Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1904 — Seventeen and Twenty [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Seventeen and Twenty

By KATHERINE M. YATES

“Mario, I’ve some news for you. Run up and put on your best bib unil tucker, quick.” Marie dropped her novel and sat up In the hammock, blinking her eyes at the sunlight and the tall figure which obstructed it. “What on earth! You don't moan the advent of an eligible man in tbis out of tbe way hole?” “That’s just it!” Elizabeth, slender, willowy and thirty, balanced herself on the arm of a veranda chair. “I just saw the register, and Captain Bleazby has arrived!” There was a note of such genuine pleasure in her tone that Marie dropped back into a reclining posture, with her hands behind her head. “Well,” she said slowly and disgustedly, “if

you are so wonderfully glad, what is the use of my putting on the bib and tucker. Who is he, anyway?”

“Marie! Goosle! Don’t be foolish! Haven’t I always taken a grandmotherly interest in you and tried my best to find a satisfactory husband for you? Now, here is Captain Bleazby, the very epitome of perfection, falling right into your hand. Of course Pm glad.” “But if you like him so much”— persisted Marie.

“Fudge!” Elizabeth’s lip curled. “He’s younger than I am. I thought I told you that. He was my sweetheart ten years ago. He was only seventeen, and I was twenty. Think of the difference between seventeen and twenty! Of course I didn’t care anything nbout him, but he was an awfully nice boy and splendid company, and he thought that he was so terribly in love.” Elizabeth leaned against the back of the chair and smiled reminiscently.

Marie sat up again, her face showing renewed interest. “What are you smiling at? It’s an incident. I know by your eyes. Tell me about it and then I’ll know his character better and how to captivate him.” Elizabeth’s face flushed, and she laughed guiltily. “Oh, it was nothing. I was just thinking of the last time I saw him. He was going to New York, and he came to make bis adieus. I walked down to the gate with him In the moonlight and—and he kissed me goodby.” Again the flush crept" over her face and the fascinating corners of her mouth curled upward in spite of herself, while the gray eyes, shining with merriment, kept themselves fixed persistently upon the toe of her patent leather slipper. Marie gazed at her curiously. “Well, what was there so amusing about that?” she inquired tentatively. “Oh, the kiss itself, it was so funny. Positively the funniest one that I ever had in all my life. It was the first time that he had ever kissed me. and—and—well, it was exactly the kind of a kiss that he would have given to his grandmother." Both of the girls laughed. “Really, Marie, you’ve no idea how funny it wa9. Such a gentle, pretty

little kiss. If it had not been for the shadow of the lilac bush he certainly would have seen me laugh. But there, he was a dear boy.” Elizabeth’s tone took on a little self reproach. "And it’s a shame to laugh at him; but, truly, I shall remember that kiss as long as I live.” "And is he still a dear boy?” asked Marie maliciously. “How do I know? I've never sees him from that day to this. He quite distinguished himself in the war; went as a volunteer, a rough rider or something. He was awfully fond of the military and cavalry even as a boy. Now do run along and fix up, Marie, and I’ll watch for an opportunity to renew old acquaintance and say a good; word for you. And, Marie, don't diaappoint me this time, for he is Just exactly the man for you.” Marie rose lazily. “Well, then, see that you keep in the background, my lady, or perhaps the old love”— “Marie, don’t be silly! Think of the difference between seventeen and twenty! I don’t want to take a boy to raise." Captain Bleazby proved to be an exceedingly tall and well set up “boy," and seemed to fall in with the (dans laid for him with remarkable for during the following three weeks pretty Marie Nesbit and her graceful

chaperon were rarely seen without a tall military figure in attendance, carrying golf clubs or handling oars or reins. Marie seemed to enjoy herself tremendously, so much so that Elizabeth occasionally glanced at her uneasily and then up at the tali captain, and when she had looked away again Marie glanced at her mischievously and then up at the tall captain. The end of the captain’s stay was at band. After the first week the girls had not discussed him as they did in the beginning: in fact they bad rather avoided the mention of his name when they were alone, and sometimes awkward silence fell between them. The morning before the day set for his departure Marie was swinging drowsily In the hammock and Elizabeth sat beside her with a book. Marie looked out lazily beneath her lids. “Captain Bleazby goes tomorrow, doesn’t he?” she asked suddenly.

Elizabeth read on to the end of the paragraph and then laid down her book. “Yes, I believe so,” she said, looking off over the lake. Marie’s lashes shaded her eyes. “Well,” she said meditatively, “evidently the campaign has been a failure. He hasn’t even kissed me.”

The pink color stoic up around Elizabeth’s temple, and Marie went on: “It’s an awful disappointment. I didn't care so much about marrying him, but I would like to know whether in ten years he has learned to kiss. Do you suppose he has, Elizabeth?” Elizabeth’s lips were pressed quite tightly together. “Probably,” she answered briefly. “And Elizabeth,” continued the incorrigible Marie speculatively, “if he has, who do yoif suppose taught him? Did you ever think of that?” Two tiny wrinkles appeared between Elizabeth’s soft eyebrows, but she made no reply. Marie yawned and placed a hand over her mouth. “I wouldn’t in the least have minded teaching him. Would you, Elizabeth?” No answer.

“Have you noticed, Elizabeth,” she went on, “that there is not nearly so much difference between twenty-seven and thirty as there is between seventeen and twenty? I call that a very curious mathematical verity. Don’t you really think so?” Receiving no reply, she returned to the original proposition. “But he doesn’t really look as if be needed instruction. I)o you think he does, Elizabeth ?’ But Elizabeth had fled.

The next evening Marie came softly behind her friend as she sat alone on the veranda, placing a soft little hand upon either cheek. “Elizabeth,” she whispered, “has he learned how?” She felt the cheeks grow warm beneath her palms, and Elizabeth caught the soft hands lovingly in hers. “l r es,” she whispered.

“HE HASN'T EVEN KISSED ME!”