River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-16
INCOGNITO.
BY CAROLINE SHELLEY.

Carstairs was a VIGOROUSLY difhdent
man; in his college days he had been
'Bashful Billy" to the hole of Har-
ward, Notwithstanding that he pulled
the strongest oar in the crew and was
champion IN his class with the gloves.
The 'Inmerciful chatting he received at
home and abroad had not tended to
mitigate his somewhat super-sensitiye-
ness, and as he grew older he had be-
come what is known as essentially a
mans man. lie admired women, but
only at a safe distance. Therefore il
was scmew hat of a surprise to the
Witheringtons when he accepted their
invitation to stay with them, during
the racing season. at their cottage On
North broadway. To tell the truth,
Carstairs had hesitated a little when
young WitheringtOn asked him; but
he knew the family so well-there was
only Philip and his mother and father
and he did so hate the great. crowd
ed, noisy hotels, and their inevitable
brass bands. On the way up from the
station in the dOg-cart, Phil Whitening
ton said:
We've girl staying at the house we
met ~ Nice last winter. and mother
took such a decided fancy to her that
she asked her TO visit us when we all
got back to America. 1t just happens
that she IS here now; but YOU needn't
worry about il; the fact is"
The fact is, you've decided to worry
about her yourself, eh. old chap?'
Carstairs could laugh when he found
that he had not been asked down To be
the cavalier of the fair guest "Is she
an Americana
Yes, a Virginia girl, widow: her
husband died year or so ago
'''Beware of the vidders, Samivel;
she Is wealthy. suPpose?''
Very well off. imagine, and an or
phan"
CaTstairs reflected that Pills mother
was a wise woman in her generation;
il was clear To him now why the young
woman had been invited to Ferny Dell.
Don't put yourself to any trouble u
entertain me- he observed. IF YOU
have business of that kind on hand I'll
keep out of the way. wouldn't think
of entering the lists with YOU. Phil"
as IL happens. ! am not in the lists
myself" Withcringtou said. good hu-
mOredly. but if were | shouldn't fear
you. Billy. Mrs. Chalmers would not
fancy your style"
NO? What is the matter with it?'
Too sporty" measuring his friends
gOOdly proportions in their smart
tweed covering with a critical eye
she doesn't go in for the horsey sort;
l don't believe she knows a race horse
from "A hunter"
1T is not absolutely necessary that
a woman should. / don't think | like
the horsey woman myself" said Car
stairs. rrfiectively
Mrs Chalmers did not prove to be
exactly the type of woman that PhI's
words had led him To expect. There
was nothing fairy like or fragile about
the slim figure that swept into the
room, in the trailing black gown. Just
as dinner wasaunouncyd; and the hand.
cordially extended To him. was strong
and white. with the firm touch of a
self-relIant woman. possessing perfect
knowledge of herself and the world IN
general. She was youug-not more
than twenty-five or three, Carstairs
thought, who could have told YOU n
horses age much better-but he de
cided at once to like her. and. with a
Judgment of human nature quite re-
markable for him. he also decided that
his friend Phil Witheriugton was not
her sort at all.
what sort Of luck to-day. Billy?"
said Young WitheringtOn after dinner
Mrs NfhuNrrssara
deep in literary criticism and pa ter
familias WAS busy.
Pretty fair," Carstairs answered.
You know I had two horses entered
to-day. Nasturtium won driving IN the
frs event, buth the three-year-oId Pen
lance was badly ridden and badly peck
eted in the stretch. He had the rail,
too. but he couldn't get through. lie
ought to have won," said the young
owner. ruefully.
Who rode him?'' asked Phil
johnson. a coIored hoy. lie has al
ways ridden south until this ye1r. /
won't have him again. if l can help it.
j believe he is tricky
lie Is tricky"
The two young men caught the
words in the clear treble, and both
looked up quickly enough To see the
expression of interest in the speakers
eyes.
4 beg your pardon" said Carstairs.
politely.
Mrs. Chalmers flushed and moved
back n her chair.
No. I beg yours; hut l could not
h.aHr - hos
and ] did not realize l had spoken my
thoughts"
"You have heard of the jockey. per
haps?" suggested Carstairs. and his
gaze fingered on the sweet. girlish face
and dOwncast eyes.
Ives; he rode for a friend of NV
father down south the south is my
home. Mr.. Carstairs-and he pulled the
horse, an even money favorite. and
when he was brought before the Judges
he said that his employer had ordered
him To hold back his mount and not let
him win. IL nearly caused the owner.
who had powerful stable. TO be ostra-
cised from the turf. that was two or
three years ago. He may have ridden
straight enough since then"
Young witherington looked az her
keenly. and there was a faint smile
about the corners OF his mouth.
As the days went by il began to dawn
on Mr.. Carstairs that. considering he
wasn't her sort at ALL the Young
widow was very partial to the society
OF Philip NitheringtOn; they drove to
ge.her and walked together. and wen,
70 cnuSch together; ard this Billy had
always been given TO understand was
a very bad sign.
lie wondered If Witherington was
really in love with the widow; il wasn't
easy To fancy Phil in lOve-he was such
an indolent, careless. happy-go-mcky
individual. and il was not easy, when
CaTstairs came 20 think of IL. TO fancy
Mrs Chalmers in love with Phil. WV.
by IOve," CALCULATED Billy-he stood IN
hrs Shirt-sleeves before his dressing
table. with his brush suspended above
his freshly-parted hair. and surveyed
the deep crimson flush extending from
throat to BROW believe am in love
with her myself"