The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-18
Milcent's Masquerade
BY MARTHA McCuLLoCH- WILLIAMS
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary Press.


mer rainstorm, Fate hid for Micent Ware "a smif-
Ing face. She stood In the uncertain shelter Of
roadside elm. trying vainy to shield her hat with
ridiculous paraso and specializing what chance had
such object she knew she looked of getting the
place she sought.
To be exact, the place that OF nursery govern
in the Astyne family--the agency had her
the barest long chance. Because she needed work
desperately, also because the morning had prom
ised fairly, she had put her modest best--her'
white linen suit, u-trimmed patent leather
ties
She had been pardonably proud of herself she
stepped from train the station. There
nobody to meet her, and her purse forbade even
suburban cab fare, Armed with confused directions
and the rash confidence of youth she had set out on
foot for Overhil the Astyne piace-and this was tho
result
: 'Hopelessly drabbled. she said half aloud looking
herself up and down she spoke. And at least
half mile to go II this rain ever holds up Hegho!
II everybody be rich, why is anybody permitted 10
Az though answering the question an auto a big
limousine, dashed out of track the hard
wide roadway-and in making turn skidded. fetch
ing up at last less than two feet Micent, but
not until it had splashed her almost from head to
foot. The muddy puddle which had helped TO stay
her least four inches deep. She had shrunk
back, but too late-even the tip of her nose had a
brown drop on it. OF course. the machine would go
past her How ever would she get back TO town!
"Oh, I'm sorry!" girls voice said The
was, with the same cleft chin straight nose and
yellow hair. The voice. too seemed Tier own as 1t
went on eagerly:
Get in You must. shall you home with
There bubhiing laugh after the last words
Mnicent in, and whisked forward. hardly
| Two hours later she was pinching herself to de-
termine This, although she sat at late luncheon in
a fine country house clothed in fine alien garments.
eating strange things Her double opposite her.
smiling soft coa1ing smiles. and saying every little
You viii! That's. darling. I'll love forever
and overland 1t cart be half bad, matter how
BIT out. being goyernessthose Astyne chil-
dreD are young savages."
l. Two days later, still dazed. but fun OF inward
chucklings she was welcomed by an elderly couple
as their dear grand niece. Lily Haughton They
were childiess but had granddaughter for company.
AS though he did not know how to laugh 80.
Arden Gloster" Lily Haughson had explained to Mill
Lily orphan and heiress. by nature lawless. by
bringing up much oppressed had been due to visit
me kinfok she had not seen since childhood when
her heart upon another excursion.
"Yon need work-I've.sot a perfectly good check~
it all the ADAM she had said. You can have
any money you want TO stay my six weeks there.
Arden Gloster IL to make love TO you--he
thinks 1t beneath him to do such things He thinks
too he Is going to marry me. when ne, nes sooa ana
Milioent had AT first secuted the idea-then all as
once fallen with 1t ardently she needed rest
in six weeks the would be almost over--the
Portable until she found work in the theatres she
| had spent her small Inheritance upon course at
the dramatic school-governessing had been only a.
stop-sap
much alike Arden won't know the difference
when
she said And I shall never, never go % Genville-
and shall go somewhere else and be heavenly happy
had such a chance before DO help take IT."
Life went easily at Glenvile. Milicent biissful
walked with the old folk sutng herself 10 their needs
and tempers Consequently they grew 50 fond OF her
She gave hardly a thought to young Gioster-he
writing book upon political corruption and
spent of his time In the room three stories
But Madame Haughton was fun of talk about him
!
upon him She delicate do more than
incompatible diamonds destined for .Arden's Wife
She made costly gifts to MIcen.-gifts i was I'm.
| cent took them feeling like thief. saving hep
LIN Ru. she could never pass on the loving thought
which enveloped her. and made her pine to confess
/ At last two things happened: Arden finished his
book. and began ardent love-making The process
but fascinating. Micent had hau experience OF the
great game in the course Of her TWENTY-FIVE years.
! He came to her after a fortnight's playing in the
4 adorable old garden that seemed made for lovers.
i such PITY, he said gently. taking both her
i hands. I'VE can't have a bit OF true
I'm don't know what you meant" Milicent
7 retorted, trying to free her hands.
n.y. aon pa s0m that by loving
I Let my hands! I-I-won't listen.' Miiicent
/ He caught her in his sarms--there his breast
she told him everything. ending abjec.iy Please.
/ They have been good to me I can't bear to sec
j their full OF cont mpt"
/ But must tell them" Arden protested And at
once! Foolish little girl do think shall let you
| go. no matter what yolr name is7
|
tits like a fairy tae canae trua," Lily the rea,
Lily, said three weeks later. but she nd longer
Lily Haughton. She had come to Glenvtlle In convoy
| OF her new husband. jimmy Page. artist.
i Jimmy held out against me until he what
| cook was In camp" Lily 1--WE been trying
| far year make him propose-now all OF us win
i live happy after.
i
| & The I<lycnsteins
i The Durham Herald thinks that II the lawyer Love
j enstetn who indicted last week for embexzle.
/ ment had had his dues. he would have been In the
| hands OF the law long ago. This reminds that
i there are bars in North Carolina. anywhere
else that matter NOT afflicted with shysers this
| ,trtpe and yet. strange to say. those members Of
/ the profession wbald under any crcum-
stances violate professional ethic rarely put the
stamp Of oeial upon the conduct q the