The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-04-13

Jack repueu. Anu L am 5urpr1suu
that a brother-in-law of yours should
SO far forget himself as to hint it
even"
"By the way, Jack" said my hero,
lighting the cigar and blowing the
first puff toward the ceiling, his face
admirably set with nonchalance, do
you know of a family named Annes-
ley-Col. Annesley?" l knew it would
take only a certain length of time for
this question to arrive.
"Col. Annesley? Why, yes. He was
in the war department until year
ago. A fine strategist: knows every in
and out of the coast defenses, and is
something of an inventor; lots Of
money, too. Tall, handsome old fell
low?"
THAT'S the man. A war volunteer"
mo, a regular. Crippled his gum
fingers in some petty Indian war, and
was transferred to the department. He
was a widower, if my recollection of
him is correct; and had a lovely
daughter"
| All uCIc was great odllo1dC-
ton evident in this syllable do you
know where the colonel is now?"
mot the faintest idea. He lived
somewhere in Virginia. But he's been
on the travel for several years.
Robert stirred his coffee and took
spoonful-and dropped the spoon.
"Pah! l must have put in quart Of
sugar. Can you spare me another
cup"
"Annesley?" Nancy's face bright
ened. "Col. Annesley? Why, 7 know
Betty Annesley. She was my room
mate at Smith one year. She was in
my graduating class. I'll show you
her picture later. She was the dear
est girl! How she loved horses! But
why are you so ?"-slyly.
81 ran across them coming home"
"Then you met Betty! Isn't she just
the loveliest girl you ever saw"
"I'm for her, one and indivisible. But
hang my luck, never came within a
mile of an introduction.
what? You, and on shipboard
where she couldn't get away?" John
threw up his hands as sign that this
information had overcome him.
even the captain SHE'D when
approached him." said Robert, gloom
fly.
'T begin to see," said the brother.
"See what?"
"Have a match; your cigar has gone
out"
Robert relighted his cigar and pulled |
like threshing-machine engine.
John leaned toward Nancy. "Shall
tell him, Nan?"
Nancy blushed "I suppose he'll |
have to know sooner or later"
"Know what?" asked the third per- /
son singular.
"Your charming sister is about to
bring you a brother-in-law.
"What?" You could have heard this
across the street.
Eyes, Bobby dear. And don't look
so hurt. You don't want me to be-
come an old maid, do your"
when did it happen? '-helplessly.
How the thought of his SISTERS mar.
rying horrifes a brother! l believe l
can tell you why. Every brother
knows that no man is good enough for
a good woman. when did it hap
penn" Mr.. Robert repeated, with
look at his brother, which said that
he should be held responsible.
"Last week."
Robert took in a long breath. as one
does who expects to receive a blow of
some sort which can not be wardad
off, and asked: "Who is it," Nancy
married? What was the world coming
to, anyhow?
Charlie Henderson, ''-tirsidly.
Then Robert, who had been expect
ing nothing less than an English duke
let loose the flaming ions of hi.
righteous wrath.
Chuck Henderson?-that duffer?"
(Oh, Mr.. Robert, Mr.. Robert; and af
ter all I've done for you'd
Hes not duffer!" demonstrated
Nancy, with a flare in her mild eyes.
(How l wish l might have seen her
as she defended meD Hes the dear
cot lOllOW Ill the WOIlu, anu lONe lIllu |
with all my heart!" (How do you like
that, Mr.. Robert? Bravo, Nancy! |
may be duffer, true enough but /
rather object to it's being called out
from the housetops) And Nancy
added: 81 want you to understand
Robert, that in my selection
of husband you are not to be con-
suited"
This was moving him around some.
Hold on, Nan! Drat it, don't loci,
like that! | meant nothing, dearie;
only I'm heap surprised. Chuck is a
good fellow I'll admit; but I've been
of your marrying prince
or an ambassador and Henderson
comes like jolt. Besides, Chuck
will never be ANYTHING but frst-rate
politician. You1l have to get used
to cheap cigars and four-ply whisky.
When is it going to happen?'
''In June I have always loved him, .
Bob And he wants Won IN he his hest