The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-03-28

IL happened in a corridor Of hotel
p sogy OF chiaroHcuro corner 0f the uni
verse where anything might happen.
She was a lady. beyond question,
positively proper, Of a nice but nor an.
usual type. cooped up in a single bed
room, high Ia the air, almost Ike 9
medieval maiden ia "a fendal tower,
out of reach of everybody. she was
3 club woman too lthey all are now
alaysl. and booked to lecture at three
ccloclA sharp On the ~Evanescence st
ldealism." She found the situation
thrilling because sha was swishing
her siik netticoais ID ana fru. pattlng
her trailing broadciqth dabbling paw
der cn her nose, humns her Marcel
wave ana eyeing with dismay the
mass of lace and chiffon that lay upon
tho bea-her very elegant bodice III
hu.tMea up the back. not frankly and
In perfectly straightforward man-
aeg but with see saw ilags and llttle
ags Of velvet artistically askew
How 81 the world am I going 10 get
into itg she gasped in dismay
She wrinkied her smooth brow and
pomdered What a luxury a maid IS
especially In the eyes of the one who
hasn't a maid She poked her head
discreetly out of the door and peered
down the vacant hallway. Nobody in
sight. It was 2:30 and time began to
press upon her conscience.
Against the doorway hung a frou
frou thing Of silk and frills which She
managed to slip into. and then she
made wild chase down the corridors
In quest OF the chambermaid. Does
anybody know where hotel chamber
maids keep themselves in on hoursg
She didn't, and couldn't find one any
where.
She snatched up the chiffon affair
and slipping of her silk kim" she
got into her bodice as far as she could.
But she was snug little person. and
not very strong on physical culture,
50 that she couldn't for the life Of her
get her shoulder blades out of the
way and her elbows positively refused
to work backward.
"Ol" she cried after a few minutes
Of frantic squeezing, putting and
stretching, while the seams Of her bod
ice cracked In protest and beads Of
persipration started out from under
the delicate coating Of violet cream
which she had laid on with so much
care.
fOt"
size had broken one Of her beauti-
ful angular nails, so prettily polished
and pink as rosebud.
The lowest button was fastened and
the top one; that was all In between
yawned an awful gap, displaying some
very pretty lingerie and fresh blue
rihbopc. ouc nevertheless rather negli- I
gee and not at all compatible with the
Evanescence Of Idealism."
"rn have to finish dressing at the
club" she said, grimly, after a last
futile dab at the coquettish button. So
she cooked her feather hat iauntily
over her Marcel, snatched up her veil. |
long suede gloves, and white cloth
jacket, and made a dash for the door. !
As she opened it, breathless with ex-
citement, she encountered her neigh
Dor in the adjoining room, just about |
to unlock his door 1t was a mere
man, but he looked uncommonly nice.
Her practiced eye took him in at |
glance-a gentleman. we'll groomed. |
and clad. shod, and gloved in the most !
elegant fashion, and the very polite /
way in which he stepped aside, hat in
hand, to let her pass, settled the mat |
ter
A wild impulse seized her. She |
could never explain it afterward
"Ol" she burst forth. snatching off
her jacket in hot haste. Would you |
be so kind am in an awful hurryl |
I'm going to lecture at the club ana |
I'm late-and there's nobody to do /
anything for me. Would you be so
kind" she hesitated
CAS- to button you up the back2' he I
beginning to strip of his
gloves just as though he had been
there beforet
His eyes twinhed--os course they
did-but he never even smiled and he /
went 10 work Ike a soldier.
Il beg your pardon he said, with
Just the faintest echo Of a ripple in his
deep. pleasant voice. and she could
feel that his hands were shaking with
the emotion to which he was too well
bred to give free vent, butts there
q map to this. MADAME"
She laughed-because she was hys-
she pulled herself togeth-
ar literally and said with much dig
nifty:
"It goes first to the right and then
10 the left. and then bias down The
side to the waist line"
20, 1 see" he observed. "But You
must pardon me if l am a little awk-
ward. This really is the worst ! ever
lid see2"
isn't it awful?" she exclaimed in a
burst Of confidence. ~ru never have
another like tiff have to wear
skins.
II, +,.o1-oa ~ AZ, ,s44f- .,.s4 sss4