Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-11-02
YOUTH y
UNDERSTANDS
g
BY Jay Burns
@. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
WNIJ Service

TOUR eyes rather warily watched
X Mary Boyd as she lay relaxed in
l. the long garden chair under the
trees on the beach country club
lewn.
Mary was unaware Of their gaze.
THAT was a swell game Of tennis,
Tony" she said, yawning and stretch
ing as she dropped her racquet to the
ground beside her.
"What'n we do now9 How about q
swimY
by chance are you speaking to
meY
Tony's resonant voice held a hint
of amusement.
my dear girl, I'm finished for the
day. Such tennis as yours Is as much
exercise as l need in twenty-four
hours. A book, long cold drink and
a comfortable chair in the shade-and
that's all ask Of life"
Mary laughed joyously, showing
sparkling white teeth, and a little
crinkle of wrinkles about her round
gray eyes.
stony, darling" she said, ibid 1 kill
you? I'm sorry. But you'll be at the
dance tonightT"
IF l can dance mostly with you
and stop early. Remember, I've got
to 60 back to town tomorrow on the
seven-fifty-six."
Tony Lawton was forty-five; Mary
was twenty. His deep brown eyes, n
trihe grave as they watched the lovely
girl before him, lighted with smile
as she laughed at him.
"Here, give me hand"
She pulled herself-with his help
up from her low chair with light
spring.
"COme on, Bob, let's have a SWIM"
Bob Eldridge's blue eyes lighted to
their normal color from the somber
darkness that had yelled them as he
listened to the banter between the
other two. s.
Good" he said. I'm your fhan
for swim. Those doubles just warmed
me up for the day." -
He grinned at Tony quite without
malice. But Tony's eyes became grave
again.
"And as for tonight-I'll be ready
to dance till morning. But say, Law.
ton, why don't you get into your swim
ming suit and come along. Just sun
yourself, old man, If you're too tired
for swim. It's a swell day." ~,
Tony considered. Then he jumped
briskly to his feet. ~
"All right" he said, 9gt
And the three started across the
grass toward the clubhouse that stood
out white against the blue sea be-
yond. "a mt -. v,t.ia.
Tony was forty-five; Bob was TWEEN,
ty-two.
Both men were in love with Mary
and at the moment Mary was in love
only with life-a gay and happy and
safe life, as she found it at Bradley's
beach.
Until Bob's coming, Tony had loved
life at Bradley's as much as Mary had.
He had been spending three weeks
vacation there at the hotel-spending
it there because he had met Mary,
fallen head over heels in love with
her, and followed her to her summer
home.
He had found it hard to bridge the
gap in their ages In the city where
they both lived rather prominent life,
socially. 4saik
His work as an important lawyer
was engrossing.
He was just old enough to find the
busy, modern young whirl little BAT.
fling.
But here at Bradley's 1t hadn't been
SO hard.
Tony was good looking, always fit
physically. Motoring, walking, swim
ming, tennis, dancing-all, he realized
now, in moderation-had given him
and Mary common meeting ground
where both were at home. And she had
seemed as unconscious of the twenty
five years that separated them as he
was.
He had said nothing to Mary Of his
feeling for her.
He had planned to ask her to marry
him just before he went back to town,
and then, whether she accepted or re-
fused him, he would have the un-
spoiled memory Of their happy holi-
day together. Ait
But five days before time for Tony's
vacation to end Bob had appeared ut
Bradley's. 1a
He was, 1t seemed, a childhood friend
Of Mary's, and their cottages adjoined.
This alone gave Bob an advantage
Tony was staying at the hotel and he
and Mary had common background
Of only few months; Bob lived next
door to Mary and the two had known
each other forever.
Now, after an hour on the tennis
courts-there had been another girl,
Bob's partner but she had faded from
the picture to keep another date.
Tony suddenly realized that Bob was