Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-10-22
A CAPRICE OF CURIOSITY
BY j. A. WALDRON

The Dlv'son Finishing School
was an exclusive institution. The
young women accepted by it to be
trained that they might reflect
credit upon their parents when
they entered society had RESPONSE
bilities as to conduct. And the
school was so well patronized by
the financially and socially elect
that no girl of merely ordinary
prospects could hope to enter it.
The Misses Dawson, spinsters,
directors of the school, sat togeth-
er in their executive office one
morning, shawking their heads and
Whispering. Their faces pictured
dismay and their manner determi-
nation, They awaited the coming
of four of their students who had
been summoned to their austere
presence.
Something which seemed quite
scandalous had been discovered by
underlings and reported to the
spinsters.
The four girls in question were
intimates, and had been placed in
dormitory by themselves. And
they were to be examined in secret,
for it would not do to let the matter
involved become known to other
young women in the institution,
All at once the room, ordinarily
as unattractive as the spinsters
themselves, was made brilliant by
youth and it's trappings. The Misses
Hackley, Lessel, Jay and Nestell
the culprits, tripped in. 1t can al
most BE said they danced in, foe
they were buoyant. Their faces
were fresh and joyous, their attire
fetching, and their types of beauty
contrasted to make a yeritable bou-
quet of loneliness. They were the
Three Graces, with a fourth added,
and they typed modern feminity in
its most attractive stage.
BE seated, young ladies, please"
said Marilla Dawson, the elder
spinster, who was usually mistress
of ceremonies. If such thing
We're possible, acid might have been
distilled from her tone.
The girls fluttered charmingly
into chairs. At any rate, their
graces would have charmed any
but the spinsters.
II have serious matter to
broach," continued Marilla. Soph-
roma, the younger spinster, nodded
affirmation.
LAS all of you are in one room"
Marilla went on, there can be no
great secrets between you. In other
words, what Is known to one must
be known to all,
The girls looked at one another
smiling. Miss Nesteil, who had the
most mischievous air, giggled.
"S-s-h III -h-h!" The sibilation
was Marilla Dawson's. "This is no
trifling matter, young ladies!
Looking at them sternly for a mo-
ment, she took from an enfolding
paper a silken garment. Have you
seen this before? / ask you an
Rising, she held it to view.
There was no answer, but 1t was
plain that if the four girls had re-
leased what they were suppressing
with difficulty the result would
have been chorus VI mirth.
Marilla Dawson still held up the
garment--a pajama coat - ana
then brought from the paper its
complement, shuddering. This is
mans garment" Her intona-
ton was spinsterish. "And a man $
name is here, embroidered" she
pointed at the collar with an ac-
cIsing finger. This was found IN
the dormitory occupied by you in
common. And that is not all"
From another folded paper she
took several little boxes: These
are cigarettes. / know nothing of
such things, but they seem to have
been specially made, for they bear
the monogram of the person whose
name is embroidered on this gar
ment."
The girls could no longer sup
press giggles.
II am amazed at your lev1ty'
young ladies!" Marilla's voice was
lifted above it's usual monotone.
Zone of you-perhaps all of you
can explain, as explain you must.
1t is a scandalous thing! | shall
dismiss you now, cutting your usual
amusements for the day. Go to
the dormitory and make up your
minds to confess. Then we shall
see what must be done. The USE
fulness of this against
which no breath of scandal has be-
fore been possible fear is over
for you all. When you have con-
fessed / shall advise with your par
I,ents." And Marilla majesticaily
waved the girls away.
The girls departed, but they gig
gled on the other side of the door.
The spinster sisters sat looking
at each other, Mortified by the
problem, when visitor was an
Inounced. They managed to rise
and greet her. She was an impos-
| ing woman.
"The Misses Dawson?" she asked,
"We are the Misses Dawson,
Marilla replied.
my errand is unusual. ] know
your school by reputation, and thus
am the more surprised"
surprised? And at what, pray?
And your name, madam? You sent
in no card" MARBLES dignity was
appalling. But 1t did not disturb
her visitor
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