The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-03

"You' The cart ism t big enough for
three, Dudley; it e shame don t
know what made mother such crank
am just dying to ride with Toni mean
those horses. y
"Exactly. If were to borrow those
slashing che,tnuts and take you for a
spin, mother couldn t object, as she does
to your going with the amiable Thomas
and
eco with yous OF course not!" Elisa
beth was distinctly cross. "She does OBJ
ject; she forbids me, absolutely.
Elizabeth, it is not long since you
would have gone anywhere with me, and
now you say of course not.
Dudley turned away deeply hurt. "1'n
sent. -
s'oh, Dudley, was brute! I eidn t
mean it that way.
"You meant Mr.. Clinker another way
We are not twins any more; we are
strangers. You care more for Clinker
than for all of us in a bunch. Don II
look so dismal; you can't help it. All!
there he is, and Dudley looked with
severe expression on the agile Thomas as
he cleared the fence and came to them,
radiant, where they we're standing on the
front steps.
"Not ready?' he asked, looking sharp
" at Elizabeth s downcast face and at
Dudley's sulky one.
"I-mother says I can't go riding
With you consumed with vexation she
.ealized that she was going to weep, and
oolted into the house.
| What $ to pay Dudley why can t she
.ide with meaD He had very thunder
ous look upon his Away frank and jovial
face. "What have I done that your
mother objects to her riding with met
81 don t know; she just now told me
hat mother did not want her to ride with
,ou alone-that' Is all / know about it. -
Clinker looked thoughtful-a suspicion
that Mrs. Redfeld had overheard some
half-dozen tender words that had escaped
| him the evening before when he was look
ing at some new art book with Elizabeth
that he had brought over.
your mother is all right Dudley.
What does she know of me after alla How
does she know / will not kidnap Eliza
/! bethf Let us 60 in and see her,
81 thought you would be insulted, -
said Dudley, in surprise.
mo, when you have seen the world as
much as / have, Dudley, yeu will be glad
to know shat the girl you love has had a
careful mother. Come, let us go in''
Mrs Redfeld looked little disturbed
as they came in; she was feeling With
Elizabeth all her cruel disappointment
Much against her ardent desire to see he,
children happy, she had refused to allow
Elizabeth to ride in the alluring cart
with the enticing tandem; her heart wa,
deeply troubled, for she had seen the
look on Clinker's face and the response IL
Elizabeth 9, and she wished to allow mat
tiers to go no further. She saw no an.
ger as Tom took her offered hand. but she
saw resolution. Dudley felt such acuts
discomfort that he sat perched on thu,
edge of big chair; for the first tims
in his life, he could not talk. and no
poetry came to his lips. This condition
was serious indeed; his teeth almost chat.
tered, SO great was his dread of Tom 3
bringing his mother to book.
"Mrs. Redfeld, as you have refused to
allow Elizabeth to ride with me, l have
come to ask your reason; I am convinced
it is good one. May know it7'
"Mr. Clinker, my reason for refusing
was rather complex. Elizabeth is too
young; she is rather striking in appear
aace, and your turnout is exceedingly
striking also; perhaps l am foolish, but
could not have her exhibited alone with
any gentleman in so conspicuous man
ner. I de not desire to hurt your feel
ings Mr.. CEnker, but The lady was
growing rather confused but stuck brave
ly by her colors; she really liked Tom ex-
ceedingly, but her maternal heart was
aroused and she did not wish Elizabeth to
love this extremely fascinating man;
she began to fear it was too late for the
peace of mind Of her youngest child. She
looked appealingly at Dudley, expecting
hiM to cast himself into the breach, but
he was dumb, and by this phenomenal alb
sence of speech she realized that matters
were indeed serious.
81 am afraid 1 have given him NOR.
tai offense, hut ] can It draw back now, F"
she reflected; and to her great surprise
Clinker said
81 think you are right, Mrs. Redfeld;
you really know nothing of me; L would
not like her to be exhibited conspicuous
" myself, as you say; but if I can e1-
hibit her as my promised wife, of course
Mrs. Gruady can have nothing to say. "
"Yeur wife! Elizabeth
"sure.'' Dudley fell back into the
chair. 81 shall at once proceed to salts