The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-09-01
CHAPTE |.
Just a Hint of Scandal.

Just a Hint OF Scandal.
C;eorgy Wagstatf sauntered into Miss
Ethel WiIioughby's sitting room. at
tired 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 butter, who was at the mo-
ment in the act of placing tea-tray
upon Miss Willoughby's table.
ooh, Brewster-is Miss Willoughby
IMP she inquired.
The correct Brewster Immediately
Strengthened himself up in his best
manner.
"No. miss! I think not" he replied.
Georgy strolled to the window.
II dare say Ethel'll be here directly"
she said-to herself as much as to the
butler. "I'ii wait"
Eyes. MISS" Brewster acquiesced.
And with q bow OF the utmost cor
rectness he went out, closing the doors
softly behind him.
Georgy Wagstaff stood idly looking
out OF the window upon the view of
2
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 Wilioughby 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.
3 -'Oh! Hello. Georgy! Am l late or
are you early?" Miss willoughby called
as she saw that one OF her guests was
already waiting.
''Bothr' said Georgy with a smile.
'"I did want two minutes with you be-
fore the others came. May l bother
you Iow?"
'Of courser' the older girl replied.
-But it's no bother" she assured her.
She sat down on one end of long
settce and began to remove her gloves:
Vhereupon her younger charge perched
herself at the other end of the seat
and regarded her admiringly. Miss
Willoughby's fair hair had just the
hint OF red in II that was at the same
time Georges despair and delight.
And Ethel was far enough past tho
schoolgirl age to have lost that angu
iarity 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 afraid
I'm going to be awfully presumptu-
GUS
'Nonsensev' Ethel interrupted. you
couldn't be that when you and your
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 debt
of the Wagstaffs-both father and
daughter. Before entering their house
hold as Georges governess she had
known them upon a footing of social
equality. But fortune had frowned
upon her And when circumstances
had become most pressing Sir George
had come to her relief with the pro-
posal that she undertake the guidance
OF his somewhat difficult daughter. 1t
was not that Georgy was greatly diff
fercnt from other girls Of the impress
sionablc age. But Sir Georges public
duties left him little time to devote to
the upbrlnging of his motherless chilG'
And II had struck him that Ethel
Willoughby was n person who Mt the
same time would be able 10 sympathlze
with Georges impulses and direct
them into the proper chunnels
whats on your mind, Georgy?"
Miss WiIoughby asked again, as the
girl still hesitated.
"It's about your past" Georgy be-
gan in deadly seriousness.
Ethel laughed at her tragic manner
-Have Ia pastT she inquired
lightly.
But the romantic Georgy was not
TO be diverted from Ter mood.
That's just the question" she com
mented. "You know shouldn't mind
II I'm the least IL you had. 1 believe
in people living their own lives. in
their own way" Georgy prided her.
self that she was advanced" She
considered the ordinary insular atti-
tudc toward wha1 n termed morality
TO be s.odgy and Victorian. Indeed
.shc quite fancied the more free-and-
easy continental view % life.
what on earth are you talking
abouty" Ethel demanded. II the truth
were tnown. she felt the least bit un-