Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-12-04
NAN, CHAPEROE
AID blAiD
By haaa S. Richardson


Ler going horle with me. And really
the dear child has seen nothing Of Par
Is. and she wants another week or so
in London. II you could. my dear Les
lie
Mrs. Leslie Burns instantly replied
that she could and she would-with
pleasure SO it happened that Mrs. Rog-
ers CusculGen sailed alone fer New
York 10 settle some vexed questions re- !
sard:ng the new house. Her parting
warning TO Mrs. Burns was:
'Now remember. Leslie. no interna-
tonal crt@u2leLeats for Enth. You
know how IIr. Rogers feels on the sab F..
iect Besides want to bring her out ;
this season heart whole. A love affair
is always a handicap for debutantc."
Never did chaperon use more grace /
ful tSct IN executing her trust With !
out making enemies she warGed OF the
many admirers attracted to the viva
cious young heircss until George Hack !
EFT appeared or the scene. dropping
from some uahcard cr point IN the !
orient. Well bred, well groomed, well
tailored. breezy and alert, he was dl- !
plcmacy proof.
Attaching Himself 10 their party of |
two, he proved distrcssingly convenient !
and dcsira' 70. lie knew h.s Paris by
heart and slctrcd his couuuywomcn
from 'prcdom 7 - Z skiHful hand. !
Ruth ..v..ly e.. o..',G hts cauSe and in !
formed Mrs. Burns that she was hav |
ing much jollcr time since Mr. Hack |
ett's arrival. whereupon Mrs. Burns |
read her charge the FIRST long lecture Of |
their conpanionship. Not that it would |
dc any good she argued, for how could |
any heart whole girl withstand George |
Hackett?
When the stay In Paris drew to a |
close. Mrs Burns heard with dsmay |
that Mr.. Hackett was accompanying |
them as far as London. And London |
was but Paris repeated Mr.. Hackett |
knew Just what points Of interest Ruth |
would enjoy and what she should |
avoid. He was more useful than |
Baedeker and infinitely better com
pany.
But when the day for sSiling from |
Southampton was set and Mrs. Burns |
learned that the ubiquitous Mr.. Hack |
cit had taken passage on the same |
boat q, spalr filed her soul. To the ex-
perienced chapcron no episode is more |
heavily charged with danger than an |
ocean voyage. At first she had been as |
rude as her gentle nature would per- |
NIT, but the more chilly her reception |
the more assiduously would he devote |
himself to Rush If she occasionally |
relentcd and treated him with gracious |
tolerance, Mr. Hackett showed eager |
appreciation of her favor and waxed |
brilliant.
She was thinking It all over tonight |
as she sat alone on the deck. In less |
than twenty-four hours, the captain |
had said, they would be in New York |
harbor. Then must come the account |
ing to Mrs. Cuscadden. No doubt at |
this very moment. under the cover of |
coon songs in the saloon, Mr.. Hackett |
was whispering into the ears OF Ruth |
those tender words which he should not |
be permitted to whisper.
The traitorous chaperon felt II sud- |
den twtching at her heartstrings. |
Should she defy fate In the form of |
Mrs. Cuscadden? For herself it would |
mean but broken friendship; for
George Hackett ii meant happiness for |
life. Strangely enough she did not |
seem to consider Ruths happiness. She |
was thinking only Of her glrlhood, ]
when Hackett's friendship had been |
such very dear thing; when she |
would have given promised him
anything he might ask, but lie had not
asked.
The coon singer had finished, and the |
softer strains Of Il popular waltz noated
out on the night air. A great wave Of |
tenderness swept over Leslie Burns.
Why should she stand between the
man she had loved and the happiness
he now craved?
Alas for the confidlng, complacent |
Mrs. Cuscadden and her maternal |
plans!
Mrs. Burns drew her cape more
closely and shivercd slightly. A shad.
ow fell across the bar, OF light stream
Ing from the gangway A voice clear,
but not loud. broke the silence brood.
ing on the deck.
May ! have my cigar out here with
you. Mrs. Burns?" Then as he dropped |
into the chair Mt her side: What Il
bore ones travelling companions be
come directly land II sighted! | don't
blame you for getting Off TO yourself"
"Oh, II wasn't that exactly" muir
INJURED Mrs. Burns. Then. with the mir
OF trying TO I'll In an awkward pause.
she added: "But there Is subtle JOY
IN feeling that tomorrow night we
shall see the New York harbor lights
cleaning. There's no place In the
world Just Hike New York to us"
"Shall you stop In town. quered
Hackctt.
Just u day or SO. I've II week prom.
Iced 10 Mrs Davenport at Tuxedo"
"Glnd TO hear that. shall be In
Tuxedo next week IIarry's taken q
boX down there for the rest OF the sea.
soiI."
"But the Cuscaddens viii be ut the
hot springs until their new place IA
finished" The remark sounded strange,
Iy nat to Mrs Burns and instantly she
wished she had not Gyon vent TO her
thought Again she covered an awe
ward pausr. Dear mo. J wonder
whore Run Is th.s y.ry minute
"N Ttw hur ils,, dancing vito
you ra-ua., a harmless youth.
ASST yra,' hr "a ii vhnusIcai'E ~
MI. ..ras uadr Mo.igu t. i,#"
"D-ut 20. please. Drtil- ! have sai."'
thi"2 G,usl n y.u g.. t.rr we hnd.'