River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-06-18
THE CHAPERON.

Joan was writing letters on pale pink
note paper. She had finished three and
there were nine more to be done.
IF It wasn't for my new muslin /
would try to bear IL stoically," she said.
and smudged q line with her sleeve;
'but the thought of the wasted labor In
these frills will embitter my whole ex-
istence-botherI"
The concluding expletive was called
forth by the sight of the smudge.
IF only the jellies weren't made"
Ella said. That's what i mind most.
The pineapple one was really beyond
everything"
In the armchair there was q wet
handkerchief and a crumpled girl in
short frock.
It's wicked" she said. "it's cruel.
The only pleasure of my holidays. I've
dreamed about IL every night. And
school next week. No boats, no any
thingl"
"Botherl"
Joan had smudged another sheet. She
pushed the desk away pettishly. "Tm
not going to write any more of the hor-
rid things"
IF only you weren's such prudes."
the girl in the armchair said. do you
imagine you're in q box and all Aus
tralia is leveling its opera glasses at
you-who'd care?"
you're only a silly school girl, Thea
think of the people we's e asked-why.
the Delaney girls would faint at the
idea of o picnic without a chaperOn.
There's no help for II. Do you think
I'm not as disappointed as you areP"
The picnic they lad planned and
dreamed of, cooked for. lived for. must
at the last moment be declared of"
The lady who was to have chaperoned
the party bad been incOnsiderateen enough.
TO sprain her ankle just when all ar-
engagements had been completed.
Try as they would they cOui not fill
up the place, and among all their nc
quaintances I'm the district there was
not one married lady obligingly olsen
gagged enough to come and play pro-
priety for them on such short notice.
Their father and mother had gone for
n Christmas trip to Tasmania, and
given permission for the picnic. only
provided it was suitably chaperon cd.
Clearly. they could not so without a
lady of a certain age. more especially
as It would be a public holiday. and the
parramatta river would be alive with
holiday makers.
'I'd like TO know what good they do"
Thea said in voice so whitening that
even her tears checked themselves.
T,.,Ns.1---. 10, H,..,
picnic, there were three chaperons; but
il didn't prevent our Jack from squeez-
ing Nellie Atoms hand. for saw him"
''Our Jack" entered just in time to
catch the last sentence and to project "a
sofa cushion at the speaker.
sheep dog, at your service" he said,
and minced across the room. He was
dressed in long skirt of his mothers.
with fashionable jacket left unbut-
toned, and boa of black lace around
his neck.
There was a gray. amazingly natural
looking wig on his head. and surround
ing il black tet bonnet with an aigrette
and long strings \ veil and pair of
eyeglasses and a languid smile com.
pleted his get up"
Thea fell upon his neck, regardless OF
the difiident security of the bonnet.
"YOu darling" she sobbed. ''Oh, you
dear boy, you trump. you brick, Jack"
And that is how it happened that the
party was chaperoned by clean-shaven
boy of %. They introduced him as
Aunt Emmelina. and he bowed beauti-
fully or shook their hands gently and
murmured correct little society moth
ings.
But at first Aunt Emmelina consid-
cred she had been unfairly used.
The girls had said Esther HardeSs.
the present goddess of their brothers
somewhat mutable affections, could not
possibly come, as she had caught the
measles from her little brother and was
in bed.
But when the morning came and the
people began to assemble at the big
house IN the hill, In walked Esther In u
cool. white dress and a sailor hat.
Joan introduced them. my dear
friend Esther. Aunt Emmelina."
81 heard you had the measles. my
dear" Aunt Emmelina said, in a thin.
old voice. She retained the hand. In its
white suede glove, with all the solicit
tude of chaperOn of 40 years stand
ing.
"Oh, no, il was Edith who caught
them-my sister. not l." Esther said.
She managed TO get her hand away
and moved across the veranda, to be
instantly surrounded by the officers
end the bank clerk.
Aunt Enmelina went through the
French window into the breakfast
room, a sull<y look on her nice old face.
Aunt Emmelina stood in moody
silence. her back 20 the fireless CRATE.
beaming smiles
where's your corkscrew?" she said
"Why. what's the matter. Jack2" The
last word was whispered.
20. confOund il ALL" Aunt Emmelina
said. and pushed up her veil. regardless
of consequences.
Thea went up to him and put her lips
TO his ear.
ats Esther. isn't it?" she said.
''AIind your own business" he an
swered. and turned sharply on his heel.
forgetful OF his dress tail.
But Thea followed him up.
sometimes chaPerons kiss the girls
goOd-by." she whispered. and fled out
again among the others.
Aunt Emmelina put her veil down
carefully. she arranged her curls with
diligence. and set her bonnet straight,
There was a smile in her eyes behind the
giasses. After all there might be some
enjoyment in the position.
Esther had eyineed careless disregard
for his ardent sdmiration lately, though