Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-12-10
MAN, CHAPERON
AND MAID *
BY Anna 5. Richardson

You are entirely too young and al
tractive 10 chaperon Ruth" observe,
Mrs. Cuscadden. surveying her compan
ION with a cool. critical glance Blu
she fairly has Mysteries when I sugges
her going home with me And really
the dear child has seen nothing of Par
Is. and she wants another week or So
in London. IL you could. my dear Les
lie
Mrs. Leslie Burns instantly replied
that she could and she wOuld-with
pleasure. So 10 happened that Mrs Rog-
crs Cuscadden sailed alone FOR New
York 10 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 a handicap for dcbutante"
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 di-
plomacy proof
Attaching himself TO their party Of
two. he proved diStrcSsincly convenient
and desirable lie knew his Paris by
heart and stecred his countrywomen
from boredom with sllillful hand
Ruth boldly cSpouscd his cause and in
formed Mrs. Burns that she was hav-
ing a much jollier time since Mr. Hack
ett's arrival. whercupon Mrs Turns
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
Uackett?
When the stay I'm Paris drew TO a
close Mrs. Burns heard with dismay
that Mr.. Hackett was accompanying
them as far as London And London
u.
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 OH the same
boat despair filled her soul To the ex-
perenced 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 10 Ruth. II she occasionally
relented and treated him with gracious
tolerance. Mr.. Hackett showed eager
appreciation OF her favor and waxed
brilliant.
She was thinking il 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 a sud
den twitching at her heartstrings.
Should she defy fate In the form OF
Mrs. Cuscaddcn? For herself IL would
mean but broken friendship; for
George Hackett il meant happiness for
life. Strangely enough she did not
seem to consider Ruth's happiness. She
was thinking only OF her girlhood,
when Hacketts friendship had been
such very dear thing: when she
would have given him-promiSed him
anything be might ask, but lac had not
asked
The coon singer had finished. and the
softer strains Of n 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 confding, compIacent
Mrs Cuscadden and her maternal
plans,
Mrs. Burns drew her cape more
closely and shivered slightly \ 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 at her side: What a
bore ones travelling companions be
come directly land is sighted! ! don't
blame you for getting off to yourself"
''Oh. IL wasn't that exactly" muir
INJURED Mrs. Burns. Then. with the air
of trying 10 ell IN an awkward pause.
she added: But there is n 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 week prom
ised 70 Mrs. Davenport at Tuxedo"
Glad to hear that | shall be in
Tuxedo next week. Harry's taken a
box down there for the rest Of the sea-
SON"
But the Cuscaddens will be at the
not springs until their new place is
finished The remark sounded strange
ly Nat 90 Mrs Burns and instantly she
wished she had not given vent to her
thought. Again she covered an awK-
ward pause. Dear me, / wonder
where Ruth is this very minute"
when / saw her last, dancing with
young RansOme. 4 harmless youth,
assure Won" he added xvbi,oeicauv oo