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SENECA COUNTY COTIEIER-JOTJRNAL THUESM Y , NOVEMBER 27, 1902. I EXIT THE I t CHAPERON i .B y JAXE MEREDITH * Copyright, 1001, hy A. S. Richardson g Evei'S' one at tlie BeaconsQeld inn had begun to talk about it. This did not make Jim Paxton feel any more cheerful. To be outyritted at every turn by a lynx eyed and indefatigable chaperon was bad enough, but to real ize that all the boarders at the sum mer hotel were enjoying the game was adding insult to injury. Up to the third Saturday in July Mrs. Davidson had been an ideal chap eron. She averaged three headaches a week, and these demanded seclusion in her darkened room. During the hops she chatted contentedly with other dowagers in supreme indifference to the fact that her charge, Eleanor Mont- gomex’y, was sitting out ex'ery other “extra” on the dim and shadowy porch. She declared that one chaperon on a Bailing party was suflBcient; so, as young Mrs. Baldwin never got seasick, while Mrs. Davidson invariably suc cumbed to the uncomfortable sensa tion, the gay little bride went with the young people on the Bonnie Belle, and Mrs. Davidson read the latest problem novel on the hotel porch. But on the night of the third Satur day in July Mrs. Davidson underwent a curious change. Vigilance was stamped upon her usually placid fea tures, and she watched Eleanor as if she expected the girl to be kidnaped and held for a ransom. Simultaneous ly with the appearance of these symp toms Jim Paxton, joyfully anticipating three weeks of Eleanor’s society, ar rived at the Inlet. Eleanor, clad in a fetching frock of white mohair, with a spreading collar of deep blue that opened to show her graceful throat, was on the porch when the wagonette drove up from the sta tion. The other girls, whose elaborate but diaphanous gowns had yielded to the inexorable sea air, looked limp and colorless beside Eleanor. Jim Paxton recalled with a certain pride of posses sion that he had never seen her when she was not well dressed. He could Imagine her in lustrous velvet presid ing over his dinner-table, with the old Paxton plate and the damask that the Paxtons had for years imported from a certain Dublin firm. After he had gi-eeted her, and inci dentally and perforce a number of oth er people of no consequence whatever from his point of view, he retired to his room. The first thing he did was to take from his grip a small package wrapped in heavy white paper. Next came tissue paper of faintest blue, then a deep blue case, just the color of Eleanor’s eyes, and last a stone that blazed against its nest of satin like a comet in a starless heaven. “It’s nervy, sure enough, to bring this down,” he said, turning the ring to the light. “But I don’t believe she’s the growing attachment between h'er niece and young Paxton, but from the moment of his arrival she devoted her self to foiling his every effort to be alone with Eleanor. Her headaches mysteriously disappeared. She assum ed an interoet in sailing that was dili gently supported by a newfangled cure : for seasickness. At the hops she no longer chatted in the dowagers’ cor ner, but her eyes watched Eleanor's ' every movement. Clambakes became a source of d^'light, and her capacity for Dng walks discouraged the resourceful Jimmy. I Two weeks were almost gone, and the ring still lay in his pocket. He was sitting on the pier, talking with Jean Brown, Eleanor’s most intimate friend. There was' a twinkle in Jean’s eyes, and, taking courage, he poured his trouble in her sympathetic ears, finally working himself up into a fine fury. “Diplomacy, diplomacy,” urged Jean when he stopped at last, only,, how ever, from lack of breath. “You’re go ing on the wheeling trip to the Point tomorrow, aren’t you?” “Yes, but Mrs. Davidson even rides a wheel.” “Well, I’m going down to the village now. I believe I can find a cure for her wheeling fad. Personally I think it’s bad form for a woman of her age to ride, even to protect her niece. Goodby.” Jean went away smiling, and Jim felt strangely comforted. That night when they met in the dim corridor Jean slipped something into his hand. It was a gray 'cube and it felt like pasteboard. He glanced at her curi- “The antidote for an overdose of chaperon. I’ll leave the rest to you.” When the bicyclers started out the next morning, something Avas wrong with Eleanor’s wheel. With commend able patience Jim tinkered at it,, while Mrs. DaA’idson, looking remarkably natty in her English made suit, watched the rest of the party steadily groAving dim m er down the firm beach At last the trio started, and at the first smooth stretch of road Jimmy of fered Eleanor a “box of the best” if She’d beat him to the party now round ing the cliffs. She was off like the Avind, never looking back to see whether Jimmj- was gaining on her. Once she thought she heard a feminine scream not unlike Sirs. Davidson’s, but she did not dare to look back. When she dashed into the merry group at the Point there was a chorus of questions. “Where is dear Mrs. DaA'idson?” And Jimmy Paxton, tear ing breathlessly after her, explained shamelessly that Sirs. Davidson’s tire had been punctured at the first bend in the road and she’d decided to go back. When the Paxton-SIontgomery wed ding occurred, the groom did the un conventional thing. He presented the maid of honor Avith a souvenir of the occasion, for, as he explained: “Jean, you gave me a fiA-e cent box of tacks once, beside which this mea sly sunburst pales into insignificance.” been blind all winter, and she’s not the sort to lead a fellow on.” He laid the jewel case on the dressing table and beside it seven photographs of Eleanor »,nd a thick bunch of letters. They seemed to justify the purchase of the ring. Then he dressed for the evening, slipping the ring into his pocket, with the thought, “I'll have this on her fin ger before forty-eight hours have passed.” But he had not reckoned on yirs. Davidson. Before half of the forty- eight hours had passed he realized that something had come between him and the girl of his heart. Before the given term had expired he realized that the something was Eleanor’s chaperon. Then he sat doAvn calmly and took account of stock. Eligible? Yes—good family. Exclusive? Not so much so. No blot on the scutcheon that he knew of. Rich? Yes, much better off than the Montgomerys and in a conserva tive way. Rather good looking; well dressed always; belonged to the req uisite number of clubs of the requisite Standing; could lead a german; was a fairly good whip; never had been rec ognized as a bore. Great heavens! What did the woman expect of her niece’s fiance? For how could he knoAV tkat years before his rich old bachelor uncle had trifled Avith the heart of Winnie Blake ly. noAv Mrs. Prescott Davidson? H oav iould he know the bitterness with i.-hioh the sensitive girl had A^atched the illusions of her first loA-e affair fall i:ice a mist at her feet? She had known to little and he so much. Mrs. Davidson had been abroad dur- oig the winter and knew nothing of A Story of John Randolph. The Philadelphia Times tells a good story of John Randolph, that descend ant of Pocahontas who figured so bril liantly in congress as a representative of Virginia. He was once accosted on the piazza of a hotel by a young blade who had been boasting of his acquaint ance with Randolph and who thought he could bluff the Virginian into speak ing to him before the admiring guests of the hostelry. He planted himself before Randolph and saluted him with: “Good morning, senator!” “Morning!” replied Randolph with out the faintest sign of recognition. “Fine day, senator.” “A fact apparent to everybody, sir!” came from the Virginian. “Er —what is going on, senator?” persisted the cad, fiushing under the rebuff's of the senator. “I am, sir.” Wild with indignation, the accoster made a detour, met Randolph face to face on another part of the porch and, planting himself firmly in the way, de clared: “I never turn out for any low, mean, sneaking, contemptible puppy!” “I always do,” said Randolph mildly as he stepped to one side and contin ued his promenade. Mozart’s Reaulem. One night came a stranger, knocking at Mozart’s door, and commanded: “Write me a mass for the dead.” “Surely my hour is almost come,” said the musician. “I must write.” And again came the stranger in the night and asked: “Is the mass for the dead ready for the playing?” The tension of toil was tightened. The Harmonies, filled with such rap ture as only immortal spirits know, did their utmost. The musician lay dead, I with the requiem mass in his hand. I The next night came the stranger, j querying: I “Is the mass for the dead complete?” I In the wonder and mkjei,tA- of the stars the seA'en Harmonies v.'ent their way. Their light left a quiver of light like that a burning meteor streaks across the affrighted sky. The soul of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart winged back to the place o f souls, and the bodj’ was tumbled into a pauper’s yraA’e —a graA'e in which two others rested, very humble and much worn Avith toil. No stone marks the spot. The place has been forgotten.—Mrs. B. W. Peattie in Atlantic. TInaj»preciatiA-e. “I think, my dear,” said the proud mother as the daughter sat at the piano and let a few thrillful thrills es cape, “we should send IMabel abroad to haA'e her A’oice cultivated.” “All right,” replied the husband and father, “and the farther abroad she cultivates it the better.”—Chicago Foster, Ross A Baucuj^ toyland O M md I SATURDAY, NOV. 29, Toyland will be open. In addition to showing in our General D e p art m e n ts a m agnificent collection of desirable m erchandise for the Holi day Season, we will show th e grandest line of DOLLS. K D K DOOKS. LTD. Ever shown in Auburn. This popular departm e n t store, with its won derful electrical display, a n d other decoration, is a sight to gladden the hearts of old a n d young, a n d worth going m any miles to see. The holi day windows alone would repay a days journey. SANTA ClAOS HEADQUARTERS. We want to impress on your minds that Christmas is but a few weeks away, our stocks are at their best, and we naturally can give you better service N O W than when the great holiday crowds are here. PU R C H A S E S W ILL BE D E L IV E R E D W H E N D E S IR E D . Bring the children to see the beautiful Dolls, Toys, Games, Books, Rocking Horses, Magic Lanterns, Mechanical Trains, Steam and Hot Air Toys, Drums, Boats, iron Toys, Doll’s Qo=Carts, Doll’s Beds, Toy Trunks, Doll’s Dishes, Spelling Boards, Blackboards, Games of All Kinds, Doll’s Houses and Clothes, Doll’s Shoes and Stockings, Doll’s Jewelry, Etc., Etc. This year Santa Claus travels in his air ship. Last year he used an automobile. Next year— well we will wait until next year comes. All that we care about at present is that he will be around as usual to see good little boys and girls and grown up folk too, and let us tell you a secret. H E W ILL VISIT T H E BIG STO R E PRETTY O F T E N , for nowhere else can he find suchA a wonderful collection of just T H E RIGHT T H IN G S FO R EVER Y B O D Y . Each department teeming with desirable goods suitable for gift-giving to old and young in all walks of life. SILKS, DRESS GOODS, FURS, UPHOLSTERY GOODS, UNDER MUSLINS, ART GOODS. HANDKERCHIEFS, GLOVES, UMBRELLAS, HOSIERY, UNDERWEAR. BLANKETS. LINENS. TOILET SETS. CELLULOID NOVELTIES, LEATHER GOODS, LACES, RIBBONS, FANCY GOODS, AND A SUPERB COLLECTION OF MEN’S FURNISHING GOODS ETC., ETC. LOW ER FLOOR. Corning Rich Cut Glass, Haviland Limoge China Dinner Ware, Chop Sets, Chocolate Sets, etc., Maddock & Miller Dinner Ware, Onon daga Pottery Dinner W are and other excellent grades. Fancy Plates, Cups a n d Saucers, Salad Bowls, Chocolate Pots, Bread and Milk Sets and Fancy China of all kinds. Austrian Art Glass, Hand Painted China, Bric-a-brac, Lamps, Or- m u la Gold Clocks, House Furnishing Goods, Trunks, Traveling B^gs, B rass Beds, Rugs, etc. COME, SHOP WITH US. Foster, Ross A, Baucu# METCALF BUILDING, GENESEE ST., AUBURN, N. Y.
