The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-09-11

smile Denlnd his hand. "She KNOWS
him better than l. To tell the truth,
I've never net him, but I've seen him
on the Fifth avenue stages. You do
look like him, though ny JoveT"
ITS extraordinary how many peo-
pie think l look like dear old Brock"
said the false Roxbury. "But, on the
other hand. most people think that
Brock looks like me, so what's the
odds? Haw, haw! Ripping! Eth, Mr..
ROdney?"
Ripping? Ripping what? Good
heavens, am l ripping anything?" gasp
ed Mr.. Rodney, who was fussy and fat
and generally futile. He seemed to
grow suddenly uncomfortable, as II
ripping was a habit with him.
Dinner was a success Brock shone
with n refulgence that bedimmed all
expectations. His wife was delighted.
In all of the four years Of married life
so d~eliciously English Ito use her own
expression). Constance tingled with
pride. OF late she had experienced un-
usual difficulty In divertlng her gaze
from the handsome impostor, and her
thoughts were ever of him-in justif-
cation of a platonic interest, Of course,
no more than that. Tonight her eyes
and thoughts were for him alone, a
circumstance which, could he have felt
sure, would have made him wildly hap
nv instead of pordipata1y f,riono IN
his complete misunderstanding Of her
manner toward Freddie Ulstervelt.
who had no conjunction about max
ing love to two girls at the same time.
She was never so beautiful, never so
yivaciOuS, neve so reSourceful. Brock
was under the spell; he was fascinat-
ed; he had to look to himself carefully
in order to keep his wits in the pre-
scribed channel.
His self esteem received a severe
shock at the opera. Mrs. Medcroft,
with malice aforethought, insisted that
Ulstervelt should take her husbands
seat. AS the box held but six persons,
the unfortunate Brock was compelled
to shift more or less for himself. In
wardly raging, he suavely assured the
party-Freddie in particular-that he
would find a seat in the body Of the
house and would join them during the
%entr'acte. Then he went out and sat
in the foyer. 1t was fortunate that he
hated Wagner. Before the end of the
act he was Joined by Mr.. Rodney. hor-
ribly bored and eager for relief. In a
nearby cafe they had a whisky and
soda apiece and. feeling comfortably
REINFORCED, returned to the opera house
arm In arm, long and short, thin and
fat, literally discoursing upon the in
tellectuality Of Herr Wagner.
Say. you're not at all like an Eng,
lishman~ exclaimed Mr.. Rodney i'm
pulsively. eve gratefully.
"Eh, WHAT" gasped Brock. replacing
his eyeglass. "Oh, l say. now. pom
my word. haw, hawp
you've got an American sense of
humor. Medcroft-that's what you
have. You recognize the joke that
Wagner played on the world. Pardon
me for saying 1t, sir, but | didn't think
it was in an ETiglishman."
"Haw, haw! Ripping. by Jove! No.
no! Not you. | the joke. But
then. you see, it's been SO long since
Wagner played 1t that ever an English.
man has had time to see the point. Be.
sides. I've lived a bit of my life In
America"
THAT accounts for it." said the tact.
less but sincere Mr.. Rodney.
Brock glared so venomously ut the
intrusive Mr.. Ulstervelt upon the oc.
casion Of his next visit to his own box
that Mrs. Medcroft smiled softly to
herself as she turned her face away.
A few minutes later she seized the op.
portunity to whisper In his ear. Her
eyes were sparkling. and something In
her manner bespoke Of beted breath.
You are in love with my sister,"
was what she said to him. He blush
ed convincingly.
NONSENSE" he managed to reply,
but without much persuasiveness.
but you are. I'm not blind. Any
one can see it. She sees 1t. Haven't
you sense enough to hide It from her!
How do you expect to wiuT
my dear Mrs.-my dear Edith. you
amaze me I'm confusion itself; but"
he went on eagerly. illogically. do
you think | could win herr"
THAT is not for ones wife to say"
she said demurely.
I'D be tremendously proud Of you
as a sisterinlaw. And I'd be much
obliged II you'd help me. But look at
that COMPOUNDED Ulstervelt! He's max
ing love to her with the whole house
looking on"
II think IT might be polite II you
were to ask him out for a drink she
suggested.
But I've had and ! take
two"