The Irish standard., 1912-12-21
things out OF the way, TOO, Celeste"
Eyes, Madame"

And bring my chocolate at half
after eight in the morning. It is quite
possible that We shall sail tomorrow
night from Port Said. II not from
there, from Alexandria. It all depends
upon the booking, which can not be
very heavy going west this time of
year.
"As madame knows" came from the
depth Of the cavernous trunk. Celeste
was no longer surprised; at least she
never evinced this emotion. For
twelve years now she had gone from
one end Of the globe to the other, upon
the shortest notice. While surprise
was lost to her or under such con.
troll as to render 1t negligible, she still
shivered with pleasurable excitement
at the thought Of entering port.
Madame was 80 clever, so transcen.
IDENTIFY clever! II she, Celeste, had
not been loyal, she might have retired
long ago, and owned a shop Of her
own in the busy Rue de RivoM. But
that would have meant humdrum ex.
fstence; and besides, she woul& have
grown fat, which, of the seven hor.
rors confronting woman. so madame
said, was first in number.
BE very careful how you handle
that blue ball-gown."
"Oh, Madame!" reproachfully.
1T Is the, silver braid. Do not
press the rosettes too harshly."
Celeste looked up. Mrs. Chedsoye
n q In v{,i-
thin smile.
"You are wonderful, Madame!"
"And so are you, Celeste, in your
way"
At ten o'clock Mrs. Chedsoye was
ready for her pillow. She slept fit
fully; awoke at eleven and again at
twelve. After that she knew nothing
more till the maid reused her with
the cup of chocolate. She sat up and
slipped slowly. Celeste waited at the
bedside with the tray. Her admira-
ton for her mistress never waned.
Mrs. Chedsoye was just as beautiful
IN dishabille as in ball-gown. She
drained the cup, and as she turned
to replace it upon. the tray dropped
1t with clatter, startled cry coming
from her lips.
Madame"
fortunes bed!"
1t had not been slept in. The
steamer-cloak lay across the counter
pane exactly where Celeste herself
had laid 1t the night before. Mrs.
Chedsoye sprang out Of her bed and
ran barefoot to the other. Fortune
had not been in the room since dinner.
time.
Celeste, dress me as quickly as
possible. Hurry! Something has
happened to Fortune"
Never. in all her years of servtts.
could she recollect such toilet as
madame made that morning. And
never before had she shown such con.
Germ over her daughter. It was amaz-
Ing!
THE little fooli The little foolI"
Mrs. Chedsoye repeatedly murmured
as the nimble fingers of the maid flew
over her. "rhe silly little fool; and
at a time like this!" Not that re-
morse Of any kind stirred Mrs. Ched.
soye's conscience; she was simply ex-
tremely annoyed.
She fastened out into the corridor
and knocked at the door of her broth.
er's room. No answer. She flew
downstairs. and there she saw him
coming in from the street. He greet
ed her cheerily. '1
TITS all right, Kate; plenty Of room
on the Ludwig. We shall take the aft
ernoon train for Port Said. She sails
at dawn tomorrow instead of to-
night. What's up?" suddenly
noticing his sisters face.
fortune did not return to her room
last night"
what? Where do you suppose the
little fool went, them"
They both seemed to look upon For.
tune as little fool.
Yesterday she threatened to run
away"
Run away? Kate, be sensible.
How the deuce could she run away?
She hasn't penny. It takes money
to go anywhere over here. She has
probably found some girl friend, and
has spent the night with her. Well
soon find out where she is." The Ma
jor wasn't worried.
"Have you seen Horace?" with dis
cernible anxiety.
mo. didn't wait up for him. He's
sleeping off night Of 1t. You know
his falling"
Find out II he is in his room. Go
to the porter's bureau and inquire for
both him and Jones'"
The Major, perceiving that his sister
was genuinely alarmed, rushed over
to the bureau. No, neither Mr.. Ry-
anne nor Mr.. Jones had been in the
hotel since yesterday. Would the por-
ter send some one up to the rooms
Of those gentlemen to make sure? Ger.
tainly. No; there was no one in the
rooms. The Major was now himself
perturbed. He went back to Mrs.
Chedsoye.
S.D