The broad ax., 1910-09-24

tone mad become loud and resonant
anyhow ! never was such q childish
simpleton as you are and always Win
be to the end Of your days-to be fool
ed and taken In by a designing, no
account little creature that's been hsh-
ing for husband ever since that poor
invalid man Of hers died, worried to
death by her hightiness, I'll warrant
That's a pretty thing to happen to q
man like you, isn't itT. Here Mrs..
Dibbs choked, and Jonathan took ad-
vantage Of the momentary check IN
her assault to inquire, "Who told you
! was going to marry her. AmandaT"
"Who told mel" she burst out.
''Who told me? Why, hasn't the little
fool herself been telling 1t all around
the town that you wanted to marry
her and" in a high. simpering fslsetto,
''that she didn't know whether she
ought to think Of IT or not. but that
Mr.. Dibbs was such a nice man and
such a friend Of her poor, dear Ar
thur and she would hate to disappoint
him? Oh, the idiot"
Jonathan Dibbs looked thoughtful.
Suddenly the figure Of the widow in
question appeared before bis minds
eye. It was a neat. retiring little hg-
ure. with soft brown hair and q small
face, slightly sunburned. but sweet and
tender. and with an individuality OF
its own that only a patient, conscien-
49,. ne, aov,id ha-o nv5vou a. Ne rora-
pared # with the large. obtrusive face
and figure Of his sister-in-law. and grad
uRlly he began to smile. A sudden sense
OF relief came to him In the contempla-
ton Of the little widow and a strange,
unusual sense Of pleasure, the Joy Of
the awakening Of a desire and q WIN
In him which be had never before sus-
pected.
81 guess the little woman really did
think wanted to marry her" be TO
marked pleasantly.
"Of course she did" replied Mrs.
Dfbbs smartly In her loud, scornful
voice, not noting the change in her VIC
Tins attitude toward her. ''0f course
she did, the conceited little piece"
81 wouldn't be absurd II were you,
Amanda" said Jonathan Dibbs. IT
doesn't suit your size" BE had skopen
very slowly and smoothly, but be gasp
ed a little now that he had achieved
this crude but radical assertion Of bis
freedom. he had reason to gasp
''What. You dare, You dareT She
stood before him gIaring. and his un-
accountable inclination to laugh At her
frightened him more than her passion
did. You dars!' she shouted You
-you brute. 1 knew that little fool
had you in her clutches i knew Il
Did she tell you to say that3 / might
have known she would bring you 70
forget ali honor and truth and duty.
Don't you dare bring her to this house.
you brute, Size. indeed! She isn't the
die Of q fence rail. That's your tdea
q beauty. suppose. Just you oars
to marry her.:
Jonathan Dibbs. though bis heart
ouaked within him, walked boldly past
ber 10 the door. There he turned Il
nav send you an invitation to ne
wedding II she cares to have you cons.
Anyhow I'll send Jon an announee
meut Say goodby to LDeien for ne.
wm youl Poor Lucien!- BE gri1neo
happily into her blazing eyes and. shut
t1nS the door with q bang as be Wens
fhrouRh the house. strode out into ne
street
- DibSs sank into q chair sn1
aftsr repeating several umo a
1peseh.s uith which she had bsneats4
- brother-in-laW indalgsd IN Q nt g
mysteries. 10 the vast amussment q
the poIl parrot and the kitchen mAi1
Jonathan, howsvsr, thOagh hs ~
axperieneinE. faint refhsr eonteme