The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-25
A SHORT STORY.


War had waged long and loudly be
tween Maysie Densmore and her mother.
and at length, after what Maysie irrever-
emily termed the Crusade Of the Chap
eron" had been fought until neither OF
the combatants had the necessary breath
or temper 10 continue il, Maysie gave
her ulumatum and hoisted her flag OF
independence.
Il am twenty-six, mother. sid l am
tired OF being continually ridden on the
curb" she said. with an angry light in
her eyes. IT take the bit between my
teeth and bolt, you will have 10 one but
yourself TO thank for it,"
What do you mean. child?'' returned
Mrs. Densmore GROSSLY. u wish you
would not derive your SMILES from the
stable"
do you?" said Maysie indinerently.
well. now, am going to derive my
pleasure from there also. have taken
little cottage in the Bicester country, and
1 am going there with my three horses.
and shall take Brown TO look after them,
and Clarice 10 look after me. II / get
smashed I'D, Brown will wire to you. and
YOU know you viii enjoy a few weeks
with some nice friend who will not con-
tinuauy upset and annoy you as l seem
to do"
'Maysie. I cannot countenance this
iIlad sc1o...e," said Mrs Densmore indig
nantly.
The chaperon on the warpath again."
murnured Maysie TO herself Turning TO
her mother, she said quietly: 1T is all
settled, mother; I go to Rosemary Cot
tage next week" Then she added a lit
tie wistfuUy. Il wish We got on better
l do love you dearly. only-well. 1 think
we are better friends apart.
"YOu are an ungTateful girl, Maysie,
said her mother, ignoring the appeal in
her daughters voice. IF harm comes Of
your Willfulness, do not blame me" And
having freed herself from responsibility
and obtained the last word said to be so
dear TO the feminine heart. she sailed
majesucany from the room.
These two had never been able 10 go
through life quietly together Mrs Dens-
more was cold and selfish, and had nag
ged at her easy-going Irish husband I'M
til he had closed his tired eyes with
sense Of relief on a disappointing world
Then she continued the same system of
everlasting faUlt-hnding with her daugh-
ter. and the girl, who inherited her faith
er's ,7arm-hearted, impulsive nature in
addition TO his curly black hair and blue
eyes. was sometimes nearly distracted
between her desire to be good to her
mother and to have a cessation of the
friction which was spelling her life.
She had money of her own. and now
she had decided upon what she fancied
was a happy compromise She would
have few weeks Of real freedom and
enjoyment at Rosemary Cottage and
would then return 10 Portland Place re-
freshed by her respite and would take up
the threads of her life where she had
dropped them
At the end OF the week Maysie found
herself with. a delicious thrill OF excite
ment. entering into possession of the
dainty little huntingdon. Everything
seemed delightful. and the cook and
housemaid. who had been left at the
house. welcomed her with smiling faces.
The people who lived nj the Hail. Mr.
and Mrs Hilston, were friends, more of
her mothers than herself, and Maysie
did not particularly want TO renew the
acquaintance; but when she was out the
following morning she met the two Miss
Hilstons.
They were sedate. conventional girls.
and Maysie felt instinctively that they
would regard her appearance. on the
scenes without a chaperon as positively
improper. She hoped that there would
be no necessity 10 allude to her absent
parent. hut May Hilston began at once:
How Is your dear mother, and how
does she Ike being here?"
'She has hardly tried il vet" said
Maysie, with rising color.
No, OF course" put in Kitty Hilston.
you have only just come Mamma
would so much like to call on Mrs. .Jens-
more; when shall we find her in?"
wen. just now am afraid YOU could
not see her" said Maysie feverishly.
You see, she-she has neura lgia and so
she doesn't go out or see visitors
The HilstOns expressed their regret and
begged Maysie to come up to tea that