Smyrna times., 1909-01-06
My Lady
And Perkins.
By c. B. LEWIS.
Copyrighted, 1907. by Associated
Literary Press.


deaf. She was rheumatic. and she hac
a slight stoop and somewhat of an un-
certain gait But for the vigilance of
her maid. Perkins. she would have |
looked every month of her age and |
passed for the old woman she was.
1t was Perkins who skillfully padded |
her gowns and applied the dainty pink |
ard white complexion and who gave
her daily lessons in the art Of remain |
ing young woman.
1t was Perkins who had told her for
the last dozen years that she looked
under forty and who made each birth
day count one less instead of one more.
In her way. and it was good way,
Perkins was jewel of the first water
My lady had wealth. When, at the
age of forty. she had married again,
only to become widow for the second
time within three years. her cash in
come had been largely added to.
At fifty third ardent suitor APP
peared, but my lady decided to pre-
serve her widowhood and retain con-
troll of her money. At sixty she had
herself and she had Perkins. Five
years previously. when the woman had
come to her. she had said: m
Perkins, l am frivolous thing Of
thirty-five"
"Yes'm," replied Perkins as she men
tally added twenty years to the figures.
Il am frivolous. but not quite fool"
Nom"
"And l want you to help me from be-
coming one"
Certainly. MN"
"If 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, MN"
SHOULD | really fall in love, Perkins
should i be so giddy and frivolous
and foolish as to think of marriage,
put both feet down and bring me to
my senses ere it is too late. That's all
this evening, Perkins,
Thus Perkins became lady's maid,
chaperon and adviser combined. She
was the keeper of the keys and the
watchdog of the treasury. She was a
good judge of human character and a
close estimator of how far a Irritation
could go aud still come under the head
of harmless.
On several occasions, when things
had gone their limit, she had announc
ed the fact. and my lady had turned
her back on the affair.
1t was one season at Nice when
things went wrong Perkins was find
ing it hard work to keep the wrinkles
rubbed away. My lady was beginning
to notice her own stoop and limp, anC
she was almost ready to acknowledge
that she felt all of forty eight and ;
few minutes over.
Count Dubois made his appearance,
at this Opportune moment He was
real French count. if that was wortl
anything. He was also a spendthrif
and a gambler. He had about reache,
the end of his tether when he go
around to Nice on tour of adventur
and ran across my lady and he
friends.
His reputation soon caught up wit
him, but in Europe a title excuse
much. There was almost at once a
open Irritation between my lady an
the count, and for a time the Argu
eyed Perkins watched it and said nott
ing.
However, when Mrs. Grundy had b.
gun to nod and wink and whisper b,
hind her fan, she took my lady
hand. On all previous occasions IL
dear old thing had heaved sigh {
two. shrugged her shoulders and SUI
mltted to the inevitable. but on tn
occasion, to Perkins great surpris
she proved obdurate.
perkins. l am surely in love-" 81
replied.
But you can't be. You are too-t'
young"
"But | know that am in love. ~
! shall marry the count, poor boy"
Perkins came back at her wi
enough statistics to swamp the cha
acters of three or four adventures
but my lady had made up her mil
and nothing could move her Perki
knew when to argue and when to CO
ceal herself behind the pOrtieres.
Before the count left the parlOrs ne
day she was in possession of all need
particulars. There was to be yacl
ing party of a dozen friends, and dl
ing the trip the engagement would
annOunced-twO weeks later a nj
riege and honeymoon trip.
The yacht would not make the h
bor until late hour in the event.
and the count would call for my la
in carriage. He further threw ou
suggestion. 1t was that Perkins
locked in her room at a certain hour
prevent her wandering about Nice d
ing the evening hours and getting
or falling off the quay.
Human jewels such as she had b'
known to disappear off the face of
earth while innocently taking the nj
air of that charming resort
"But Perkins won't be advertised
as a lost Jewell" said Perkins to