The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-09-15
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
MY LADY AND PERKINS.
BY G.. b. Lewis

.oHS H"u hSdSueU the age or 60
Sne ana become nearsighted and a
bit deaf. She was Rheumatic. and She
had slight stoop and somewhat of
an uncertain gait. But for the vigi-
lance of her maid, Perkins, she wonld
nave looked every month of her age
and passed for the old woman she
was.
IL was Perkins who had told her for
the last dozen years that she looked
under 40, and who made each birth
day count one less instead of one more
In her way, and it was a good way
Perkins was a jewel of the first water
My Lady had wealth. When at the
age OF 40, she had married again. only
10 become widow for the second time
WITHIN three years, her cash income
had been largely added to.
AT so a third arden sutton appeared
out MY Lady decided to preserve her
Widowhood and retain control of her
money. AT GO she had herself and
she had Perkins.
Five years previously, when the
woman had come to her, she said:
35." y N '"'"e u
Yesm," replied Perkins as she men
tally added 20 years to the figures.
L am frivolous, but not quite a
fool" 9
Nom"
And 1 want you to help me from
becoming one"
Certainly, m'm.'
IF you see me flirting or acting
giddy, as most young women are apt
to do at times, put your foot down and
stop it,
Il Will, NM"
Should | really fall in love. Per-
kins-should l be so giddy and frivo-
lous and foolish as to think of mar
riage, put both feet down and bring
me TO my senses ere il 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
good Judge of human character, and a
close estimator of how far a Irritation
could go and still come under the head
of harmless.
On several occasions, when things
had gone their limit, she had an
nounced 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 ii hard work to keep the wrinkles
rubbed away, My Lady was beginning
to notice her own stOop and limp, and
she was almost ready to acknowledge
that she felt all of As and a few min
utes over.
Count Dubois made his appearance
at this opportune moment. He was
real French count, if that was worth
anything. He was also a spendthrift
and gambler. He had about reached
the end of his tether when he cot
around to Nice on a tour of adventure
and ran across My Lady and her
friends.
His reputation soon caught up with
him, but in Europe a title excuses
much. There was also at once an
open Irritation between My Lady and
the count, and for a time the argus
ing.
eyed Perkins watched it and said moth
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 a sigh or two,
shrugged her shoulders and submitted
to the inevitable, but on this occasion,
to Perkins great surprise, she proved
obdurate.
IeLhlhs, dln surely III IONe' size
replied.
But you can't be. You are too
too young"
but / know that I am in love, and
/ shall marry the count, poor boy"
Perkins came back at her with
enough statistics to swamp the char
acters of three or four adventures, but
Ny Lady had made up her mind and
nothing could move her. Perkins
knew when to argue and when to con-
ceal herself behind the portieres.