The Washington times., 1901-09-29

What chance" gasped Lady Connie,
taking her fair. disheveled head out from
among the cushions of her boudoir lounge,
and drying her tear-stained eyes with an
absurd little gossamer handkerchief;
what chance has girl-a mere girl, who
has only been out for a season and a
half-against a married woman like Nota
lie Quesne?"
None at ALL" said her friend. rath-
er plain, sensible young woman. with
sporting tastes and taiior-made garments.
Not the ghost of chance!'
Yet, she's over thirty-and makes
up" said Lady Connie viciously.
Men prefer women over thirty" said
Molly yerdon sententiousiy. "and I am
inclined to believe that they lean to
makeup
Her waist is at least six inches larger
than mine," Connie persisted
'She Is of the voluptuous and redun-
dant type. grant you" returned her
friend; but men like that. too
Her boots are fives and her gloves sew
ems"
''She is given to pedestrianism and
drives four-in-hand. Men adore that kind
of thing" returned Molly. lighting a Gig
arctic. my child. what perfect tobac-
co.,
Captain Lorriker gave me the box
when he came home invalided from Afri-
ca, and
You got so chummy?"
"He-he was laid up at his adnt's in
Belgrave Square, and-I visit there, you
know"
Or you did just then, and you used to
drop in and spend the mornings and aft
nd 4ba
reading and singing and playing to the
wounded hero" Molly made a little bit
of a grimace.
'Tt was only Christian charity" said
Lady Connie with dignity. He had a
splinter of shell in the muscles of his
ribs on the right side
"And little Connie thought that en- ar
row, skillfully implanted in the left side,
might serve as counter irritant." Molly
exhaled thin blue cloud OF Turkish va
por and smiled at the water colors upon
the wall Now. Captain Lorriker is
weil-
Almost: only he gets awful attacks of
cramp. and turns blue
Does he?"
Every now and then. It has something
to do with the water in South Africa He
vows he will never drink another drop
as long as he lives"
IT'S the kind of oath you can really
rely on e mans keeping. But, tell me one
thing. While you were playing. not Sis
ter, but Cousin-in-kiercy, where was the
LIE Quesne?"
'In the Riviera. And Fred-I mean
Captain Lorriker-admitted to me that
there had been what he called a slight
ENHANCEMENT, and promised to steer
clear of such things for the future"
And you believe him? Gooser'
'And them" went on Lady Connie. ris-
ing to her feet and beginning to walk up
and down over the Morris carpets of her
sanctum, her pale Liberty draperies trail
ing, her gold hair disheveled, her cheeks
and her eyes flaming with Indignation.
and her fingers nervously wrestling with
the clasp of her Egyptian silver girdle:
then she came back. oh. it was desrad-
ing, She just held up one Of her fingers
gave him one look. and"
And he fell to heel like the well-train-
ed retriever he is. The LIE Quesne is IA
nous for breaking in men. rather ad-
mire her for It.
DO you? Well, II you're going to
lunch with me at the Dips Club, you
will have the pleasure Of seeing them to-
gether Both are members you know"
IT thought the rules separated the sexes
at feeding timer
"NominalIy. But after the soup they
draw the curtain that divides the ladies'
restaurant from the gentlemens grill.
and"
Fusion is the word 1 should like of
ask me before?"
r fAfr 4 x-e,y,f
in for swimming" retorted Lady Connie.
And now you're one of the cracks,
aren't your
I've seen some races and gained
bracelet for the high dive"
Does she-Tll call the LIE Quesne the
Ogress. because she has such an endear
ing little way OF branching eligible
young men up, body and bones-does she
natate, as the Americans say?"
Swim? Like a bladder of iard," said
Connie disgustedly "Walioping is the
word for It, See here!" She pufred out
her fair cheeks and waved her arms, and
gave. on the whole. not too exagger-
ated imitation of the aquatic frofics OF
the lady in question, and Molly shrieked
with laughter.
Women are never humorous unless
they're jealous she said, wipirg her
brimming eyes when the performance was
over.
"Jealousl Do you suppose?-" Connie
was beginning when the other cut her
short .
Jealous? OF course you are! And, II
you want to cut out your hated rival-do
1t in the water. Don't you have aquatic
show off days. when the male club mem
bers race in ti,e big swimming bath. and
the women sit IN the balconies and bet or
he favorite: and vice versa. when the
women splash and the men look on?"
Noilys eyes twinkled as she stopped to
" hisper in Comics ear Pull her under
luck her-make her appear an idiot when
Freddy Lorriker Is looking on. and she
-:.-. ....,. up her finger until she perishes.
after that without getting him back.
Trust mel 1 know men, sail Molly.
"Oh, you dear. darling. clever thingr'
screamed Connie. falling on her friends
neck in rapture. And they went together
% the dips" club. and lunched at the
rery next table to Mrs. lie Quesne, and
he was very kind and condescending to
-ady Connie-sc much so that Lady Con-
lie would have given worlds to be able
% hurl outlet at her rivals head and
her to duel with pickle forks.
iHen' just peiore tne Secohd course, the
curtains dividing the gentlemen's grill
and the ladies' restaurant flew apart
md Freddy Lorriker arose and drifted
With the tide in the direction Of his en-
'hantres5' table.
There's your little girl. Tippyi'' said |
he enchantress. who had nicknames for |
I'll her victims as she haughtiy motion !
ID the captain to an opposing chair |
Looks washy and lovelorn. doesn't she? ,
)h. yoI cruel mani She shook her fin
.er playfuliy.
Hang 1t, Nita," protested the slave, |