The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-16
MAN, CHAPERON
AND MAID r.

By Anna S. Richardson

Bne IdlrIy mas mysteries Wnen suggest
her going home with me. Ard really
the dear child has seen nothing of Par
is and she wants another week or so
In London. If 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 Cuscadden sailed alone for New
York to settle some vexed questions re-
garding the new house. Her parting
warning to Mrs. Burns was:
Now remember. Leslie, no interna-
tional entanglements for Ruth. You
know how Mr. Rogers feels on the sub
ject. Besides want to bring her out
this season heart whole. A love affair
Is always handicap for debutante."
Never did chaperon use more grace
full tact in executing her trust. With
out making enemies she warded of the
many admirers attracted to the viva
cious young heiress until George Hack
EFT appeared on the scene, dropping
from some unheard Of point in the
orient. Well bred, well groomed, well
| tailored, breezy and alert, he was d.
plomacy proof.
Attaching himself to their party of
two he proved distressingly convenient
and desirable. He knew his Paris by
heart and steered his countrywomen
from boredom with a skillful hand.
Ruth boldly espoused his cause and In
formed Mrs. Burns that she was hav-
ing much jollier time since Mr.. Hack
etts arrival. whereupon Mrs. Burns
read her charge the first long lecture of
their companionship. Not that it would
do any good she argued, for how could
any heart whole girl Withstand George
Hackett?
When the stay in Paris drew to a
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 sailing from
Southampton was set and Mrs. Burns
learned that the ubiquitous Mr.. Hack
EFT had taken passage on the same
boat despair filed her soul. To the ex-
perienced chaperon 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 Ruth. If she occasionally
relented 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
be permitted to whisper.
The traitorous chaperon felt a sud-
den twitching at her heartstringa
Should she defy fate in the form Of
Mrs. Cuscadden? For herself it would
mean but a broken friendship; for
George Hackett it meant happiness for
life. Strangely enough she did not
seem to consider Ruth's happiness. She
was thinking only of her girlhood,
when Hackett's friendship had been
such a very dear thing; when she
would have given him-promised him
anything he might ask, but he had not
asked
The coon singer had finished, and the
softer strains of popular waltz fioated
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 confiding, complacent
Mrs. Cuscadden and her maternal
plansl
Mrs Burns drew her cape more
closely and shivered slightly. A shad-
ow fell across the bar Of light stream
ing from the gangway. voice clear,
but not loud, broke the silence brood
ing on the deck
MAY have my cigar out here with
you. Mrs. BurnsT Then as he dropped
into the chair at her side: What q
bore ones travelling companions be-
come directly land is sighted! 1 don't
blame you for getting off to yourself"
"Oh, it wasn't that exactly" muir
INJURED Mrs. Burns Then, with the air
of trying to ill In an awkward pause,
she added: But there is a subtle joy
In feeling that tomorrow night we
shall see the New York harbor lights
cleaning. There's no place in the
world just like New York to us"
"Shall you stop in town." queried
Hackett
"Just day or so. I've a week prom
ised to Mrs. Davenport at Tuxedo"
Glad to hear that l shall be in
Tuxedo next week. Harry's taken
box down there for the rest of the sea-
son."
But the Cuscaddens will be at the
hot springs until their new place 10
finished" The remark sounded strange
w1sneu sne nad not giVsn Vent TO ner
thought. Again she covered an awK-
ward pause. Dear me, l wonder
where Ruth Is this very minute"
"When l saw her last, dancing with
young Ransome. A harmless youth, l
assure you," he added whimsically as
Don't go, please, until l have some
thing l must tell you before we land"
1t was coming. The guilty chaparon
closed her eyes fguratively anu pre-
pared to take the plunge. She would
pledge her aid and give it.
Leslie
She started. Five years had passed
since she had heard that name from his
lips. Vaguely she wished he had com
menced some other way.
do you remember when father sent
me abroad2 | was fresh from college,
not much more than boy. l knew lit
tie of life-women least of all. My ex-
periences abroad with fellows l liked
first bewildered and then fascinated
me, and when father wrote l might
make another year of 1t 1 was wild
with delight.
But you remember l wrote to you
regularly. l supposed you understood.
When l read of your coming out, was