The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-06

closed her lips diScrootly and voted
her chaperone more Of = success than
aver.
For two delightful weeks the duke
shed the sunshine of his smile upon
this beautiful boutoaniere at the sea-
side and if one or two of the buds exc
banded to full blown roses beneath
his exotic warmth there were no visi-
BILE symptoms upon their faces until
the hour OF his departure.
That day Lulu turned suddenly and
smiled into his handsome face "Xou
are going" She said quickly, and if
she had added. land I am 50 glad,
no one could have been more amazed
than they were at her expression.
Fiossie Robinson could hardly credit
her own senses as she stood wet-oyed
and bitter hearted. watching the
farewells at his departure
Belle Graham stayed in her room
that day, and was sadly out Of sorts
with her agreeable chaperone. Mrs.
Deuches. but it was quite apparent TO
them all that the duke had behaved
badly with her young heart also, and
gone away without a single promise
of better conduct in. the future.
Lulu alone was happy when he
had gone.
Il was positively wretched all the
time she said timidly. Just think
of having such dangerous Apollo i'm
the very house. and not even q
chaperone to defend youl"
Then q strangely sympathetic oE-
preston crept into her eyes aa she
whispered family.
THE duke did not try 70 make love
to any OF you. did he, girls?"
OF course the girls were highly i'm
rinnauf at this CHARGE and nor rrn r.H
them noticed in the momentarv
agitation how much their fluent
denials seemed to relieve their timid
questioner.
For two Of the younR ladies, at
least, had swallowed, secretly, a Bit
ter pill that ranked and burned their
tender stomachs. The pills were
sugar coated. TO be sure, but now that
the catch" of the season had gone
away uncaptured they questioned
their methods of procedure in very
bitterness of soul. and just in the de-
gree that they regretted their own
forwardness they resented Lu1u's
adamantsne virtues. The more they
thought Of it the more mystified they
we're at her behavior and finally the
scheme to injure her was set on foot
by those who felt themselves most
shamed by the dignity Of her e1-
ample.
Mrs. Donderdeclren's ears were as-
sailed by many willy tongues before
she had fairly rested from her home
ward journey, and deeds, possible
and impossible, were laid at Lulu's
door by the wagging instruments Of
malicious envy.
she was SO sly, so distant so un-
natural, you know dear Mrs. Donder-
decken; we really were forced 10 be
suspicious" even Mrs. Deuches whis-
pered at the earliest opportunity
But Mrs. Donderdecloen made no
comments on her charges behavior
that could possibly satisfy the s-
turbed young ladies, and by the penls
of laughter that emanated from Lulu's
chamber little later it was quite APP
parent to the Disguised liste ners that
she was not rating that young lady
in any particularly disagreeable man
ner.
And the duke did not return ID
ameliorate any of the existing condi-
tions Of jealousy among his adorers
or to prove what they had at last
come to believe, that he had secretly
aspired to Lulu's hand. So after
much precocious reasoning the two
cruelty crushed buds decided TO for
get their unpleasant failure and con-
jure less dangerous method Of cap
turing the second wealthy noble man
expected at the beach.
And it was during the excitement
preceding this arrival that Lulu Van
Gessner and her cha perone took their
departure.
No one missed them particularly
after they had gone, for Lulu was
strangely quiet girl, and her devotion
to the ''disagre ca Bile old woman"
made her but an indifferent comrade
in their midst but one day, even the
noble Englishman's presence was for
gotten for time, while Lulu mar
riage to the duke was read and dis
cussed in the hotel parlor.
What became Of her chaperone, X
wonder" Flossie Robertson said
wearily, when the subject grew pref
ty near exhausted, and quite 20 the
surprise of every one, the vacant look
ing Englishman took a sudden inter
est IN her question
They were married before they
came here, you know, young ladies',
he said, solemnly. "but as her father
was not aware of her elopement.
they decided to wait until she was 81
before"
But his sentimental beginning was
too much for the excited listeners and
the buds interrupted him by Ginning
in eagerly:
And did that disaereeable old
chaperone really plan for her 20 see
him here and go away just TO give the
duke an opportunity TO spend two
weeks with his new made bride2"
n There was delight as well as disap-
pointment in their flushed young
r.. = Al. Vr t..g.