Evening star., 1929-07-01

avenue to her Office, with heart at
tuned to nature, her creeks aglow
i with the elixir of life which quite OBJ
liberated the makeup struggling for
supremacy on the still sweet face OF
Maude Barnes. Tonight-tonight, she
would tell Phil
At luncheon hour Maude was thread
ing her way through the CoZy Cor
ner Tearoom In search of a deserted
table, when her attention was arrested
by a beckoning hand. It was Phil
Baxter, and with him was matronly
woman.
well, for the lands sake" said the
matron beside Phil, who stood smiling
and bowling, 'if this isn't Maude
Barnes Well, I never! Where in s6e
world did you spring from?"
And then Phil was placing Mau6se's
chair for her and Maude was laugh
ingly and adroitly parrying the ma
irons rapid fire as to how, when and
where Maude had become acquainted
with her son Phil.
do you remember the day old Silas
Tootenberry drove US to the little red
schoolhouse on the hill?" Mrs. Baxter
asked you were and I had just
turned 6-well, I never!' and the good
woman threw up her hands and
laughed until she cried. And now I
have q boy % years old" she said,
with a nod at Phil, land I'll be IS
During this recital, Maudes color
came and went with swiftness that
was disconcerting Phil tugged des-
perately at the tongue of his boot.
Presently he rose to go.
"I'll have to be getting back, mother"
he said.
hope we may meet again some timel"
AS he turned toward her, Maude's
eyes met his in a glance that ire.
trievably wiped out the yesterdays of
their lives and placed the tomorrows
on a new footing.
"Oh, here's Bill now" Mrs. Baxter
said. Wait minute, Phil, and I'll be
with you
Following Mrs. Baxter's direction,
Maude caught q glimpse of q once
familiar hip-fiop OF a trouser and then
the owner was holding out his hand
to her.
"Well, upon my word! Is it Maude?
Well, we'll welll" burst from Bill Bras
her-for 1t was he.
Are you two acquainted, too?" ask
ed the astonished Mrs. Baxter, who,
I don't think mentioned before, was
a sister-in-law Of Bill Basher Of the,
Middle West.
IL CtlI Tie WOTlQ we are, he re-
piled. why, didn't we used to dance
together down at O'Reilly's dance hall
20 years ago? Last time I saw you,"
he said to Maude, you were being
whisked around the dance hall in the
arms of-whatdyecallem? You remem-
ber! That fellow with the tooth out!'
MY. but you look good to me-" said
Bill Brasher as, left to themselves, he
beamed across the table at Maude.
But suppose hadn't better let your
husband hear me say that"
Nor your wife. either" Maude added
"My wifei I've no wife-you were
the only wife ever wanted"
The blood leaped to her cheeks. She
tugged desperately at her short skirt
which she would have given worlds
to have been able to stretch another
inch below her knees. But 1t was made
of stout worsted. guaranteed not to
stretch.
when did you marry" he asked
abruptly.
Il didn't" she answered, mot yet"
"And you've been single all these
years." he whispered as, glancing sur
reptitiously around the room, he
seized her hands. And then, as IL in
dream, he was plotting her out of
the little tearoom. out under the mag
nolia trees. where birds sang 20 Per-
feet Love-" on--On to the little church
around the corner. where above the
thunderous peals of the organ and the
tumultuous pounding of her own heart,
she heard the echo of youth, Maude!'
for youth had come back-that eternal
youth that is kindled by perfect love.