The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-07-23
Arrest In July.
By c. B. Lewis.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press
By C. B. Lewis.
'yrlghted. 1908. by Associated

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When Miss Mary Cloves, forty years
old and aunt of Eileen Cloves, not yet
quite half those years, accepted the re-
sponsibility of acting as chaperon TO
the young lady for a few weeks stay
In the Berkshire hills she determined
to do her duty at all costs.
They had scarcely reached the hotel
selected when that duty confronted
her. Paul Clifford. the artist. crossed
their path. The young people had
many mutual friends in town. but
had never been introduced.
In any hotel in the Berkshires, the
Catskills or on the seashore a hand
some young girl and bachelor artist
of note, with romance still leashed in
his soul. are bound to meet sooner or
later II given half show
Such meetings come about by acci-
dent, or Providence takes a hand, and
the first thing they know they have
introduced themselves to each other
aud are talking about art and motor
UPS tulouSu ESulOpt.
Aunt Mary understood this; also that
she was there to prevent 1t. She
would insist on formality to the bitter
end. She did insist Even when she
and Miss Eileen in walking out one
day were suddenly confronted by
snake as much as nine inches long
and screamed and the artist came run
ming up and saved their lives from
the monster she stood on formality
and insisted that her charge do the
same. The artist hero was dismissed
with a formal bow and went his way
with an odd sense of their ingratitude
gnawlng at his heart
Three or four days later, however,
family with whom he was well ae-
quainted in the city arrived. and a
formal Introduction took place. This
made things all right In one way and
all wrong in another
He was now privileged to lift his
hat and say good morning, but the old
maid looked upon him as possible
lover and added many precautions.
She was polite. but she was also vigi-
liant The artist probably hoped, as
another man would in his place. that
In time she would thaw out, and he
held himself ready day and night for
more heroic deeds.
Around the second story of the hotel
ran a yeranda, and the three parties In
the case had rooms opening on to this
promenade. One afternoon as the aunt
was parading up and down the veran-
da she noticed that the artist was In his
room writing a letter. She at once
suspected that 1t was note to be
passed to Miss Eileen at the first IA
vorable opportunity.
The chaperon was disturbed, but de-
termined. She promenaded clear
around the house. and upon her return
she beheld a sheet OF note paper lying
on the floor. She also saw that the
artist had stepped out of his room. A
draft had caught up the letter he was
writing and drawn 1t through the open
window.
Aunt Mary was woman of the
sternest principles. She reasoned 1t
out In a moment that she had no mo-
raj right to that note 1t was for her
to ignore It's existence and continue
her promenade, but al at once her
stern principles took tumble
She stopped, seized the sheet and
fed to her room, which was next to
that OF her niece Even then 1t was
not too late to save her lifelong prln-
ciples untarnished. She could have
torn the sheet into fragments before
reading the lines written thereon. She
could, but she didn't She read even to
the last word, and moment later she
was In the room of her niece, saying:
II suspected 1t from the first! He is
a cold blooded wretch"
who is, auntie?" was the natural
query.
MIR. Clifford! have found him out
just In time. oh. the perfidy OF IT.
oh, the insults heaped upon us! Read
that. No, let me read It."
And, holding the half finished letter
in her left hand and using the right
forefnger to punctuate the air while
she held her figure In tragic pose and
spoke from the depths of her indigna-
ton, she read:
Dear JIM have seen both of them
The old one Is no good and badly out of
repair. wouldn't take her as gift
Guess she was one of the first ones made
The other Is a clipper. with heaps of go
in her. Decided bargain, and shall close
the deal at once. Climbs the steepest hills
around here like cat. and you ought to
see her scoot on the level The old one
That was as far as the artist had
written when he left the room. and
the breeze came In and toyed with the
sheet and sent 1t to the feet OF the
woman who had duty to do She
finished reading and maintained her
pose for half q minute and then sol.
emily said:
II found 1t on the yeranda. The
wind brought 1t to me. 1t came from
his room. l saw him as he was writ
ing it,
do you mean that Mr.. Clifford
wrote thls?" asked the young lady.
i