News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-10-07

arms akimbo. She looked not at her
neighbor, however, but at her neigh
boris coat.
I'm afraid not" she answered.
"Why not, Mrs. Collinsl" Jane ex-
claimed. You're the only chaperon
I've got Surely you're not going to
forsake me?"
James neighbor, for all her crudi-
ties, was not without sense of hui
NOR or the means of expressing it..
And James rapid progression in modes
Of dress and amusement had begun to
rankle. There was just perception
of a curl to her rather pretty mouth
as she asked:
Are you sure that you need chap
eron now?"
Jane flushed. She could not mistake
the others meaning,
"Why, Mrs. Collins" she exclaimed
"You know wouldn't go out with Mr.
Brand alone. And you know, too, that
he comes here on business. He's just
as anxious to have you along as
am"
rs he?"
"Why certainly"
"Well, | feel better now. I guess
l hadn't noticed it. But just the same,
dearie, | don't believe l can go with
you. I'll be frank. You're getting to
be too fine a bird for me. l mean the
clothes"
Nonsense, Mrs. Collins. I haven't
any more than you, only I've been get
ting mine all at once. Why, l used to
feel awfully ashamed of myself when
l went out with you"
81 know" her neighbor agreed, "but
it's different now Look at that coat.
Won't l look great in that car with
you and your millionaire"
Jane snapped her up.
Mrs Collins!" she exclaimed.
whatever you do or don't do, please
don't talk to me that way. My mil
lionaire.' You simply mustn't say
such things. l won't have it, that's
ALL"
well, dearie, if we're going to quar-
rel l think I'll be going. Only don't
be foolish. l didn't mean you owned
Brand or that he owned you. l have
a good time myself now and then and
nobody knows better than l do that If
q woman's careful she can play with
fire and not burn even little finger"
"But ! tell you, you've got the
wrong idea," Jane retorted. "Mr.
Brand and l have a certain business
my word for it who will? l can't ex-
plain what it is ct present, but if it
goes through, Mrs. Collins, it'll help
Bob more than you have any idea. It's
a big thing"
at must be-" the neighbor agreed.
ut takes long enough to close it,"
"But you'll so with us today, won't
your" Jane coaxed. Perhaps this
will be the last time"
She knew that she spoke the truth,
too. She had nothing to offer Brand |
now but one desperate move and this |
she had determined to make, if neces- |!
sary. II Bob was so blinded to her |
advice and preferred his business opin- |
ions to her love, he could keep his |
opinions and his terrific sense of hon.
esty and lose her. Jane had reached |
this conviction after the scene with |
her husband on his return. She con-
nothing that would COM
promise herself or her husband She !
had merely decided on a separation as
a last resort to bring him to his senses,
and if this failed-if he would not
cross the chasm and come to her
we'll, they would see then who was the
stronger.
PROFESSIONALLY she must see Brand
.oday. 1t was only fair to him to let
him know that she had made no prog
'ess as his agent; that apparently the
conspiracy" was a failure. So she
must mollify her chaperon at any cost
please come with US today, Mrs
Collins" she coaXed again. "I'll feel
awfully obliged to you and if it's just
he coat you're worrying about you
ian wear it. We're just the same
height. Mr.. Brand'll think it's yours"
Tut, tut, child" Mrs. Collins replied
There's no use wasting
inc feathers on such an old bird as
ne. 1t isn't only the coat I'm think
ng about I've been in the back of
hat motor car, playing plain goose
berry ever since you've been going
'ut with Mr. Brand; and in front you
md him whispered about something l
knew nothing about. Oh, it's been
mighty thrilling, can tell you"
But you've enjoyed the rides,
haven't your"
MY goodness, yes. I've had little
more fresh air and l guess that's the
staff of life over here. But don't
worry, dearie, was young myself
'nce and | might have wanted some
'ne to do the same for me-"
Then run along and get ready"
lane urged, for she saw that her
leighbor persisted in her interpreta-
Ion of the cause of the outings and
the uselessness of denial.
Mrs. Collins, having succumbed to
lanes entreaties, now attributed her
20 |