The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-07-18
IT WAS OVERDONE,
Rv OSCAR cox.

you I'd take you down to Edgemere,
fathers country seat by the sea, fop
the weeks end
what do you mean by depending
npon me|"
"Why, to behave yourself, of course.
Father and mother are both strait
laced people. and you'd have to go
Ancog. If 1t came out that I'd taken
down q high kicker from the Eden
fheater I'd get myself disinherited."
81 see Rest assured that you can
trust me, BERTHE Haven't u played
Mrs. Dismal? Do you suppose an ac-
tress who can personate characters on
the boards will fail before an audience
of two old people in private houseT'
"AI right Wen try it on. But
don't oyerdo it@
The next day albert KettIeton's
mother received note from him that
ne would bring down Miss Agnes Darr,
q young lady he had met in charitable
work. Since there would be meet
ing in the Sums Saturday night they
would not arrive till after midnight
The meeting referred to was the even
ing performance at the theater, Bea-
trix La Fontaine, alias Agnes Darr,
not coming off, till 1915.
Mrs. Kettleton. lot considering 1t
proper that a young lady should ar
rive at her house without being re
ceived by the hostess, sat up until the
couples arrival.
'T'm so glad said the fond mother,
shat Bert has fallen in with such
good people In the city And to think
that you have been working with the
poor this very evening! OF course
you're hungry. I've supper set for
you in the dining room"
"All right. mother" said Albert; you
go to bed. It's too bad to have kept
you up so late"
Miss Darr passed into the dining
room. Albert was behind with his
mother, who asked in a whisper If
he thought 1t proper that she should
leave them up together. He assured
her that it would be slight to watch
a slum worker. and the old lady went
to bed.
No wines or liquors having been
brought forth, Bert drew from his
secret stock in his own private closet,
and if his mother had returned half
an hour later she would have seen
strange sights.
After breakfast the next morning.
considering their Christian work, the
young couple found it impossible to
invent an excuse to be absent from
family prayers; but, this over. Bert lit
q cigar and strolled with the guest to
the beach Before he got away his
mother reminded him that the carriage
would be ready at 1890 to take them
to church. Not daring to absent them
selves, they returned in time and en-
dured the longest sermon of the sea-
son. Dinner was at / o'clock. Bert
tried TO smuggle a cocktail into the
young iady's room before dining, but
failed The first freedom came about
3 o'clock, when the old couple went
upstairs for d siesta.
Great Scott, Bert" said Trixie.
'.how long is this going to last?"
For heavens sake hold on to your
self Any break would ruin meP'
Are there any more ceremoniesY
mo. Mother may think wei want
TO 60 to church this evening, but we
can plead having been up late"
They spent the afternoon on the
beach, but the splash Of the waves had
no soothing effect on the actress. She
worked hard during the week and
counted On recreation ON Sunday She
was not getting it at tea time the
two strolled back to the house, where
they found the old couple wearing their
usual Sunday evening solemnity After
q long grace few small, feathery bis
cults were served with tea Miss Darr
sighed She could have eaten all there
was on the table Bert looked at her
anxiously. He was fearing a collapse
of her patience and a consequent
break.
Thus knowing her, he should have
watched her more carefully. His moth
er asked him for half an hour of his
time for a chat, and he went up with
11I W uCT DOuuOlI. lCdFluS 1IlAIS Will
a book in the library When the chat
was ended he and his mother came
downstairs. treading noiselessly on the
thick carpets. Mr. Kettleton had put
on his hat for stroll in the grounds
and was standing with his hands in
his pockets on the porch. Miss Darr
was approaching him from behind.
Dear girl" remarked the old lady
81 do SO love people who devote their
lives to others. Is there anything be
tween you two, my dear boy? hope
there is
The good lady never got reply tc
her question. At the moment Trixie
who had come up unheard behind Mr.
Kettleton, raised one foot in the air
and the old gentleman's hat went sail
Ing off. landing in a palm beside the
porch When he turned Miss Darl
was bent over rose.
She left Edgemere by the next train
Bert remained for a week vainly try
ing to give some comfort to the par
ents he SO grossly deceived. then weni