Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
THE SUITABLE INCUMBENT

Miss Maillard wondered If 1t were
she who bored him so thoroughly that
he required bodyguard.
The next afternoon they went 10
tea again, while Louise hid the blizzard
balls. and Miss Edwardes glowered at
him. Subsequently. he was heard TO
decline an invitation for lunch, on the
ground that he had promised q picnic
to Louise. And he duly celebrated 1t
with Miss Maillard assisting.
Between you and your saving my
life. Miss Maillard.' he said fervently,
you're the grandest little buffer / ever
saw"
Buffer, She almost cried over 1t. She
had longed to be necessary to him, but
hardly in so negative a relation Ana
Measure in the knowledge that, at
least. she was protecting him from girls
whom she considered unworthy OF him.
Miss Edwardes, for instance. She &C
lively hated Miss Edwardes--I1ot be-
cause she was beautiful, but because
she bothered Douglas. Whereas. Miss
Maillard loved him enough not to
bother him. Consequently, she was all
the more astounded at what happened
later.
For a month she had been often In
his company, but always in public. AT
home. he hardly seemed aware OF her,
except at dinner. Then one day, while
she was waiting for him at the CLUB,
she was approached by sweet old lady.
one of the contingent that. having long
since lost their own illusions. enjoy
helping other people to lose theirs.
"Ah! my dear" she said, pinching
Miss Maillard's cheek, you're much TOO
voung-and too pretty--to be in ricn
Young bachelors household. Have a
care. my dear; Mother Grundy Is
about"
What" said Miss Maillard. bristling,
The sweet old lady cackled. oh my
dear, don't you know your world at all?
OF course, nobody blameS you-with
such q golden opportunity-but word
to the wise. my dear--a word to the
wisel"
Miss Maillard was so furious that at
first she could hardly think coherently.
She tried to tell herself that 1t was per-
feet nonsense--it was nothing but the
evil invention OF a garrulous old cat
but at the same time she was 50 abased
that 1t was an effort for her to lift her
eyes. She looked about her furtively
she tried to translate the expressions of
the women about her. And suddenly
the revelation came upon her with the
force of blow that however these
women smiled at one another. they
unanimously stopped smiling as soon
as they caught Miss Maillard's glance.
No situation could have been clearer.
She was indicted,
The atmosphere of the veranda suffo-
Gated her She rose. and followed by
the regard of the entire assembly went
down the steps and across to the park
ing space. Douglass chauffeur was
there, In swearing temper. and Louise,
who had poured maple strip In the gas
tank, was having fun with him. Miss
Maillard left a message for Douglas,
took Louise by the hand and proceeded
homeward
she doubted whether she could ever
look Douglas In the face again. To
think that she--she was classed as
the usual adventures! The gossip had
probably been terminating all Summer.
while she, innocent fool that she was,
had been doing her duty and sitting
her emotions.
And now, simply because she had
been willing to aid him in any way
she could, she was dragged down to
such level! But there remained Lou