The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-04-01
A GIRL OF THE
HOUR
by ALDEN CHAPMAN


consumed. ~ least have abashed the
distant cause OF the yurie-i emotions "
expressed. had the object % the same
been present NJ that moment. for
years she aud Maurice Croft had been
playmAtcs and then lovers. She had
come to the city to visit relatives aud
here. within q week. mourning and
missing her cavalier true. dreadful
news OF him had reached Rboda. A
cousin OF Maurice coming Co the city
for n dying visit had called upon her.
"Yes. there has been carvings on"
submitted chatty wlnlfred Forbes.
who herself had once experienced a
secret fondneSs for Maurice. aud not
loath 90 bring the news TO a success
ful rival. The silly boy has been
taking n flng.' NJ he calls ~. and u
bent on showing OF TO the limit"
As how. nowr' suggested Rhoia,
calmly enough.
well. he went over 10 Springfield
with Aleck Prince who. NJ you know
IL Wild enough To serve as q warning
They had q two days sojourn. visited
the races. played billiards aud fancied
they were going the pace. To wind M
they visited n show The premiere
was n dancer. Lulu Langford. ! he
lleve they call her She made eyes at
Maurice. recognizing a green simple
ton. SUPPOSE In her act she drops
n bouquet and then nirily sends u out
into the audience with tip Of her
dainty toe. II landed In Maurice's lap
! don't believe he did anything more
than send this charming Lulu q
bouquet the next day. but he came
hack home like knight errant vaunt.
Ing the conquest of impressIble hearts
without number. DO you know he has
dozen colored photographs Of this
Lulu hung about in his room. showing
her In her various posesf saw one
portrnying her as the girl 81 the hour
high heels. the latest rs TO garb
blonde hair. n golden aureole. and all
that. He talks Of the NE. and you'd
think he was n past grand master Of
the giddy whirl ="
But after winlfrei had left. the little
hands clenched. the pearly teeth set
yengefully. and Rhoda uttered three
forcefui words;
'Ill cure hint"
Rhoda had no, departed from simple
neatness Of attire during her visit with
her wealthy relatives. She had thought
more OF inspecting art galleries and
museums than attending shows and
social gatherings. but now she en-.
gnr.d In a confidential confab with her
stylish cousin, Phyllis. and asked her
90 cooperate with her In Furnishing
Maurice for daring 10 look at another
woman.
You are Just about my sire and
your dresses will NJ me very nicely"
planned the audacious plotter. u
shall ask Maurice 20 the city 10 re
main with your brother for few days
and act as my special escort. lie shall
have a real sample 81 high life. In
deedl I'll warrant he will pine for
quiet. inexpensive village life and his
occasional reasonable drive In n livery
buggy and the humdrum but whole
some town concerts when have
taught him a sslutary iessonl"
Maurice appeared the day after he
had received a summons from his lady
love. His little whlri In a small city
had taught him that life In the me
tropolis was expensive. and he came
with n well-nlled pocketbook. but
never gauging the whims and caprices
OF willfui fiancee. lie was astounded
90 he greeted by the modest. tasteful
village inamorata arrayed In the very
extreme Of smart attire. Rhoda had
assumed certain grand air that op-
pressed. rather than awed him. She
and Phyllis joked about stunning,
fiirtations and cigarettes. When Mau-
rice suggested a place OF amusement
Rhoda named the grand opera.
Maurice WINGED al the unexpected
expensiveness. but that was only n
preface Co a supper. His company
chose the most fashionable place Of
midnight resort. Ruefully Maurice
reckoned up the evenings entertain.
ment. II exceeded half of the money
ne hnu Drought Win MN.
And the next day Rhoda spoke OF a
drive on the bouleyards with an au-
dacity and airiness that almost fright.
ened Maurice. Another big bill-sad.
~ comparing with the price Of home
rig for an entire afternoon Rhodn
had seemingly developed into a tartar
and a spendthrift after one week Of
metropolitan social dissipation.
she was distract aud subdued a.
they started back for Clifton. They |
were nj odds somehow, and Maurice.
repentant. M at ease. sought to clear
the atmosphere.
Il was over az Springfield with /
Aleck Prince for a couple of days"
began Maurice lamely.
"Yes. ! heard you were." answered
Rhoda.
"Flash and filter. you know" pro
oeeded Maurice.
Miss Lulu Langford. alsor' init
mated Rhoda with mild malice.
oh deceiying element that
hear she Is ffty years old aud has
four children"