The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-01-08
By Anna S. Richardson
|. by A. s. Richardson


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
cious young heiress until George Hack
EFT appeared on the scene. dropping
from some unheard of point in the
orient. Well bred. we'll groomed, well
tailored, breezy and alert, he was di-
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 sEillful hand.
Ruth boldly espoused his cause and in
formed Mrs. Burns that she was hav-
ing u much jollier time since Mr.. Hack
ett's 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
close. Mrs. Burns heard with dismay
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 filled 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
brilliant.
She was thinking it all over tonight
as she sat alone ON the deck. In le
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 sud-
den twitching at her heartstrings.
Should she defy fate in the form of
Mrs. Cuscadden? For herself it would
mean but a broken Friendships: 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 floated
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
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 l 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. it wasn't that exactly" MUIR
INJURED Mrs. Burns. Then, with the air
of trying to fill 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 like New York to u.s.
'Shan you stop in town. queried
Hackett.
Just day or so. I've week prom
Used to Mrs. Davenport at Tuxedo
"Glad to hear that. l shall be in
Tuxedo next week. Harrys taken a
box down there for the rest of the sea-
son."
But the Cuscaddens will be at the
hot springs until their new place is
finished" The remark sounded strange
t. dat to Mrs. Burns. and instantly she
wished she had not given vent to her
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,
assure you," he added whimsically as
Mrs. Burns made a motion to rise.
Don't go, please, until 1 have some
thing must tell you before we land"
1t was coming. The guilty chaperon
closed her eyes figuratively and 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 abroad? l was fresh from college,
not much more than boy. 1 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 1 might
make another year of it 1 was wild
with delight.
But you remember I wrote to you
regularly. supposed you understood.
When read of your coming out. l was
tremendously proud I think I ordered