Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-11-12
CHAPTER Xl.
Other Relations.

and careful scrutiny from that
confidential hour. The Odell-C arneys
were consp1cuously nice and agreeable
to the Medcrofts and Miss Fowler. It
may be said indeed that Mr.. Odell-
Carney went considerably out of his
way to be agreeable to Mrs. Medcroft-
so much so, In fact. that she made it
point to have some one else with her
whenever she seemed likely to be left
alone with him. The Rodneys strug-
gled bravely and no doubt conscien-
tiously to emulate the example set by
the Odell-Carneys, but it was hardly
to be expected that they could see new
things through old world eyes. They
grew very stiff and ceremonious-that
is, the Rodney ladies did. 1t was their
prerogatiye. Of course. Were they not
cousins of the Medcrofts?
-Four or five days of uneasy pretense
passed with swiftness that irritated
certain members of the party and
slowness that distressed the others.
Days never were so short as those
which the now recklessly infatuated
Brock was spending. He was valiant
~ earning his way into the heart of
Constance. process that tried his pa
thence exceedingly, for she was blithely
nnlmpress1onable If one We're to Judge
by the calmness with which she Tended
off the inevitable though tardy assault
She kept him at arms length. APP
pearances demande' discreetness 10
matter how she may crety have felt
toward the good looking husband Of
her sister. To say that she was enjoy
Ing herself would be putting it much
too tamely. She was reveling in the
fun of the thing. 1t mattered little to
her that people, her own cousins in
particular. were looking upon her with
cold and critical eyes, She knew down
In her heart that she could throw
bomb among them at any time by the
mere utterance Of single word. It
mattered as little that Edith was be-
ginning to chafe miserably under the
strain OF waiting and deception. The
novelty had worn of for the wife Of
Roxbury. She was despairingly in
love, and she was pining for the day to
come when she could laugh again with
real instead of simulated joyousness.
Connie, DEAR she would lament
dozen times a day, "it's growing un-
bearable. Oh, how wish the three
weeks were ended. Then could have
my Roxbury, and you could have my
other Roxbury, and everybody wouldn't
be plying me and cavilling at you be-
cause I'm unhappily married"
why do you say could have your
other Roxbury?" demanded her sister
on one occasion. "You forget father
expects me to marry the viscount. r.
"You are so tiresome. Connie. Don't
worry me with your love afrairs-I
don't want to hear them There's Mr..
Brock waiting for you in the garden"
II know 1t, my dear. He's been
waiting for an hour think it is good
for him to wait" said the other, with
airy confidence "What does Roxy say
in his letter this morningY
HE says 1t will all be over in q day
or two. Dear me, how l wish 1t were
over now! can't endure Cousin
Mary's snipplshness much longer, and
as for Katherine! My dear, hate
that grip
"She's been very nice lately, Edith
ever since Freddie dropped me so COM
pletely. BY the way. Burton was tell
ing me today that Odell- Carney had
been asking her some very curious
and staggering questions about Tootles
and your most private affairs"
II know. my DEAR" groaned Edith.
He very politely remarked to me
last night that Tootles made him think
very strangely Of friend Of his in
London. He wouldn't mention the fell
lows name. He only smiled and said,
'Nevah mind, my dear. he's c'nfend-
ed handsome dog daresay he meant
that as compliment for Tootles. She
IS pretty. don't you think so. dearY'
She's just like you. Edith said
Constance, who understood things
quite clearly. ..s.ss .. -.
Then. In heavens name. Connie,
why are they staring at her SO i'm
p0litely-all of them p E 3 zS=5. = =.
TITS because she Is so pretty. Good
ness. Edith. don't let every little thing
worry you. You'll have wrinkles and
gray hairs soon enough
Its all very nice for you to talk, .
grumbled Edith I'm going mad with
loneliness You have a lover near you
all the time he's mad about you
What have I? I'm utterly alone. No
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