The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-03
CHAPT |.
Just q Hint Of Scandal.

Just a Hint Of Scandal.
Georgy Wagstaff sauntered into Miss
Ethel Willoughby'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 butler, who was at the mo-
ment in the act of placing tea-tray
upon Miss Willoughby's table.
"Oh, Blewster-is Miss Willoughby
in?" she inquired.
The correct Brewster Immediately
Strengthened himself up in his best
manner.
mo, miss! l think not" he replied.
Georgy strolled to the window.
~ dare say Ethell be here directly"
she said-to herself as much as to the
butler 'I'll wait"
Eyes. miss" Brewster acquiesced.
And with 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
| the Thames. 1t was an August after
noon and the river shimmered alur-
ingly in the slanting sunlight But
Ethel had asked her to meet 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 1 late OF
are you earlyY Miss Willoughby called
as she saw that one Of her guests was
already waiting.
"Bothw said Georgy with a smile.
~ did want two minutes with you be-
fore the others came. May l bother
you now"
"Of courser 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 admiringly. Miss
Willoughby's fair hair had just the
hint of red in 1t that was at the same
time Georgy's 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 afraid
I'm going to be awfully presumptu-
| GUS"
"Nonsensew Ethel interrupted. "You
couldn't be that when you and your
father have been so very good to me
o.. Come on! Out with itr'
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 footing of socia
equality. But fortune had frownet
upon her. And when circumstances
had become most pressing Sir George
had come to her relief with the pro
posaI that she undertake the guidance
of his somewhat difficult daughter. L
was not that Georgy was greatly diff
ferent from other girls of the impres
sionable age. But Sir Georges publi'
duties left him little time to devote t.
the upbringing of his motherless child
And it had struck him that Ethe
Willoughby was person who at tn
same time would be able to sympathiz
with Georgy's impulses and direc
them into tie proper channels.
whats 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 pastY' she inquire
lightly.
But the romantic Georgy was nc
to be diverted from her mood
THAT'S just the question" she CON
! mented. "You krow shouldn't min
it in the least if you had I beliey
in people living their own lives,
their own way" Georgy prided he
self that she was advanced" Sb
considered the ordinary insular att
tude toward what is termed moralit
to be stodgy and Victorian Indeed
she quite fancied the more free-an(
, easy continental view of life.
What on earth are you talsin
about?" Ethel demanded. If the trut
we're known, she felt the ileast bit Vi