marry?"
That's telling!" she cried gayly.
"How about yoursclf?'
He flicked his cigar end into the ash
tray. WELL" he said when he had
leaned back in his chair, "as a matter
of fact, guess have! It's just late
| ly that it's dawned on me what ails
me- think I'm in love! And that's
why I'm blue! I've realized that I'm
SO and have bald spot and like to
stay home and read evenings AMI you
know, no girl or woman would stand
for that these gay days. Now, would
she?"
"Are you asking my opinion?" she
inquired, still softly.
Eyes, Lutte, ami" the man declar-
ed seriously. I'll came up here to-
night on purpose to ask what you
thought about it! Do-do you consid-
er I'd have the ghost of show-if /
asked anyone TO marry me?"
Still she did not raise her eyes.
why, yes, Arthur" she breathed. q
II certainly dolp
"Gee!% sars the man, in relieved
tones, that puts new heart into me!
You know her-its Alice and she's
twelve years younger than I am and
was afraid"
The lady under the laimpshade was
looking at him now and her eyes held
sparks. Afraid" she echoed. 81 don't
see why you should be afraid, Arthur
Howard you have nerve enough to
sink a battleshipi You'd better go
right on over to Alices and get it over
with. It's still early-and remember
that you're growing older every min
ute!"