Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-21

No one watching the line of girls
thread its way through the aisles of
the museums would have imagined
that the serious faced young woman
who acted as guide was the rich Miss
Moultaire. Indeed. judging from the
brilliancy of appearance, the other
girls looked far more the social staI
than did the lady of millions in hei
severely tailored dress and quiet hat.
To Brookfeld, wandering among the
antiques on the lower floor. Irma Moul.
taire looked teacher conducting hel
fashionable charges ON one of theii
prescribed educational tours. To him
the finery of the girls was real and
the costly tailored gown of their self
appointed guide simple and unpre-
tentious garment.
He could not realize that the elegant
perfection of cut and cloth was the
envy of every girl in the settlement
class. The girls would have laughed
aloud in their glee could they have
| read in Brookfeld's thoughts the pity
| that he felt for their beloved leader.
This was the regular Saturday out
| ing of the Settlement club, and Irma
took great delight in plotting the girls
( to the museums and galleries, where
she hoped real works of art in time
would give them a truer sense of ar.
| tistic values.
| Every week she planned something
for the girls, winding up with little
lunch at her home. For the sake OF
| the luncheon the girls endured the art
lectures. So both they and Irma were
happy.
They passed before case contain
ing an Aztec collection. The labels
were on the opposite side of the case
where Brookfeld, who did not require
labels. was standing. Antiquities were
not Irma Moultaire's forte. and when
she innocently ascribed the collection
to the Egyptian section Brookfield in
terrupted with a correction.
Miss Moultaire. seeing that enthusi
asm and not desire to open flirta
ton with her charges was his motive
courteoUsly acknowledged the correc
ton, and Brookfield. mounting hi
hobby, rode it hard and fast
He had the trick of interesting hi
hearers, ard Miss Moultaire. fndin:
that the girls really were absorbed il
his little lecture. thankfully retreatet
into the background.
She, too, found the chat interestin,
and was very sorry when the last cas-
was reached and they found them
selves at the foot of the stairway lead
ing to the art galleries.
Here is where l shall prove use
less" he said to Irma. with Il smile
II thank you very much for lettinl
me run on as you have. l love TIL
| collection. | was one of the explora
ton party that dug it up"
I'VE should-and do-tnanlS you dis
claimed Irma II am sorry that GU
schedule does not permit US more time
should be glad to hear the rest
why not:' he suggested. Il al
here almost every afternoon
Irma shook her head smilingly as tn
little party went up the stairs. leay
ing Brookfield looking after them, Blu
couple Of weeks later she found bel
self in the vicinity of the museum an
with a little spare time on her hand
in the intervals of her social duties.
Brookfleld was leaning over one @
the cases which an attendant had opeI
ed for him. but at lrma's approach
closed the case and hurried toward he
"You did find time to Gomez he cried
az have half an hour to spare" wa
the smiling explanation. II though
you might be there. l wanted to as
you if you could give lecture to m
class on the exploration work"
with pleasure" was the prompt al
swer "If you will give me the q,
dress and name the day, shall CON
with pleasure.
u Irma. named an evening and gave I'll