Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-11-07
My Lady
And Perkins.
BY c. b. LEWIS.
BY C. b. LEWIS.
Copyrighted. 1897. by Associated
Literary Press.

uttia Gut was anu FuG nav
slight stoop and somewhat OF an UNI
certain gait. But for the vigilance OF
her maid. Perkins. she would have
looked every month Of her age aud
passed for the old woman she was.
II was Perkins who skillfuly padded
her gowns aud applied the dainty pink
and white complexion and who gave
her daily lessons In the art OF remain
ing young woman.
II was Perkins who had told her for
the last dozen years that she looked
under forty aud who nade each birth
day count one less instead OF one more
In her way. and II was good way.
Perkins was II jewel OF the first water
My lady had wealth When. at the
age of forty she had married again
only 10 become n widow for the second
time within three years. her cash in
come had been largely added to.
At fifty n third ardent sutton APP
pcared, but my lady decided to pre-
serve her widowhood and retain con.
trol Of her money. At sixty she had
herself and she had Perkins Five
years previously. when the woman had
come 70 her she had said
Perkins. | am a frivolous thing Of
thirty
''les'm." replied Perkins as she men
tally added twenty years 10 the figures
Il am frivolous. but not quite a fool ="
Nom"
"And want you to help me from he.
coming one
Certainly. MIN
III you see me flirting or acting gid
dy, as most Young women are apt to
do at times. put your foot down and
stop it,"
Il will. MIN"
Should really fall In love. Perkins
should lie so giddy and frivolous
and foolish rs to think Of marriage.
put both feet down and bring me To
my senses ere 1t is too late. That's all
this evening. Perkins"
Thus Perkins became lady'4 maid
chaperoa and adviser combined. She
was the keeper OF the keys aud the
watchdog o. the treasury She was d
good judge Of human character and q
close estimator OF how far Irritation
could 20 and still come under the head
of harmless
On several occasions, when things
had gone their limit. she had anuouuc
ed the fact. aud my lady had turned
her back on the affair
II ,tsa sana,p NF.n .4t,...
things went wrong Perkins was lind
ing Il hard work to keep the wruklcs
rubbed away My lady was beginning
to notice her own stoop and limp aud
she was almost ready to acknowledge
that she felt all Of forty-eight and IL
few minutes over
Count Dubois made his appearance
at this opportune moment He was a
real French count. II that WAS worth
anything He was also spendthrift
and a gambler lie had about reached
the end Of his tether when lie got
around to Nice on a tour OF adventure
and ran across my lady ana her
friends
His reputation soon caught up with
him. but Ia Europe a title excuses
much. There was almost at once All
open Irritation between my lady and
the count. and for time the Argus
eyed Perkins watched IL and said moth
Ing
However. when Mrs. Grundy had be
gun to nod and wink and whisper be
hind her fan. she took my lady In
hand. ON all previous occasions the
dear Old thing had heaved sigh or
two. shrugged her shoulders and sub
mtted 10 the inevitable, but on this
occasion. to Perkins great surprise
she proved obdurate.
Perkins, | nm surely IN love" She
replied.
But you can't be. You are too too
young
But know that am IN love, and
shall marry the count, poor boy
Perkins came back nj her with
enough statistics 10 swamp the char
acters OF three or four adventures.
but my lady had made up her mind
and nothing could move her Perkins
knew when 10 argue and when TO con.
ceal herself behind the portieres
Befo.s tie count left the parlors next
day she was In possession Of all needed
particulars There was to be "A yacht
Ing party Of a dozen friends. and dnr-
ing the trip the engagement would be
announced two weeks later a mar
riage and honeymoon trip.
The yacht would not make the har
Dor until late hour IN the evening
and the count would call for my lady
in carriage lie further threw out
suggestion II was that Perkins tie
locked in her room nj a certain hour to
prevent her wandering about Nice dur.
Ing the evening hours and getting lost
or falling OF the quay.
Human jewels such as she had been
known TO disappear of the face Of the
earth while innocently taking the night
air OF that charming resort.
"But Perkins won't be advertised for
ns lost jewel" said Perkins 10 her
80 a..