The morning call., 1891-01-05
DER ALTE CHAPERON,
BY w. ]. HENDERSON.

TsHEY all thought he was 1901; but
G1Z then thew often make mistakes like
SE5A that. Kangaroos can't jump like
,,,oncen when the women are jumping at
onncIusions. You see, the trouble was that
CoIlis Beattie-Collie they called him when
they wanted to be funny-did not have
much to say. He used to lie about the hotel
yeranda 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
aud as smooth as a baby's. So they laughed
at him for wearing yachting suit All the
other fellows wore them because 1t was
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 in
vited him. Then the women laughed at him
more. and in strange German called him
Der Alte Chaperon-the Old ChaperoE-be-
cause he always went down into the cabin,
stretched himself on locker and fell
asleep They said he was afraid tine spray
would spoil his complexion.
Collie didn't seem to know that he was be-
ing laughed at. If he did know, he did not
mind it. He never said anything, but went
on IedUlH8 HUNtlS. bclulial llGNGloS lOo Nih
he read them in the original. 1t was most
eXasperating. What business had man at
a gay, active summer resort to wear nautical
toggery, have a skin like Queens baby and
read German novels? Once some one said
! to him:
Come and play a game OF billiards"
"Thank you," he replied; Its a little too
much for me, you know
| 10 arta ipIu a fOOl-nnd Inv
too. They tried him on several things, but
he lay in the steamer chair and read Ger
man. 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 lust stayed in the steamer chair and
read German, or went 10 sleep in the cabin
| Of the yacht
He didn't get seasick. They remembered
| that after he was gone, as one OF his good
qualities. They had him out one day when
| it blew fresh aud there was a lively sea on,
but he went to sleep like a rocked infant
| lie certainly was the most torpid man that
ever lived.
Never mind" said Mrs. Bisbee one
| morning. Miss Silvers is coming here next
week. Pc; haps she'll wake him up
You dent mean Matte Silvers, do you ?"
exclaimed Gertie Greer.
Yes, l do.
"Oh, dear.'
| ANA NtIllt HlOulu Meul uOWu at the
corners.
whats the matter with Matte Silvers?'
inquired Ethel Brlsket
on, nothins; answered Gertie de-
jectedly; =" only was at place where she
was once"
We'll, what OIL IT? demanded Sybil
Vane, that tall, white girl you remember.
"Well," sighed Gertie, "eyery man in the
house dropped right down at her feet
"Oh, my is she so very wonderful ?''
asked Fine;
On ;h aOtn dt Soo mGeI, repnfd Gertle
just the most beautiful woman ever saw,
and with TWO httie millions IN her own
! right"
There was painful silence, and all the
| young women looked glum. Gertie was not
| girl to he sneeZed at, and she used her
| mirror. Her detection was ominous. The
girls gazed anxiously at Mrs. Bisbee.
i don't want to be dl'agreeable.' she
said smoothly, but I'm afraid it's true"
Whats her siyle? asked Sybil.
| Brown" replied Mrs. BiSbee, senten-
tiously.
Brown"
Yes; burnt sienna. Burnt sienna hair
and eyes, dusky-plnk cheeks, dusky-crim-
| son lips, sllk-plush compleXiOn-all cream
said Harold Beaver, who had just come up.
There was general biting of lips.
Haven't seen her Tor three years" he
| continued, ana
An! Perhaps she mas faded. exclaimed
E. .Iei ,,s,,,- hr,,vns dom. ,,,s ,,,, >.
| said Harold.
NO" said Mrs BiSbee; 81 saw her in a
| box at the Metropolitan last winter and
| she was radiant.
"Why, she doesn't belong to New York"
| Sybil said
mo, Baltimore" responded Harold.
Il don't see what she wants to come away
M here for" grumbled Ethel spitefully
Whats the matter with Chesapeake Bay ?"
"Well, she's coming next week" said
| Mrs Bisbee, moving away with Harold; Il
mad letter from her mother to-day"
81 hope she'll like him." said Ethel, look
ing scornfully at Collie in his steamer chair.
THAT will not do any good. answered
| Gertie; 'the other men will all like her"
"Of course" said Sybil; we're not worth
two millions, any Of uS"
And we're not dusky-orowns, snapped
| Ethel, cRresSing stray raven lock- all
cream and coax. Humph!"
But she's lovely girl, sighed Gertie !;
| "Or she was two years ago. maven met
! her since then. was al cape May GU
| can't help liking her.
"oh, yes, l can, and | will, ;" decided
| Ethel as they arose 10 go down to the
water.
The day before this paragon of heiresses
was expected Phil Partridge invited all
| hands to go sailing on his soop. And then
he got telegram which compelled him TO
! go the city. But he insisted on their going
| sailing lust the same His saiing-masteT
! would take them, and they could invite Der
Alie Chaperon to go along as his substitute.
| That made them laugh. But they got Collie
out of his steamer chair and took him along
| inst the same. OF course he went righf
down into the cabin and prepared to 20 to
| sleep.
Bless my SOUL" exclaimed Mrs. Bisbee,
that's a little too bad. The only man in
the party. wouldn't stand it. Girls :"
MANI exclaimed Ethel. "Call that md
| ding-faced gelatine mani Lord forgive
u.s."
ooh Isav, Ethel remonstratod f,er,ia
Won ought not 10 talk like that
"Dnn't saw 'ourhI' TO me. Pm tired of
doing what | ought to do
yellow under her ewes, a''"'As
GO down into the cabin and keen Der
Alte Chaperon awake" suggested Sybil.