The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-02-20
A FLIRT'S ADVENTURE.


she knew that she could hope for little
sympathy, for Tom Cunningham, her
lazy, easy going husband, merely laughed
at her troubles; while her sister, Laura
Freeman, who was, in fact, the cause OF
her anxieties, had long since frankly told
her she was "a dear old fuss"
Susie Cunningham was devoted to this
sister, who was good many years her
Junior; but, for all that, she was not I'M
aware that she could have enjoyed the
clear sky of Switzerland, the sight of
the distant snow capped mountains, the
deep blue of the lake, the walks and the
excursions, and all the delights of Lu-
cerne to far greater extent had she
not had this willful and provoking girl
to chaperOn.
Laura Freeman was an heiress, and
she was also most egregiOus flirt. Flirt-
alton was to her indeed not pastime,
but fine art; and she would enter into
the dangerous game with all the zeal and
energy that so many of her friends and
contemporaries reserved for their exploits
on hockey ground or tennis court. Most
men. from Is to so, were interesting to
laura; and consequently there was hard
ly a woman of her acquaintance who was
not secretly trife afraid of her. Their
brothers, sons, nephews, fathers, and,
alas, occasionally even their husbands,
became in turn her puppets, and the only
consolation they had lay in the fact that
she speedily tired of one and all.
Tom Cunningham, her brother in-law,
considered her such capital fun that he
declined to take her seriously, and mere
ly laughed at her conquests; but his
wife, who had suffered considerably from
the spiteful tongues of ladies who disap-
proved of Laura, regarded these frequent
firtations in very different light. She
had had trouble enough in England on
her account, and when Tom had sugge.tt-
ed that foreign travel might have a
steadying influence and improve the
girls mind, she had rashly tried the ex-
pertinent; only to find that she had most
certainly jumped out of the frying pan
into the fire.
In England the victims had at least
behaved with dignity: but abroad two
Germans had insulted each other on
Laura's behalf, three Frenchmen had been
reduced to tears, and an Italia1 mother
had screamed in violent hysteria over the
abrupt dismissal of her son. In fact, the
appearance of the Cunningham party in
a new hotel had invariably been the sig
nal for scenes of a melodramatic and
most exhausting character.
Certainly, at Lucerne Mrs. Cunning
ham had so far secured the support of
her husband as to induce him to take
rooms at a small and very quiet pension,
principally frequented by elderly ladies,
where, for the first three days of their
stay, Tom Cunningham occupied the
proud position of being the one man at
table d'hote. His wife had then enjoyed
an altogether too brief period of repose,
and Laura had contentedly devoted her
self to the writing of endless letters to
still hopeful admirers and the renovating
OF her elaborate wardrobe.
But such peace was naturally short
lived, and at the moment when this story
opens the younger sister was making an
announcement which convinced the elder
that all her troubles were about to begin
anew.
Mrs. Cunningham and her sister sat
down to their dinner few hours later
with anticipatory feelings of a very diff
ferent nature. While Laura's eyes spar
killed. with pleasure and curiosity, her
chaperon nervously watched the door,
fearful of seeing two new weak minded
visitors enter ready for conquest. If
they came they could hardly fail to no.
tice Laura among the assembled guests.
The Cunninghams and their precious
charge sat at small table by them
selves, the long center table being occu-
pied by five extremely loquacious ladies
varying in age from As to 20, and two
Englis!. school girls, who were conscien-
tiously practicing their French on a
smart mademoiselle from Marseilles !;
while their mother listened with COM
placent appreciation.
The SOUP had been served before the
expected strangers entered the room.
One was of middle height, with huge
shoulders and an air of immense strength
and energy land though hardly handsome,
he was yet pleasant to look at, with a
humorous expression on his bronzed face,
and clearly trimmed beard. His com
panion was evidently a good many years
younger. He had a tall, slight figure, a
thick shock of crisply curling fair hair,
and pair of rather restless, light-col-
ored eyes,
why it's good old Bob Johnson" ex-
claimed Mr.. Cunningham. And, evidently
fancying himself in Leicestershire rather
GHdn Ill SWlSS DcIISlOIl, Hc SCdICleu HIS
fellow guests by jovially shouting, eli!
Tally Ho! Bob, come and sit near us,
cd mani"
''Dr Johnson [ am glad to see you"
said Susie, earnestly, when, few min
utes later, tl:c new arrivals had been
accommodated with a table near the
Cunninghams.
"'Thank you! 1t is indeed lucky
chance that we should have met. 1 knew
YOU were abroad; but when | started for
this little holiday, had no idea that you
were at Lucerne." DR.. Johnson spoke
rather absently, and his eyes were grave
ly fixed upon his friend, whom he had in
troduced as Capt. Mellor, and who was
already deeply engaged in conversation
with Laura Freeman.
Mrs. Cunningham noticed his abstrac-
ton; but she was not offended, for she
was telling herself with great satisfac-
ton, 'Now at last may really get Laura
Of oo,,rco ha Yaa1lv know that