Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21

places to which they've never been. The
giddier a chaperon has been, the more
strenuous she is. The only really liberal
chaperon l ever had was dear old Aunt
Eliza BETH VINO was such a salt her
self that she was tremendously optimistic
about other people. Now they do say
that Aunt Maria was terror before she
took on SO much of the flesh that she
couldn't travel fast enough to keep up with
the world and the devil; but, a chap
eron-
Nancy's pause was full of emphasis,
Il should think it would be easy to lose
her. Bobby suggested. Shes too large a
body to move rapidly"
Nancys expression was tragic.
You don't know her. She's a contradlc-
ton of natural law l used to believe that
no one body could be in two places at one
and the same time. That's a mistake.
Aunt Maria can do it. 1 suppose it's be-
cause there is so much of her. with nfty
more pounds she would probably be ublquf-
tous She chaperOned me only one summer.
One was enough. / didn't choose her, even
then. She offered herself up as sacrifice
to family welfare. You see, Reginald Cart
wright had devoted himself to me for three
! months. The family dreamed dreams and
saw visions. I've very hopeful family,
Bobby. Nothing really discourages them.
Each season they forget last seasons crush
ing blows. and plan the furnishings for my
town house and the arrangement of the
state rooms on my yacht. Hope springs
eternal in the parental breast. Aunt Maria
believes in the town house and the yacht
but she isn't patient. She approved of
Reggy. He had to go to Homburg with
his mother in June. Aunt Maria was con-
WINGED that if l didn't fly off at tangent
before he could return in September, we
could launch the yacht before Christmas.
So she chaperoned me.
THAT was great summer, Bobby. Aunt
Maria won my undying hatred and my ar
dent admiration. She was noble. She has
the endurance of the early martyrs. Fatty
degenerate of the heart is what one has
when ones heart swells abnormally, isn't
it?''
Bobby sighed.
There are other names for it," he said
impressively, but ruined the effect by join
ing in Nancys derisve grin.
Aunt Maria has fatty degeneration of
the conscience" the young woman an
nounced positively. She must have been
uncommonly bad to be forced into such I'M
natural goodness now.
Did she have happy summer? Bobby
asked doubtfully.
Nancy twinkled
Il did my best for her. She wanted to
reduce. l gave her the chance of a life
time. l didn't stay in one place for nVe
consecutive minutes. / wore myself 10
shreds Tire Aunt Maria? Not a bit of
it. She never left me except when l was
asleep and, l dare say, she sat outside my
door then.
1T was maddening at first, later on it
grew funny. Men came and men went, but
Aunt Maria went on forever. Every one
was Accordingly interested. We were one
of the attractions of the place. If the hotel
keeper had had any soul, he would have
lowered our rates and given us a commits
sion on entertainment. Guests used to say
at breakfast: Well, what shall We do this
morning-drive, or row, or fish, or watch
the chaperon?
when a new guest arrived, they showed
him the bottomless lake and Baldhead
mountain and-Aunt Maria. Every man
who came set a lance at rest against her,