The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-02-05

Joan had smudged another sheet. She
pushed the desk away pettishly. "Fm
not going to write any more Of the her
rid things"
"If only you weren's such prudes,
the girl in the armchair said. "Do you
imagine you're in box and ell 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've asked-why,
the Delaney girls would faint at the
idea of a picnic without chaperOn.
There's no help for it. Do you think
I'm not as disappointed as you areP"
The picnic they had planned and
dreamed of, cooked for, lived for, must
at the last moment be declared "oh."
The lady who was TO have chaperOned
the party had been inconsiderate enough
to sprain her ankle just when all ar
engagements had been completed.
Try as they would they could not fill
up the place, and among all their ac-
quaintances in 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
a Christmas trip to Tasmania, and
given permission for the picnic, only
provided it was suitably chaperoned,
Clearly, they could not so without u
lady Of a certain age, more especially
as it would be public holiday, and the
Parramatta river would be alive with
holiday makers.
I'D like to know what good they do, "
Thea said in a voice so whitening that
even her tears checked themselves.
why, last holidays, at the Gresham's
picnic. there were three chaperons; but
it didn't prevent our Jack from squeez-
ing Nellie Atoms hand, for I saw him. -
/ Our Jack" entered just in time to
catch the last sentence and to project d
sofa cushion at the speaker.
sheep dog, at your service" he said
and minced across the room. He was
dressed in a long skirt of his mothers
with a fashionable jacket left unbut'
toned, and boa of black lace around
! his neck
/ There was u gray, amazingly natural
looking wig on his head, and surround
! ing it a black jet bonnet with an aigrette
and long strings. A veil and pair OF
eyeglasses and IaDguid smile com
/ pleted his get up"
Thea fell upon his neck, regardless OF
the ditfident security of the bonnet.
you darling" she sobbed. ooh, you
dear boy, you trump, you brick, Jack.
/ And that is how it happened that the
{ party was chaperoned by aclean-shayeH
boy of %. They introduced him as
] Aunt Emmelina, and he bowed beauti-
/ fully OF shook their hands gently and
murmured correct little society moth
ings.
Blu: 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 no
possibly come, as she had caught tn,
measles from her little brother and wal
in bed.
But when the morning came and the
people began to assemble at the big
house on the hill, in walked Esther in 6
cool, white dress and a sailor hat.
Joan introduced them. "hly dear
friend Esther. Aunt Emmelina."
"I heard you had the measles, my
dear" Amt Emmelina said, in thin
old voice. She retained the hand, in it
white suede glove, with ali the solici
tude Of Il Chaperon of 30 years stand
ing.
"0h, no, it was Edith who caugh
them-my sister, not !" Esther said.
She managed to get her hand ava!
and moved across the veranda, to b
instantly surrounded by the officers
and the bank clerk.
Aunt Emmelina went through tn,
French window into the breakfast
room, a suilsy look on her nice old face
Aunt Emmelina stood in moody
silence, her back to the freless CRATE
! They came in, all arms and legs anC
beaming smiles.
Where's your corkscrew?" she said
"Why, what's the matter, Jack?" ThC
last word was whispered.
20, cOnfound it all, Aunt Emmelins
said, and pushed up her veil, regardless
of consequences.
Thea went up to him and put herlips
to his ear.
tits 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 ehaperons kiss the girls
gOod-by," she whispered. and fed 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
glasses. After all there might be some
enjoyment IN the position,
Esther had evinced careless disregard
for his ardent admiration lately, though
once she had received it almost gra-
ciously.
As Jack" he would have been pushed
/ aside to make room for the sqUatter, Of
whom he had suspicious, for the Officers
even for the bank clerk.
As Aunt Emmelina" he might have
] the felicity Of touching thebwhite, beau