Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-12-21

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CLAnA GRAY was forty, but 1t
~ had never occurred to her that
age was creeping upon her or that
she was no longer girl until that
winter when her twenty-year-0ld
niece came to share her apartment
in the city with her. Madge had
secured position in the city and
from having accepted the day bed In
Clura's apartment living room as
temporary shelter she had become a
permanent fixture.
at seems so cosy, living here to-
gether. Aunt Clara" Madge said. Lets
always go on just this way. shan't
ever care to marry and we do have
such fun"
Clara fortunately hid her look Of
surprise, yet the prospect of con-
tinulng to play the role of Aunt Clara
to Madge's friends, of being just an
older woman looking after an attrnc-
tive young niece, was little stagger-
Ing There were so many things she
wanted to do-maturer, older. more
interesting people she wanted to In
wife to her apartment, where now
there seemed to be room only for
Madge's tiresome young friends.
One night Clara came home from
her Office in pensive mood and when
Madge suggested to Clara that she
join her at the Y. w. G. A. for bit
of swim, Clara begged off. AS soon
as the younger girl was out of the
apartment and had started across the
five blocks that led to the new Y
building, Clara seized the telephone.
called a number and was not par
ticularly surprised when the young
man ut the other end called back,
"Oh, hello, Aunt Clara, is that your"
"Madge had gone to the Y to swim. "
said Clara, and the "Oh" that came
back did not Indicate that Larry Tate
cared In the least whether Madge swan
or didn't swim. "Stlll," reflected
Clara, "he's the only one in the crowd
that could even support her. Eyes,
she went on aloud, shell be there
until half-past ten and, do you know
1t doesn't seem quite safe. It occurred
to me that you might be going Out
and coming in again at about that
time and you might call for her al
the and see her home"
$50 It's seeing Nellie home, is itf
asked Larry. "Well, l thought that
sort of thing was as out Of date as
MS going to quilting parties"
Larry, to his own surprise, felt nc
| special resentment toward Aunt Glars
for giving him this assignment. II
wasn't as II she had asked him to SCI
herself home. Madge was young ant
she was pretty and he mad been un
successful In his efforts that evening
to persuade another young girl to u
to the theater with him. II hadn't Oc
cured to him then to ask Madge
Funny thing, reflected Larry, tina
he'd never even thought of Nudge.
II occurred to Larry as he was sit
ting in the hall OF the Y building that
Madge might resent the Idea OF be
ing sent for SO 1t was with a casual
sort Of Hello, Madge," that he greeted
the pretty girl as she passed toward
the front door at half-past ten. He led
her to his waiting car. Just happened
to be talking with Aunt Clara on the
phone" he remarked. "She spoke
Of your being down here and as
happened to be passing | stopped In
Larry drove three miles in order
to reach Madges apartment six blocks
away. He had very little to say, but
some of the time he whlstled-an old
air that Madge had heard before but
could not place.
Later as Madge was preparing for
gally TO herself.
"Thats the tune that Larry was
whIstling," she told Aunt Clara, "and
can't seem to place It. Larry's so
funny. He asked me II ! knew what
quilting party was. told him
He said he thought girls went TO husk-
ing parties when you were young"
LARRY ought to be spanked" said
Aunt Clara.
81 hope you don't really dislike
him." said Madge, and turned her
blushlng face away when Aunt Clara
looked through the door at her.
at does seem rather old-fashioned
your coming to see me home this
way after swimming class" Madge
told Larry n month later when for the
fourth time he had called ut the Y at
half-past ten on wednesday night. u
hope you don't think | am In need OF
an escort for protection. Aunt Clara
used to come, but not because she
thought II wasn't safe for me to come
alone. dare say Aunt Cara's getting
too old to like to swim. But she's
young In spirit, Larry-and she's Oft
en- told me that a girl was as capable
Of taking care Of herself anywhere as
a man II she just kept her head"
81 don't care bit about where
you keep your head" said Larry, who
had been waiting some time for a
suitable point Of departure for what
he wanted to say. "All l care about,
Madge, Is your heart. wish you'd
let me keep II for you"
"That's funny sort OF proposal"
said Nudge.
"At least you knew It was one"
offered Larry
"That's probably because was just
hoping and praying that you'd come
across with one" Larry stopped his
car and kissed Madge Then as he
went on driving he whlstled.
"What is the name Of that tune
you're always whlStl.ng?" said Madge.
"It's an old-fashl0ned song they sang
when Aunt Clara was GIRL" said
Larry.
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