The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-04-12
s. Glya's Sc
Cbaperon
BY Virginia Leila Wenfz
Copyright, 1906, by E. C. PARCELS
Copyright, 1906, by E. C. PARCELS


ing's brightness of the Tuilerles gar
dens when the boy in the hotel lift
brought her a cablegram.
1t was Il message from her lord and
master in Chicago declaring that her
immediate presence was required. AT
once all the brightness faded out Of the
Tuileries, for the frivolous gayety of
Paris had been especially attractive to
this Dortly, easy going, good natured
matron of the west.
But, mother, you'll have to go alone.
It'll he a whole month before my sing,
ing lessons are finished, you know"
broke in Elya, who was having her
sian hairdresser.
Mrs. Dix clasped her ring bedecked,
pudgy hands. She always clasped her
hands when she agreed about anything.
You'll have to have chaperon, of
course, DEAR" she added. Now, who
can we get on such a little notice?"
There was silence for a moment,
While the deft fingers of the hairdress-
cr ran through the fiaXen hair with a
soothing touch. Then Elya's girlish
voice sounded in delightful treble:
"Oh, mother! 1 know the very per
son. She's terribly nice and awfully
ladylille" Q1iya always emphasized her
adverbs and used indiscriminate ones
at that, "and she's an American, and
that's the best of all-ouchw In her
eagerness she'd turned her head a bit
too suddenly, and some soap had got In
her sapphire eyes.
"Oh, l know who you mean," helped
out Mrs. Dix, while her daughter strug
gled with the soap. You mean Miss
Clemmens, the governess to that little
English boy who died last week? Yes,
she's looking for another engagement,
that's true. And she certainly is a
lady"
So Miss Dorothy Clemmens of New
York was engaged to chaperon EIya
Dix for month in Paris and then
bring her back to America.
To console herself for her mothers
departure, Elya had Miss Clemmens
secure tickets for that nights opera
She sat in Il box i'll her young beauty
set off by 5000 Paquin gown and Sc.
renely allowed the audience to stare.
Already she was learning that the
mission of the beauty is to support
modistes and to be stared at Behind
her, robed in some soft, inexpensive
gray stuff, with narrow white lace
collar, sat her chaperon.
The opera was "Siegfried," the scher-
20 of Wagner's great symphony, as
Lavignac has called it. Upon Miss
Clemmens' music parched soul (she'd
not heard an opera for over n year, 1t
fell like gracious dew and fetched
sweet refreshment. When the orches-
ira tells the mood of Siegfried in the
second act, feeling the first fret Of
awakened passion, her eyes shone like
stars, her lips parted slightly, and just
at that juncture man in the audience
caught her perfect profile as she leaned
Slightly forward.
That same look, downward and side.
wise and smiling! That exquisite head
in its cloud of wavy dark hair! Paul
Demarest brushed away the years that
had blurred it all, and then suddenly
he remembered. Yes, he remembered.
Oh, it was so long ago, so many years
ago!
And she was in the same box with
that gay little butterfly, that American
fiirt, Elya Dix. Bless Elya Dix! 1t was
the first time he had ever felt grateful
to her. He would make his way to he1
box at the end Of the second act.
"Why, Mr. Demarest! I'm awfully
glad to see you I honestly am!
Thought you'd forgotten me. And I'm
all alone now mother sailed unex-
pectedly for home this morning-and
I'm all alone now" Elya greeted him
in her young untamed effusiveness as
he entered the box.
"All alone?" he questioned gravcly.
"Well there's Miss Clemmens here
my chaperon. By the way. she's an
American too. Miss Clemmens, Mr.
Demarest. You've heard mother speak
of him, I'm sure. Oh, here come
Dickie Marston and Bob Sawyer!
How terribly tollyw Elya reached ou'
her daintily gloved hand to greet two
newcomers.
They were of the aggressive type,
these two English chaps, and in few
seconds Demarest made his way to
Miss Clemmens in the rear.
do you know, Miss Clemmens,' he
began curiously, 1.-The last time | saw
you you wore your hair in two braids,
and 1 wrote il poem and dedicated 1t to
the curlS at the end"
His voice and mouth were grave, but
there was smiling CLEAN in his eyes.
Miss Clemmens glanced rather blank
ly from beneath her heavy lashes at
this man we'll under forty.
Il think" she began, with a calm
dignity BETTING her position-but just
then, on the very second word Of re-
prevail, Il flash of understanding radiat
ed over her tired, lovely face. YOU
surely you're not Prince Paul?'
"The very Same-princeSs."
Paul Demarest bowed very low.
"But-but why Demarest'- pursued
MISS OleIilulelS, Win puZZltu uhSSl'
tainty.
"A grand-uncle over here without
any closer issue left me his money and
estates, providing I'd take his name in
the bargain. l took them ALL" The
light raillery in the voice changed to
seriousness. "But I'd have known yoI.
princess, if you went by any name III.
der heaven"
"For PHYS sakew dimpled she. Then
she added with wistful dignity: "Bui
must have changed deal since then.
That was nearly twelve years ago.
lust fancyw
Il don't see the changes" said he
calamity. ITO me you're just the
same"
But, oh, how tired she looked-his
gay, light hearted little princess! And
low he longed to fold her protectingly
n his arms! The wide divergence in
hat moment between what this man
wished to do and what he did do
stands for civilization.
do you remember those glorious