Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-07-10

coat and necktie, and shivered.
The. walk was nearly over. when,
horror of horrors, whom should they
meet but Ethel Marsh herself! At any
other time it would have been heaven
to meet her. but with Tom by his side,
and the unmstakable family likeness,
and that coat! 1t was maddening.
Ethel stopped, too. She had never
done that before. 1t must DO last
nights dance. Why wasn't Tom back
in New York. or Hong Kong. or some
where? She chatted. Surely she
hadn't noticed the carelessly dressed
young giant who had moved on out OF
earshOt.
1T was pleasant last night was it
notT" she asked.
1--WE been teasing my father into
giving a dance" she went on, land
he's agreed. VIII you come, Mr..
Roofe?"
This was unexpected. Wilfred was
satisfied now she had not seen his COM
panion He consented willingly. Her
next remark troubled him.
"Who Is that gentleman with you:"
He nearly told lie. He nearly
said, "An old acquaintance" but he
stopped himself in time and admitted
the truth. albeit with coloring cheeks.
MY brother He has"
do introduce me-"
1t was a thunderclap. At a distance
she might not have noticed the frayed
collar and unfa shionable coat How
ever, she had asked for an introduce
ton. Wilfrded called to his brother
and tremblingly presented him.
Tom shook hands with the girl. Will
fred remembered the strict rule of a
bow being the correct thing and shud-
dered. He hoped against hope that
his brother would not make any more
plumbers.
Vain wish. He did worse than blum
der-became conversational Needless
of everything. he rambed on. Here
are some Of the sentences that sent
dismay through Wilfred's trembling
heart:
New buildings! Yes, guess the
workman earns his money. When
you've laid 100 bricks you begin to feel
it in the spine; but it's the fifth, sixth
and seventh hundred that tell on YOU
I've spent a good spell on that job"
Trans. l see you've got the cleo
trio. l was conductor for a fortnight
on one Of them in the States-you
have to keep moving on that job,
can tell you
"Oh, don't know. America is just
as good as England. And I've seen
the rough of 1t there. Come to my
last dollar and slept under an arch
but. dare say, the poor in London
have Just as bad a time"
And more like this. Wilfred groan-
self
However, he got his brother home
at length and learned with delight he
was returning to Stillmouth by the
last train.
Three months passed. Tom was en-
gagged on an article for the Quarterly
And-at length Wilfred decided to put
his fate ito the touch" He arranged
himself in his best-fitting suit. his lat
est hat, his newest gloves and ties,
and set out.
Ethel was at home She received
him with almost unusual kindness.
He hemmed and hawed. He cough
ed and turned red, and declared his
love
Il am sorry. Wilfred." (Wilfred, his
Christian name-she had never ad-
dressed him that way before. II am
very sorry. hate to give pain. But
| cannot accept the honor"
But. Miss Marsh. Think. Take
little time. Don't answer me now"
IT'S really no good. Wilfred." she
said quickly. There is positively no
hope l shall never accept you"
But we have been very intimate"
YES"
You have thought Of me differently
from most other young men,"
'Oh yes
Then may | not"
mo. you mustn't. l don't ever want
sOu W ush ukuIus Wy answer Is
decided. No. No.
Then Wilfred got wild.
II understand 1t all," he said. ut
is that brother Of mine turning up has
spOilt my chances"
I'm what way"
"You wouldn't like to own him as a
brother-in-law?"
That's just the truth. Wilfred;
wouldn't"
But he's not so bad at the bottom
He's little rough In manner and
dress. But he's very good hea rted
and clever. and has made a host Of
money
I'm glad to hear II. Still l don't
fancy him ms brother-in-law."
| Because your father has title"
II don't know that that Is the rea-
SON"
you'll come to think better of nv
brother Tom" said Wilfred, desper-
ately.
II don't see how can. At all
events there Is no hope for you. I like
| vO,, In many wavs Wi1froH auA =