Charlevoix county herald., 1913-11-01


ring.
so" thought the girl, 81 have
a name, clearly a case OF mis-
taken identity"
Yes, madam" replied the SER
Nant-and disappeared returning
shortly With wine and crarfe ls
which Madam Hospitality arSeT up
on her guest.
Il am surprised said Madam.
when they were again alone, in
her tones of honeyed sweetness,
"tAat you should have found it
necessary to seek my assistance
whom Nature has so lavishly en-
dowed.' glancing admiringly at
our friends charming face and no
less charming figure-"But one can
never tell; il is all mystery I'M
less one has made study of it as
have. And l find from my
years of experience that the chief
reason that SO many girls fail TO
attain to that state of bliss which
is the right of every woman, is
the lack of proper chaperonage.
Not that you are not carefully
looked out for, my dear--oh,. Ger
tainly not! But chaperone who
has your interests at heart, who
studies your nature and its needs
and keeps that object ever in view,
is a rarity, unless that is her life
work. Such a chaperone as that,
aim to be, and think have attain
ed my object since every mail
brings to me letters from my
grateful girls, telling me Of their
happiness and thanking me for
making such happiness possible.
All, surely, mine is a blessed avo-
cation!" said Madam.
Perhaps you have heard some
thing of my story" she continued,
"how during my dear husband s
lifetime l had no wish unqualified
but a series of unfortunate in
vestments swept his great fortune
away in a night; his death follow
ed soon after and was left alone
and penniless. | must do some
what? Fate answered
the question and l became a chape-
rome to girls Who-er-lacked suffi-
cient personal magnetism to effect
their own settlement in life. A
position for which my natural ahil-
tiles and wide social acquaintance
fitted me. l would that
| might do it for love of human
ity alone, but when one is poor"
ian expressive shrug completed
her sentence and a glance around
the apartment, which certainly
no signs of bitter pow
erty.
"You are in the habit then of re-
ceiving a fee for your services?"
inquired her listener.
IA fee, if you wish to call it by
such a sordid name; for myself |
usually speak of it as a present,
for what is a paltry thousand in
return for lifelong happiness?
from your note that
you put yourself under my charge
"Yes," replied sydney, who had
resolved to see the thing through.
From Madam's manner something
more was evidently expected of
her, but not knowing what it was
she kept silence. Seeing this, Ma
dame gave her to understand that
at this stage of the proceedings
il was customary to make de-
post of half the fee as a token
of good will.
II am very sorry she said, that
| have not that amount with me,
but | can send it to you tomor-
row." Then seeing Madam hesi-
tate, while an unpleasant light APP
peared in her eyes, "or / can leave
one of my rings with you for a
surety.
Madam demurred, but Sydney
pressed it upon her, seeing clear
ly that she would hear no more |
otherwise.
This settled, Madam led her
guest into a smaller room the |
door of which she carefully closed
and locked. She then addressed |
her in tones which had lost much |
Of their sweetness aud were in
stead quite solemn.
at is necessary" said she, "for
the success of this undertaking |
that you give me your word that
nothing which passes between US