The Portland daily press., 1891-01-06
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DER ALTE CHAPERoN.
New York Times.


the women are jumping at conclusions.
You see, the trouble was that Coils
Beattie-Collie they called him when
they wanted to be funny-did not have
much to say. He used to lie about the
hotel verauda in a big steamer chair and
read novels. He wore yachting suit
and cap and silk shirt He did not
look bit salt, because the skin of his
face was as white and rs smooth as a
baby's. So they laughed at him for
wearing Il yachting suit All the other
fellows wore them because it was a
yachting port upon the sound, and pretty
much every one went in for sailing,
which was about all there was to do at
the place. Collie went sailing once or
twice when some generous fellow took
pity on him and invited him Then the
women laughed at him more, and in
strange German called him Der Alte
Chaperon-the Old Chaperon--because
he always went down into the cabin,
stretched himself Oh Il locker and fell
asleep They said he was afraid the
spray would spoil his complexion.
Collie didn't seem to know that he
was being laughed at. If he did know
it he did not mind it. He never said
anything, but went on reading novels.
German novels. too; and he read them
in the original 1t was most exaspera-
ting. What business had man at gay,
active summer resort to wear nautical
toSgery, have skin like queens baby
and read German novels? Once some
one said to him:
Come and play game of billiards. +"
Thank you" he replied, tits little
too much for me you know"
He certainly was a fool-and lazy
one. too. They tried him on several
things. but he lay in the steamer chair
and read German. And there were at
least six beautiful girls in the hotel
And every one of them had been piqued
into trying to interest him. But he just
staid in the steamer chair and read Ger
man. or went to sleepin the cabin of the
yacht.
He didn't get seasick, They reme'n-
bered that after he was gone as ono of
his good qualities They had him out
one day when it blew fresh and there
was lively sea on, but lie went to sleep
like rocked infant. He certainly was
the most torpid man that ever lived.
Never mind" said Mrs. Bisbee one
morning. Miss Silvers is coming here
next week Perhaps she'll wake him
up" .4-..-
You don't mean Matte Silvers, do
your exclaimed Gertie Greer
Eyes, do"
''Oh. dear!'
And Gertie's mouth went down at the
corners. 49, ~ FNt =aes - - - ~
Whats the matter with Matte Sill
yersT' inquired Ethel Brisket.
ooh, nothing" answered Gertie, de-
jectedly; "only was at place where
she was once lua4
"Well, what of it?' demanded Sybil
vane. that tall, whit" girl, you remen,-
Der
well" sighed Gertie, every man in
the house dropped right down at her
feet"
ooh, my! is she so very wonderful"
asked Ethel.
"Oh. nothing much" replied Gertie;
inst the most beautiful woman / ever
saw, and with two little millions in her
own right"
There was Il painful silence and all
the young women looked glum. Gertie
was not girl to be sneezed at. and she
used her mirror. Her detection was om-
nous. The girls gazed anxiously at Mrs
Bisbee. -.t.,'- 7---s.. 'A
81 don't want to be disagreeable," she
said smoothly, "but I'm afraid it's true"
whats her style?' asked Sybil.
Brown" replied Mrs. Bisbee, senten-
tiously.
"Brown?"
Eyes; burnt sienna Burnt sienna
hair and eyes, dusky pink cheeks, duslky
crimson lips. silk plush complexion-all
cream and coax-and two millions from
her uncle" said Harold Beaver, who had
just come up.
There was a general biting of lips.
Haven't seen her for three years." he
continued, "and"--
'Ah! Perhaps she has fadedp ex-
claimed Ethel
'The duslzy browns don't fade much, :"
said Harold.
mo" said Mrs. Bisbee Il saw her
in box at the Metropolitan last win
ter, and she was radiant"
''Why, she doesn't belong in New
York." Sybil said
mo, Baltimore" responded Harold.
81 don't see what she wants to come
away up here for" grumbled Ethel
pitefully. Whats the matter with
Chesapeake bay%
"Well, she's coming next week" said
Mrs. Bisbee, moving away with Harold.
81 had a letter from her mother today"
Il hope she'll like him." said Ethel
looking scornfully at Collie in his steam
er chair.
THAT viii not do any good" answered
7ertie; "the other men will all like her. !"
''Of course" said Sybil; 'we're not
worth two millions, any of u.s."
Sand we're not dusky browns" snap
jed Ethel, caressing stray raven lock;
''all cream and coax Humph!"
"But she's lovely girl" sighed Ger
lie; cor she was two years ago. haven't
net her since then. | was at Cape May
You can't help liking her.
"Oh, yes, es9, and / WILL" decided
ethel as they rose 70 go down to the
water.
The day before this paragon of heir
esses was expected Phil Partridge in
vited all hands to go sailing on his sloop
And then he got telegram which com
peeled him to go to the city. But he in
sisted ON their going sailing just the
same. HIS sailing master would take
them, and they could invite Der Alte
Chaperon to go along as his substitute
That made them laugh. But they got
Collie out of his steamer chair and took
him along just the same. Of course, he
went right down into the cabin and pre-
pared to go to sleep.
BLESS my soul!" exclaimed Mrs. Bis.
bee. "thats a little too bad. The only
man in the party. wouldn't stand it,
girls"
mani" exclaimed Ethel. Call that
oudling faced gelatine a man! Lord
forgive us"
"Oh, | say, Ethel" demonstrated Ger
tie, "you ought not to talk like that.
Don't say ought to me. I'm tirec
of doing what / ought to do"
Ethel was 90 and her skin was growing
yellow under her eyes.
go down into the cabin and keeI
Der Alte Chaperon awake" suggested
Sybil
Eno n xo,,rea1f