The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-30
4 SUBSTITUTE CnAPEROH
BY FANNY KENDERpINE.

ptA SyheA~'' |
A bellboy had just brought the tel
egram to Mrs. Ramsey. She regard
ed 1t with vexed resignation.
Girls" she said, addressing her
pretty daughters. you must go home
with me. Mrs. Kittredge wires me
that she will be in Boston on the 20th
-tomorrow-to make me the long
promised visit. l must be there to
greet her" Her tone was final.
"But, mother" objected Katharine
why can't you write Mrs. Kittredge
and tell her to visit us here in New
York? We can have heaps more
fun"
There is no reason why we should
not remain until after the Beasley con- |
cert" began Rosalind, but the look
on her mothers face checked her
words.
"Unchaperoned?" asked Mrs. Ram
sey, in horror.
Find us a chaperon for the remain
der of the week, and then we'll come
home and help entertain Mrs. Kilt
redge," urged Katharine.
There's no one in town Of whom l
would ask such a favor, but there Is
my cousin, Algernon Nudge"
Algernon Nudge!
Visions of his portrait in an OBJ
scure corner of the library at home
assailed the mental vision Of the
girls. Cousin Algernon Nudge was
small and pale and very learned look
ing. His little moonlike face was al
most obscured by pair of huge tor
toise-shell trimmed spectacles.
Surely one would be safe with Al
gernon Nudge, their mothers second
cousin.
When they reached their sitting
room after their mother had gone,
they were confronted by a servant
bearing the card Of Mr.. Algernon
| Nudge.
All this for the benefit Of little.
near-sighted student!
| "Come!" said Katherine, and they
went down to the red parlor where
the visitor awaited them.
But the only occupant Of the red
parlor was tall, big-framed young
man, smartly arrayed in most feck-
less clothes.
The young man bowed profoundly.
Il am here" he said pleasantly.
"You-you are mistaken" said
Rosalind haughtily. 1--WE are looking
for our cousin, Mr.. Nudge"
II am Algernon Nudge" insisted
the youth, placing card on the
table. my father is laid up with
an attack of rheumatic govt and he
sent meas a sort Of substitute
chaperon. I-hope you don't mind"
Katharine looked appealingly at
her elder sister.
1--WE didn't know that Cousin Alger'
non had a son. confessed Rosalind
I'VE thought he was childless wild
over. But we are glad to see you
Cousin Algernon; but we were sur
prised."
mo WONDER" said Algernon, shak
ing hands vigorously. Expecting 9
neat little chaperon like dad, and find
, ing mel"
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you won't
, d." sighed Rosalind.
"Oh, bother!" said young Algernon
Let me take you about bit. How
! long have you been here?"
3 Arrived last night" announced
}. Rosalind, tragically.
SAY. that's bad luck, isn't It
Z Ever been here before?"
I mo; we live in Boston, and l
z hasn't seemed-seemed necessary,
r went on Rosalind. But now we ar
r here there are so many things w
/. wanted to see; just common everyda,
e sights that you will laugh at"
The girls went away with Algel
4 non Nudge and from the momen
n they mounted to the roof Of a FIT
a avenue bus until hours afterwar
A they were set down at the Mudg
home in Washington square, they fol
). got everything save that they wer
seeing things about which they ha
4 read and talked for years.
e And Algernon Nudge. senior, sol
II Of balanced matters by proving to b
exactly as they had pictured him
r. save that he was the most charmin
and delightful Of hosts.
o II didn't want to disappoint you
n mother. my dears." he said pattin
their hands; 80 just sent my bi
r. boy along Algie works too har
a anyway. A little play will do q
10 harm"
:. After dinner Jack Kenyon. a frien
"a Of Algie, dropped in and Cousin A
IN gernon insisted upon music. An
- the next day there were four wi
~ set forth upon adventure in Ma
n. haitian.
It was q double wedding the Il
=. lowing October.
:. After Katharine and Algie and r
-, salind and Jack had left the hous
:. Mrs. Ramsey looked at Cousin Alge
=. non Nudge, who beamed back at b.
:. through his goggles.
- "I-rmr afraid you're. an irrespo
i, sible chaperon." sighed Mrs. Ramse
n Through you I've lost both u
~ sirls!"
ne Cousin Algernon squeezed her ha,
ns gently.
ny "A reliable chaperon usually q
," ranges q desirable marriage"
limited, land, remember. Sally. tn
so am alone. too-and, well-f '
gu had met years ago we would ha'