Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-08
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lotion
A MAN, A MAID
AND A CHAPER0N.
rhe Lover Won, and the Chaper-
on Was True to Her Trust.
ey ANNA S. RlcHARpsoN.

ey ANNA S. RICHARDSON
"You are entirely too young and at.
lractive to chaperon Ruth" observed
Mrs. Cusoadden, surveying her com.
bahion with a cool, critical glance.
But she fairly has Mysteries when 1
Nuggest her going home with me. And
finfally the dear child has seen nothing
TAX Paris, and she wants another week
prd so in London If you could, my
~Sar Leslie"
Mrs Leslie Burns instantly replied
that she couldSaRd she would-with
pleasure SO il happened that Mrs
Rogers Cuscadden sailed alone for
New York to settle some vexed ques-
lions regarding the new house Her
parting warning to Mrs Burns was
'Now remember Leslie, no interna-
\ tional entanglements for Ruth. You
know how Mr. Cuscadden feels on the
lsubject. Besides, l want to bring her
Hout this season heart whole A love
b affair is always a handicap for a de-
butante"
Never did chaperon use more grace
full tact in executing her trust. With
out making enemies she warded off
the many admirers attracted to the
vivacious young heiress until George
Haclett appeared on the scene, drop
ping from some unheard Of point in
the orient. Well bred well aroomed.
well tailored breezy and alert he was
diplomacy proof
Attaching himself TO their party Of
two he proved distressingly conven-
lent and desirable. lie knew his Paris
by heart and steered his c0unUywo-
men from boredom with skllfu
hand Ruth boldly espoused his cause
and informed Mrs Burns that She
was having q much joIlier time since
Mr.. Hacketts arrival whereupon Mrs
Burns read her charge the first long
lecture Of their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
that il would do any good. she argued
for how could any heart whole girl
Withstand George Hackett?
When the stay in Paris drew to
close Mrs Burns heard with dismay
that Mr.. Hackett was accompanying
them as far rs London. And London
+ was but Paris repeated Mr.. Hackett
Rknew just what points of interest Ruth
aWould enjoy and what she should
avoid lie was more useful than Bae
deker and Infinitely better company
But when the day for sailing from
Southampton was set and Mrs Burns
learned that the ubiquitous Mr.. Hack
EFT had taken passage on the same
boat despair filed her soul To the ex-
perienced chaperon no episode is more
heavily charged with danger than an
ocean vQ6pgrs.,t first she had been as
ru} a her gentle Ssg-tg ' @5g5a ~ !.
nit, but the more chilly her reception
the more assiduously would he devote
himself to Ruth. If she occasionally
relented and treated him with gracious
tolerance Mr. Hackett showed eager
appreciation of her favor and waXed
brilliant.
She was thinking it all over tonight
as she sat alone on the deck In less
than twenty-four hours, the captain
had said. they would be in New York
harbor. Then must come the account
inc to Mrs Cuseadden. No doubt ct
this very moment, under the cover Of
songs in the saloon, Mr.. Hackett was
whispering into the ears of Ruth those
tender words which he should not be
permitted TO whisper.
The traitorous chaperon felt a sud
den twitching at her heartstrings
Should she defy fate in the form of
Mrs Cuscadden2 For herself it would
mean but broken friendship; for
George Hackett it meant happiness for
life Strangely enough, she did not
seem TO consider Ruth's happiness
she was thinking only of her girlhood'
when Hacketts friendship had been
such very dear thing when she
would have given hlm-promlsed MN
anything he might ask, but he had
not asked.
The singer had finished, and the SOFT
strains Of a popular waltz hoated OUT
~ the night air. A great wave of ten
Hrness swept over Leslie Burns why
should she stand between the man she
had loved and the happiness he now
craved2
Alas for the con6ding, compliment
Mrs. Cuscadden and her maternal
EGasl
~ Burns drew her cape more
l.shivered slightly A shad
eross~She bar Of light stream
10 from the gaiGway. A voice clear
but not loud, broke the silence brood
ing on the deck. -,
"May l have my cigar OUT mere VIII
you, Mrs. BurnsY Then as he drop
Pea into the chaiF'at her side VIVA
bore ones travelling companions De
Nhkne directly laBd is sighted! / don.
T6lame YOU for getting off to yourself
ooh, it wasn't that exactly" muir
INJURED Mrs. Burns, Then, with the al