Evening star., 1927-11-04

always had her own way, even when
Fanny had been able to spank her.
and as that was quite out Of the
question now Fanny gave up to her
all the more quickly. Not but what
she believed herself perfectly able to
live alone In her four small rooms
whittier she had gone when her hus-
band died and where she had been 50
lonely IL cozy for "A great many years.
In spite OF tiny attack of indiges
tion, which had brought the doctor
and Julia both in the night. she felt
quite strong and capable OF taking
care of herself. And her second week
ut Julia's had convinced her that she
was right and Julia wrong. She was
much better off In her own abode than
here In this large house. where some
sort OF upheaval was forever going
on. Last night there had been dane.
ing and she could not sleep: this
morning the breakfast party was very
noisy. And she was too old for such
things. and the one thing she would
do was to keep out OF sight.
YOuth-youth everywhere. Girls OF
assorted colors and sizes swarmed
through the house. Julia, too, had her
coterie, all trying TO be as young as
their daughters. The neighbors on
either side were young married people
eager to he in the Chalmers set.
Fanny had nearly fallen over a
spOoninS pair on the back stairs last
night when at IL she stole down for a
magazine with which to while away
the time until she could sleep. Youth
was wonderful, unless one happened
to be the one old thing about. That
was disagreeable for youth and agon.
izing for the one old thing.
Hyacinths. narcissi were opening.
Fanny strolled between the rows low.
ing them with her eyes. They were
young. though. And the robins were
mating. A world Of youth. She sighed
and drew the little white shawl closer
about her shoulders.
The flick of lavender frock across
the hedge made her start a bit. She
had not known anybody was there.
She hoped she had not been talking
aloud, as she sometimes did. and had
been caught at 1t. Just yesterday
Betty had laughed at her when she
was repeating bit Of poetry to her.
self-"The best is yet to be-" Had
Browning known what he was talking
about? How could he when, writing
that, he had not been old?
On the other side Of the hedge with
spiky bunch Of hyacinths In her
hand stood a slender girl. Her back
, was toward Fanny and she was sing.
Ing clearly something that sounded
like I'm the cleaning. oh. my dar.
ling" Only 1t could not be that, Of
course. A girl Of today was so much
more likely to warble. Sprinkle me
with kisses IL you want my love to
grow" as Peggy was doing last night.
This girls lavender frock was dainty
and her wide.brimmed hat with a
scarf Of the same hue touched her
shoulders as she stood arranging her
| nosegay. More youth. Fanny sighed
again. She felt indescribably old and
| unnecessary amid that radiant Spring.
time rapture, and she was about to
sit down upon a garden bench when
the girl on the other side Of the
hedge saw her.
Good morning. neighbor." she
called gayly. "Come on over.~
| We'll. that was friendly! Fanny's
lonely heart warmed a little. I'D like
to: but l don't know how" she re.
Come here and I'll show you"
| She parted the thick foliage and
there was little hole In the hedge.
Fanny crawled through and rising
came face to face with her new ac.
quaintance. She gasped and her eyes
new wide open. For the face under
the wide-brimmed hat. though charm.
Ing. was that OF a woman every bit
as old az herself.
| Good land"' she exclaimed. "Why,
you are an old woman, too.'
The other woman laughed.
| did you think I was a girl like
those captivating granddaughters Of
IT did-when your back was turned
to me-"
"Have some hyacinths and let's sit
ooWn ana talk" The other woman
I'm so glad" Fanny said tremu.
lously. ito find something that isn't
young. II you can't have q thing
yourself you-you can't help hating
10 see everybody else have IT,"
But you have had youth. Mrs.
PITCHER. BY the way, my name IL
Mrs. Driscoll. The trouble In Won
didn't keep it. or any semblance Of it.
Why didn't you?"
you can't stick the petals hack On
rose after they have fallen off," an.
swered Fanny mournfully. II have
raised children and lost my husband
and had trouble. and now am mere.
don't care for"
You don't care for young people.
either. do you?" returned Mrs. Dri..
coll quickly. II do like to have them
In my house at all times"
You don't have to live with them"
Don't I? I'd like to know how ia
rye at all II it wasn't for nv mar,
ed granddaughter. That is her
'nuse. this Is her garden. Oh. I've
OF some money OF my own. and I
pend 1t for lavender frocks and hats
ma creams and powders. And Ber.
nice's friends call me a good sport
because can beat them at bridge.
''ometimes forget I'm not as young
am.''
Fanny stared at her in astonish.
ment.
Look here" Mrs. Driscoll said. tan
ping Fannys hand with her emphatic
nnger. You rip off that old black
oress ana crimp your hair and mas.
sage your face and-and act as IL YOU
dldnt have pickle in your mouth
ana mold on your soul, and see what
comes o: 1t. Why. only yesterday
your Betty wac saying to my Bernice
that she wished you weuI5 fir up the
way you could IL you'd a mind to-"
Did Betty say that?" Fanny had
mushed. not altogether with pain.
You don't think I'm too old"
NO woman is ever too old to loo,,
her best" replied Mrs. Driscoll
promptly. "See here. II you want
III take YOU shopping now. III call
taxi. You won't need a hat, Do.
my dear! Why. your folks will be
pleased to death.
Half an hour later Fanny tele.
phoned from downtown store to saw
that she wouldn't be home to lunch:
she was going to a tearoom after
doing a bit of shopping.
1t was indeed half-past 4 when she