Evening star., 1919-08-24
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in II hadn't got the pleadin' look
from Martha. please" says she. you
tell her"
Well. does my best at sketchin' out
the situation; how Aunt Martha was
sort Of hangin' onto her lifetime job
by her eyelids, what self-startin'
bunch Of gossips there was In this
Bedford place. and so on.
'And while in some parts" I adds.
they might admit that movie ac-
tresses might happen in the best Of
families take 1t that Bedford amt
such spot"
well, Of all things" says Doris.
I'D blot the escutcheon. would I?
Say, auntie, don't you believe a word
Of it. Anyway. let's go see. For un-
less school teachers are better paid
here than l think they are you don't
stand to lose much, even If they do
turn you loose. And IL you ask me,
I'll say it's high time you made a
shift"
"But-but you don't understand"
says Martha. What else could do?"
"Why. thousand things" says
Doris. Leave 1t to me. may not
look it, but I've lots besides hair under
my hat. Come on. let's take a look
at this Bedford outfit"
She's a convincin' talking young
party. Doris. I expect they did start
for Massachusetts, on the next train
out. I can't say, though. for at about
that stage Of the game had to rush
of to meet whoever, I'd been waitin'
for, and had to leave Doris and Aunt
Martha in the air, so to speak. Not
only that. but never even got so
much as a picture postal from either
of 'em. or hint as to how they came
out with the school board. My guess
was though. that If Doris landed in
that tight skirt and them ear danglers
she would spill the beans for Aunt
Martha right from the start.
And now. away at the tag end. we
came to this Chateau Mutt joint. First
heard of 1t was one evenin' at home
when Mrs. Purdy-Pell was gushin' to
Sadie about some place where they'd
had dinner when they was motorin'
down from the Berkshires.
1T is absolutely unique" declares
Mrs. Purdy-Pell. land we were so
lucky to hear about 1t. You see, 1t is
quite off the main road, way up on top
Of one of those lovely hills overlook
ing the Connecticut. You drive in
through double row of tall cedars
that form almost tunnel, and then
you come to this gloomy-looking old
brick house with all the front shut
ters closed. Why, it's positively
spooky, even from the outside. Then
you go up to charming old six
paneled colonial door with a perfect
dream of fanlight overhead, grasp
the huge brass knocker. and give the
mystic signal"
"Mystic?' says Sadie.
"Oh. truly. my dear" says Mrs.
Purdy-Pell. mo one knows it except
those whose names have been pro-
posed and who have sent in their $50
lhltldtiOA AcC. 4Hc OuIDloy -OTdueS
proposed US, you know. But even
then one must wait until some one
inside pulls back the sidelight drap-
cries and looks you over. It's like
being admitted through a secret gate.
Really! But once the door opens you
are received by the most distinguished
appearing parsonage. You recall Las
sour's portrait of Nine. de Fleury?
Well, exactly like that-a dlgnified,
dear old lady with pink cheeks and
white hair and dressed In full empire
costume, even to the black beauty
patch. Really, she Is dream. There
is her daughter. too, a striking look
ing young person, who might have
just stepped out from the Petit Tria-
non."
why, who are theyw asks Sadie,
mo one knows" says Mrs. Purdy-
Pell. THAT is part Of the charm of
the place, the absolute mystery about
them. From some old French family,
undoubtedly; perhaps of the nobility.
Mrs. Twombley-Crane says she heard
that the elderly one is a French
countess, who passed through a
frightful experience when the German
crown prince occupied her chateau as