The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-07-29
THEIR KIND
ASSISTANCE

| When Rillington first drove up be-
! hind his fast trotter and bore OFF Miss
J Perkins for ride. 1t created a great
sensation at the Crosses, the exclusive
| family hotel where she resided. With
| one accord The other women said:
How entirely suitable 1t would be If
| they made match"
OF course. the fact that marriage
able man takes manageable woman
| for a pleasure outing does not nee.
essarily signify matrimonial inten-
! tons on the part of either. The resi-
dents of the Crosses, however. were
following the unwritten law to the ef-
, feet that a man over 40 Is not allowed
simple dallying, the prerogative OF
selfish youth, but must have serious
intentions ii he seeks feminine So
ciety.
Besides being middle-aged, Killing.
/ ton was a widower, which added point
to the affair He did not live at the
| Crosses. but every one knew of him
his wealth, his real.estate business,
his aversion to automobiles and his
famous horses.
As for Miss Perkins, she was such
a handsome woman that 1t had always
| been matter OF curiosity how she
escaped mattimony When she re.
turned from that first ride she was
met by smies-heroically casual, I'M
conscious smiles,
such lovely day for drlve!"
chirped Mrs Jones. I'D make him
take me again, Miss Perkins,"
Miss Perkins stood tall and serene.
her cheeks pink beneath the fluff OF
her silver pompadour, CLINT of
amusement in her dark eyes.
Il shall, Mrs. Jones; | certainly
SHALL she promised that matron,
who delightedly spread the news that
Miss Perkins was going in for the at,
fair seriously.
Every woman in the hotel at once
jumped to man the guns.
Wear your gray! Wear your gray"
breathlessly prompted Mrs. Smith, the
second time Rillington and his trot-
ter drew up in front OF the Crosses
4
with your hair!"
Mrs. Alberts tapped on her door
just as Miss Perkins started forth.
Miss Perkins, said she. won't you
wear these corals of mine-with the
gray, you know-please do"
hand mysteriously beckoned Miss
Perkins as she smilingly passed down
the hall. 1t belonged to Mrs. Don.
caster, who had the only three.room
suite at the Crosses.
Miss Perkins" called Mrs. Don
caster, when you come back why
don't you bring him up to my parlor?
You can just as well as not and it's
50 much pleasanter and more secluded
than the reception room downstairs!
wish you would"
When later Miss Perkins babe Rill-
ington goodby at the curb and came
in alone the watching women groaned.
They agreed that she showed amaz-
ingly small command OF the situation
And ! had put out all the family
photographs and made my parlor just
rs attractive and homelike as pos
sible!" mourned Mrs. Doncaster. "fle
boards, you know"
Miss Perkins remained provoking
ly cheerful and uncommnnieative She |
betrayed none of the varying moods !
usual to person in the grasp OF
sentimental situation. Once when |
Rlllington had not appeared for a |
week the Crosses was nearly hyster- |
ical with repressed anxiety. That Is, |
with the exception of Miss Perkins. |
The pink In her cheeks never wavered |
and she ate her full three meals a
day.
Indignation grew In the hearts Of |
the feminine boarders. With all their |
of corals, front parlors |
and sisterly advice-she seemed not |
to make any marked progress toward
the matrimonial goal
Mrs Jones, with a determined set
to her jaw, was waiting for Miss Per
kins when she returned from that last
ride As she told the other women,
II anything definite were going to hap
pen it would happen then. after that
weeks interval, which probably
marked lovers quarrel.
Welt" cried Mrs. Jones, playfully,
darting from her corner OF the recep-
ton room as spider dashes out for
its prey. We'll! Seems to me you
and Mr.. Rillington must have had
lot to talk over. You were gone near
ly three hours! Ts-can't-that Is.
when are VITO congratulate you, dear
Miss Perkins?"f
The same amused CLINT came into
Miss Perkins dark eyes that had long
fingered there.
Now" she said, gayly. I'm con-
graduating myself, for I've got the
dearest"
In the artful pause Mrs. Jones
,lasped her hand TO her heart.
Dearest house on the north shore
-ou ever saw. went on Miss Perkins.
Mr.. Rillington had a number for
;ale and I've been all this time decid-
ne which one to buy! I'm tired OF
boarding and want a home Of my
lwn,"
Mrs. Jones came to an hour later.
And all the time" she murmured
eebly to herself. all that horrid man
vas thinking Of was the financial /