The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-06-28
A SUBSTITUTE CHApEROn
BY FANNY kENDERpINE.

egram to Mrs. Ramsey. She regard
ed it 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 goth
-tomorrow--to make me the long
promised visit. ! 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 chaperon for the remain
der of the week. and then we'll come
home and help entertain Mrs. Kilt
redge,o urged Katharine.
There's no one in town Of whom
would ask such favor. but there Ia
my cousin, Algernon Nudge"
Algernon Mudgel
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 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 a tall, big-framed young
man. smartly arrayed In most fieck
less clothes.
The young man bowed profoundly
Il am here" he said pleasantly.
"You-you are mistaken" said
Rosalind haughtily. I'VE are looking
for our cousin. Mr.. Nudge"
Il am Algernpn Nudge" insisted
t,Io rd
table. my father is laid up with
an attack OF rheumatic gout and no
sent meas sort OF substitute
chaperon. Hope you don't mind"
Katharine looked appealingly At
her elder sister.
1--WE didn't know that Cousin Alger.
non had son. confessed Rosalind.
we thought he was childless wild
over. But we are glad to see you,
Cousin Algernon; but we were sur.
prised."
"No wonder said Algernon, shak.
Ing hands vigorously. Expecting
neat little chaperon like dad. and find
ing mel"
TIN sorry. but I'm afraid you won't
do sighed Rosalind.
"Ch, botherl" said young Algernon.
Let me take you about bit. How
long have you been here?"
Arrived last night" announced
Rosalind, tragically.
Say. that's bad luck. isn't 1t?
Ever been here before?"
mo; we live in Boston. and It
hasn't seemed-seemed necessary
went on Rosalind. "But now we are
here there are so many things we
wanted to see just common everyday
sights that you will laugh at"
The girls went away with Alger-
non Nudge and from the moment
they mounted to the roof Of Fifth
avenue bus until hours afterward
they we're set down at Che Nudge
home In Washington square, they fer
got everything save that they were
seeing things about which they had
read and talked for years.
And Algernon Nudge, senior, sort
of balanced matters by proving to be
exactly as they had pictured him
save that he was the most charming
and delightful OF hosts.
''I didn't want to disappoint you
mother. my dears," he said patting
their hands; so / just sent my big
boy along. Algie works too hard
anyway. A little play will do nc
harm"
-.A
After dinner Jack Kenyon. friend
Of Algie. dropped in and Cousin AL
gernon insisted upon music. And
the next day there were four who
set forth upon adventure in Man
haitian.
1t was double wedding the fol.
lowing October.
After Katharine and Algie and Ro.
salind and Jack had left the house.
Mrs. Ramsey looked at Cousin Alger.
non Nudge, who beamed back at her
through his goggles.
''I--I'm afraid you're an irrespon-
sible chaperon,' sighed Mrs. Ramsey.
Through you I've lost both my
girls!"
Cousin Algernon squeezed her haInl
gently.