The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-09-22
CHAPTER l.
just q Hint Of Scandal.

Ju0e q 6lnv OF INC
Georgy Wagstnff sauntered into Miss
/ Ethel Wllloughby's sitting room. at
fred in the daintiest and fullest Of
summer costumes. Georgy was the
daughter of Sir George Wagstaff Of
the British admiralty. She found the
room deserted, except for her fathers
admirable butler, who was at the mo-
ment in the act of placing a tea-tray
upon Miss Willoughby's table.
"Oh. Brewster-is Miss Willoughby
in?" she inquired.
The correct Brewster Immediately
straightened himself up in his best
manner
mo, miss! l think not" he replied.
Georgy stralled to the window.
II dare say Ethelll be here directly"
she said-to herself as much as to the
butler. "I'll wait"
Eyes, MISS" Brewster acquiesced.
And with a bow Of the utmost cor
rectness he went out, closing the doors
softly behind him.
Georgy Wagstaf stood idly looking
out Of the window upon the view Of
the Thames. 1t was an August after
noon and the river shimmered allur-
ingly in the slanting sunlight. But
Ethel had asked her to meet a few
friends; and Georgy was fond enough
Of Miss Willoughby not to be repent
ant for having fOregone the delights
OF a perfect summer evening out Of
doors. AS she stood there in the win
dow her governess entered.
"Oh! Hello, Georgy! Am I late or
are you earlyY Miss Willoughby called
as she saw that II of her guests was
already waiting.
"Both" said Georgy with a smile.
~ did want two minutes with you be-
fore the Others came. May I bother
you now"
"Of coursew the older girl replied.
"But it's no bother" she assured her.
She sat down on one end of a long
settee and began to remove her gloves
whereupon her younger charge perched
herself at the other end Of the seat
and regarded her a%dmiringly. Miss
Willoughby's fair hair had just the
hint Of red in 1t that was at the same
time Georges despair and delight
And Ethel was far enough past the
schoolgirl age to have lost that angu'
larity which Georgy still possessed
and loathed. AS for coloring, they
both showed the healthy glow which
Is the distinguishing mark Of young
Englishwomen Of the upper class.
"You see," said Georgy, "I'm afrait
I'm going to be awfully presumptu
GUS"
"Nonsensew Ethel interrupted. "Yor
couldn't be that when you and you
father have been so very good to me
Come on! Out with It"
1t was true that Ethel Willoughby
felt that she was deeply in the deb
Of the Wagstaffs-both father ant
daughter. Before entering their house
hold as Georges governess she hat
known them upon a footing of socia
equality. But fortune had frownet
upon her. And when circumstance
had become most pressing Sir Georg'
had come to her relief with the pro
posal that she undertake the guidance
of his somewhat difficult daughter. 1
was not that Georgy was greatly DIFF
ferent from other girls Of the impress
sionable age. But Sir Georges publ
duties left him little time to devote II
the upbringing of his motherless child
And it had struck him that Ethe
WiIloughby was a person who at tn
same time would be able to sympathiz
with Georges impulses and dlrec
them into the proper channels.
"What's on your mind, Georgy?
Miss Willoughby asked again, as tn
girl still hesitated.
"It's about your past" Georgy be
gan in deadly seriousness.
Ethel laughed at her tragic manner
"Have Ia pasta" she inquiries
lightly.
But the romantic Georgy was no
to be diverted from her mood.
"That's just the question:" she con
mented. "You know / shouldn't min
It in the least if you had. l believ
in people living their W lives,
their W way" Georgy prided hel
self that she was advanced" sh
considered the ordinary insular att
tude toward what Is termed moralit
to be stodgy and Victorian. Indeed
she quite fancied the more free-anc
easy continental view Of life.
what on earth are you talkin
aboutY" Ethel demanded. II the trut
,WoeU known. she felt the least DIT III