Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-02-17
A Double
Deception
By EUNICE BLAKE

o'clock in the morning with a sicken-
ing sensation. She had been out ev-
cry night for week at some function,
slept the greater part of the day and
at evening prepared for the next round
Of gayety.
"Oh, how tired I am of it! / wish /
were poor. [ could then find something
to occupy me. Being rich, can't"
Miss Auchincloss lay in bed long
while thinking. then arose with a
scheme she had resolved to put III
practice. She wrote an advertisement
that a young woman recently gradual
ed from - college would like posi-
ton as governess in a family living
in the country. Within a week she
had purchased railroad ticket to Hill
ton to be inspected and was. offered
and accepted situation under the
name Of Maria Bristow.
Now, it happened that Jack Larrabee,
the son OF the lady who had engaged
the governess, when the negotiations
were in progress peeped through the
half open door and recognized per-
son he had seen and admired as one
of the most graceful dancers in the
social world He had never been pre-
scented to her and was sure that she
did not know him.
81 think l know a trick worth two
o. that" he said and got out of the
way before the applicant had seen him.
There were in the L4arrabee family.
besides Jack. Mrs. Larrabee, a widow,
| and two little daughters. There was
| chauffeur who sometimes acted as Gar
| dener. The morning after Miss Auch-
| inclOss entered upon her duties she
saw a man in overalls outside prepar
| ing the flower beds for spring use. Be
| ing fond of flowers, she went out to
| ask him some questions as to what he
was doing.
| 81 didn't know" she said, that Mrs.
Larrabee employed two men on the
place l supposed the chauffeur did
| the gardening
$50 he does. miss. but this spring
the missis has hired me-"
Miss Auchincoss asked number Of
questions about what kind of flowers
he was intending to put in, then re-
turned to the house and soon after be-
gan work with the children at their
lessons.
Now, Jack Larrabee, in order to play
gardener without being given away,
told his mother that he was tired of
the social whi4k and anxious to make
a man of hims Il. He proposed to take
the position Of gardener for a garden
ers pay, but he stipulated that he
should do so incognito. His being a
member Of the family was not to be
divulged. His sisters were not only
charged not to give the secret away,
but rewards were offered them if they
refrained from doing so.
Occasionally the chauffeur was
. bribed by Jack to plead illness, and
Jack took his place at the wheel. Jack
also at times bribed his sisters when
the time came for the afternoon ride
to do something else, thus giving him
an opportunity to make love to the
gOvernesS.
1t was not to be expected that this
tWOfold deception could be kept up in
definitely, though Miss Auchincloss
had better chance at the problem
than Mr.. Larrabee, she being some dis
lance from home. Jack by incessant
Watchfulness kept the ball a-rOlling fol-
a month, though he met with a mum
Der Of narrow escapes. He was dis
appointed, however. in not being able
to break down the barrier that Sepa
rated him from one who was supposed
to be of higher station. Miss Auch
| al Il -
posed toward him, required him at al
times to keep his distance.
One day when Jack was driving the
governess in a runabout they met two
of his friends, Ned Morgan and Char
lie Phelps. A chauffeur'S apparel is
not necessarily much different from
that of an ordinary person, and the
:. young men thought little of seeing
Jack at the wheel
Hold on, jack" cried one of them
ST wish to speak to you
Jack put on more speed. His friends
:, one of whom had recognized the socie
ty belle, Miss Auchincloss turned an(
> followed. Seeing an opportunity b.
taking a different road to meet thu
couple again. they turned and by SOM
rapid driving succeeded in their de
sign. On meeting again they signal
y ed Jack to stop and enforced his dom:
. 30 by occupying his side of the road.
Phelps greeted the governess with
e hearty Good morning. Miss Auchin
closs!' while Morgan apologized t
l. Jack for stopping him on the groun
/ that he had a message for him.
= Jack looked at Miss Auchincloss, an
u Miss Auchincloss looked at Jack, bu
neither said anything till they had go
rid of the two men. Then Jack said:
"My secret is out"
Its been out for some time
What! You have known who
am?'
ever since l came to the house
:, You may have forgotten that / dance
In the same figure with you at Mrs