The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-02-27
MAN, CHAPERON
AND MAID x
By Anna S. Richardson

You are entirely too young and at
tractivc to chappron Ruth" observed
Mrs. Cuscaddcn, Survcyin'' her compan-
ion With Il cool. critical glance. But
she fairly has Mysteries when l suggest
he" going home with me. And really
the dear child has seen nothing of Par
is, ana she wants another week or so
in London. II you could, my dear Les
lie
Mrs. Leslie Burns instantly replied
that sh" could and she would-with
pleasure So it happened that Mrs. Rog-
crs Cll:caddcn sailed alone for New
York To settle some vcxed questions re-
Garding the new house. Her parting
warning TO Mrs. Burns was:
Nav remember Leslie no interna-
tionHl rntanglcments fer Ruth. You
know how Mr.. Rogers feels on the sub
ipct. Besides | want to bring her out
this season heart whole. A love affair
is always 4 handicap for Il debutante."
Never did chaperon use more grace
full tact in executing her trust. With
out making enemies she warded OFF the
many admirers attracted to the viva
ciUuS young heiress until George Hack
EFT appeared on the scene. dropping
from some unhcurd of point in the
orient. Well bred. well groomed, well
tailored. breezy and alert, he was di-
pl0macy prcof.
Attaching himself to their party Of
two, he proved diStr"sSngly convenient
and desirable He knew his Paris by
heart and steerpd his countrywomen
from boredom with a skillful hand
Ruth boldly espouScd his cause and in
formed Mrs. Burns that she was hay
ing much iollier time since Mr.. Hack
etts arrival. wheTeupnn 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
lIackctt?
When the stay in Paris drew to a
close. Mrs Burns heard with dismay
that Mr. Hackett was accompanying
them us far as Lonton. And London
WAS bat Paris repeated. Mr.. Hackett
knew Just what points of interest Ruth
would enjoy and what she should
avoid He was more useful than
Baedckcr and infinitely better com
pany.
But when the day for sailing from
southampton WAS set and Mrs. Burns
learned that the ubiquitous Mr.. Hack
cit had taken passage on the same
boat despair filled her soul. To the OK
pcrienCcd 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-
init but the more chilly her reception
the more assiduouSly would he devote
himself to Ruth If she occasionally
rplrntcd 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 he in New York
harbor Then must come the account
ing to Mrs. CJlscadden. 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 Il sud
den twitching at her heartstrings.
Should she defy fate in the form of
Mrs CuScadden? For herself it would
mean but a broken friendship; for
George Hacllett it meant happiness for
life. Strangely enough she did not
seem to consider Ruth's happiness. She
was thinking only Of her girlhoOd.
when HackcttG friendship had been
such y very dear thing: when she
would have given im-promised him
anything he might ask, but he had not
asked.
The coon singer had finished, and the
softer strains of a popular waltz tloated
out on tho night air. y great wave or
tenderness swept over Leslie Burns,
Why should she stand between the
man she had loved and the happiness
he now cravcG:
Alas for tho contiding, complaccnt
Mrs. Cuscaddcn and her maternal
plans,
Mrs. Burns drew her cape more
closely and Shivcred slightly. y shad-
ow fell a;.roS. the bar uf light stream
ing from tic ganSway. y voice clear,
but not l,ud, broke the silence brood
ing on In" docH.
May hav" my cigar uui here with
you, Mrs. EurnS:" Then as he dropped
into the chair at hcr side: What n
bore ones travelling companions be-
N0no land Siuntol' | lnr,'t