The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-09-15


Yachting party Of a dozen friends.
and during the trip the engagement
would be announced. Two weeks
later a marriage and a honeymoon
trip.
The yacht would not make the har-
Dor until late hour in the evening
and the count would call for NV Lady
In carriage. He further threw out
a suggestion. 1t was that Perkins he
locked In her room at a certain hour
TO prevent her wandering about Nice
during the evening hours and getting
lost or falling on the quay.
The day on which My Lady was TO
begin her yachting trip dawned auspi-
clousiy. She had looked into her
heart. She had felt the stir and fut
ter of love and romance. She had
heard that one lady had said that she
was old enough to be the counts
grandmother.
she looked into her glass and indig-
nantly repudiated the Islander. Not a
gray hair In her head; not a wrinkle
on her face; not wabble to her knees
as she stood there and felt how good
1t was to be young again.
Even her worst enemy must have
been forced to admit that day the COM
plexion just finished by Perkins was a
three-A brand, and that the move
ments OF the old dame around the
room had all the litheness of girlhood.
After the midday lunch she became
petuIant and nervous, and finally drove
Perkins away to sit by herself. She
thus secured an interval in which TO
pack a small trunk with the things she
would need aboard the yacht.
AT the dinner hour she had the meal
served in her rooms. She ate sparing-
ly, but drank rather more than usual
or her favorite brand of wine. It is
needless to add that the bottle passed
through the hands of Perkins before
taking its place on the table.
Half an hour after dinner NV Lady
telt drowsy and retired for a nap. She
could sleep for two or three hours.
ana then have plenty of time to turn
the Key on the unsuspecting Perkins
her puns were laid aside. her com
pleXion secured against accident. and
she laid her head on the pillow and fell
asleep like tired child-or a grand
mother. However, when the count
drove up soon after 10 o'clock he
found My Lady ready and waiting. and
the drive to the quay was quickly
made.
En- route he wanted to inquire if
posing OF the wardrobe. but as his
companion seemed disinclined for con
versation, he decided to let the point
stand over until later.
Ihey went on board the yacht AT
one, and Ny Lady was handed over TO
the care or the stewardess. She might
nave inquired If the rest of the marty
ndu come aboard yet, but she didn't
She didn't seem to care.
Inc count and the captain had had
their morning cocktails. and were
hungrily awaiting the appearance of
My Lady and breakfast, wnen she sail
ed INTO the cabin after night of sIeep
broken at intervals by chuckles that
seemed TO chuckle of their own accord.
she mad smile of serenity on her
race and she sat down to the table
with a good appetite The cantain
uo1eu MS cap and made his bow. The
count started TO do the same thing. hIit
caught his breath and then yelled
Ii was Perkins-Perkins the watch
dog-Perkins the acknowledgements
she was calm. She was tranquil. She
was very much at home.
she excused the absence of Nv LADY
on the grounds of a very pressing en-
gagement. and promised, as her sub
sItute, TO enjoy every hour of the
trip so kindly planned and so auspi-
cio"sly begun.
The count cursed and raved and
'ole ms halr, the captain grlnned and
chuckled, and Perkins said she hadn't
enjoyed breakfast so much in many
moons.
Ot course the craft put back. When
Ferklns reached the hotel she found
My Lady in tears and her complexion
ruined for life.
The count left Nice the same even
ing, without having called, the captain
OF the yacht had no news for report
ers, and to this day there are not half
dozen people who can elevate their
eyebrows and look knowingly when
certain name is mentioned.
Perkins did not take advantage of
the circumstances as another might.
She simply used the incident as lever
when she wanted to cut short another
Irritation.
After she had stated her case with
the force and clearness of an attorney
at law, she would hold up a forefnger
and conclude with:
Cut it short my lady. l may not be
there next time TO doctor your wine |
and take your place, and then what
would the world say?'