The Dermott news., 1917-10-18
CHAPTER /.
lust A Hint of Scandal.


Georay Wagstaff sauntcrcd into Miss
Ethel Wilouchbys sitting room, at
.ired In the daintiest and hutiest OF
summer costumes. Georgy WIS the
daughter Of Sir George Wagstaff of
The British admiralty. She found the
room deserted. except FOR her fathers
admirabae butler WHO was ut the mo
ment in rhc act or placing tea tray
upon Miss Willoughhys table
"Oh Rrevstcr-is Miss WillouGhby
?" she inquired
The correct Brewster immediately
stra ghiened himself up in his best
manner
No miss, think not he replied.
Georgy strollcd IN the window
Il dare say Ethell be here directly"
abe said-to herself rs much IS to the
butler TIL walt"
Yes miss. Brewster aCguiesced.
And with bow ~ the utmost cor
Z eectness he went out. closing the doors
ssoftly sehsnd him
Gcnrgy wagstaG stood idly looking
sut az the window upon the view OF
the Thames II was an August after
aeon and the river shimmered allur-
ingty NJ the sauttng sunlight. But
Ethel Md asked her tn meet few
friends. and Georcv WIS fond enough
Of Miss Wiiloughby not To be repent
ant for having :orceone the delights
sf a perf>Ct summer evening out OF
doors AZ she stood there in the win
dow her governess entered.
''Oh! Hello Gcnrgy Am | late or
are yen early ?" Miss willouchhy called
as she ssN that one II her guests was
slready waiting.
Beth said GeorEy with n smile.
Il dT want two minutes with YOU be
fore the others came May | bother
you now
'Of ceursc,' the older girl replied
but It's no bother" she assured her.
She sat down on one end OF a long
settee and began In remove her gloves,
: vhereupen her younger charge perchcd
herself NJ the other end OF the seat
and regarded her admiringly Miss
Wilhnc4lhy's fair hair had just the
hint Of red In II that was at the same
time Georges despair and delight.
And Hthcl WAS far enough past the
schoolgirl age TO have lost that angu-
larity which Georgy still pos assessed
and ioa.hed As for colorIng they
both showed the healthy glow which
is the distinguishing mark OF young
English women OF the upper class
You SIZE" said G"argy. I'm afraid
I'm gons TO be awtuily presumptu-
Gus"
NONSENSE Ethel interrupted You
couldn't be that when You and your
father have been so Very good 10 me.
Come on, out with it,
Il was true that Ethel Wllloughhy
felt that size was deeply in the debt
If the Wags;ars -both father and
daughter, Before entering their house
hold as Georges governess she had
known Them upon footing OF social
equality But fortune had frowned
upon hv And when circumstances
.had hecoiae most pressing Sir George
had come to her relief with the pro-
posai tina. she undertake the guidance
.: his somewhat difficult daughter. 1t
was not that Ceorgy was greatly DIFF
= ferent from other girls Of the impress
siouable age But Sir Georges public
duties left him little time 10 devote To
the INFRINGING OF his motherless child
And Ind struck him that Ethel
Willouchhy was a person who at the
same time would be able To sympa thize
with Georges impulses and direct
them into the proper channels.
Whats on your mind. Georgyf"
Miss Wllloughhy asked again. as the
g!rl still hestatcd.
Its about your past" Georgy be-
ran In deadly seriousness.
Ethel laughed at her tragic manner.
Have IA past she inquired
lightly.
But the romantic Georgy was not
TO be diverted from her mood
That's just the question" sha com
mentei. you know | shouldn't mind
IL In thu least IL you had believe
in people living their own lives. in
vtheir own way" Georgy prlded her
self that she was advanced" She
considered the ordinary insular atti-
tude toward what is termed morality
10 be stoigy and Victorian Indeed.
she quite fancied the more free-and-
easy continental view OF life.
What on earth are you talking
abouty" Ethel demanded. III the truth
were known. she felt the least bit un-
-