Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
THE GOLDEN SLIPPER

tunity that offered of running over the
facts given her by Mr.. Driscoll, to see
if any reconciiement were possible be-
tween them and an innocence in which
she must henceforth believe.
They were certainly of a most dam
aging nature.
Miss Driscoll and four other young
ladies of her own station in life had
formed themselves. some two years be-
fore, into coterie of five, called the In
Separates. They lunched together. rode
together, visited together. So close was
the bond and their mutual dependence
SO evident that 1t came to be the Gus
tom to invite the whole five whenever
the size of the function warranted it
In fact, 1t was far from an uncommo or
occurrence to see them grouped at re-
ceptions or following one another down
the aisles of churches OF through the
mazes of the dance at balls or assem-
blies. And no one demurred at this
for they were all handsome and at
tractive girls, till 1t began to be no
ticed that coincident with their pres
ence some article of value was found
missing from the dressing room or
We're displayed. Nothing was safe
where they went, and though. in the
course Of time, each article found its
way back to its owner in manner as
mysterious as its previous abstraction,
the scandal grew and, whether with
good reason or bad finally settled
about the person of Miss Driscoll, who
was the showiest. least pecuniarily
tempted and most dignif1ed in manner
and speech of them all.
Some instances had been given by
way Of further enlightenment. This
Is one: A theater party was in prog
ress. There were twelve in the party.
five of whom were Inseparables. In
the course of the last act another lady
in fact, their chaperon-missed her
handkerchief, an almost priceless bit
of lace Positive that she had brought
1t with her into the box, she caused
a careful search, but without the least
success Recalling certain whispers
she had heard, she noted which of the
five girls were with her in the box.
They were Miss Driscoll. Miss Hugh
son, Miss Yates and Miss Benedict.
Miss West sat in the box adjoining.
A fortnight later this handkerchief
reappeared-and where? Among the
cushions of yellow satin couch IN
her own drawing room. The lnSepara-
bles had just made their call and the
three who had sat on the couch were
Miss Driscoll, Miss Hughson and MISS
Benedict.
The next instance seemed to point
still more insistently toward the lady
already named. Miss Yates had an ex-
pensive present to buy, and the whole
five Inseparables went in an imposing
group TO Tiffany's. A tray of rings was
set before them. All examined and Gag
Miss Yates presently chose finely set
emerald. She was leading her friends
away when the clerk suddenly whis-
pered in her ear, Il miss one of the
rings" Dtsmayed beyond speech. she
turned and consulted the faces OF her
four companions. who stared back at
her with immovable serenity. But one
of them was paler than usual. and this
lady Git was Miss DriscolD held her
hands in her muff and did not offer to
take them out. Miss Yates, whose ia
Their had completed a big deal" the
week before. wheeled around upon the
clerk. "Charge it, charge 1t at it's full
value" said She Il buy both the
rings"
And in three weeks the purloined
ring came back to her, In boz OF vio-
let's, with no name attached.
The third instance was a recent ono
and had como to Mr.. DriscolPs ears d.
rectly from the lady suffering the loss
She was woman of uncompromistng
Integrity. who felt It her duty to make
known to this gentleman the following
facts: She had just left a studio recep-