The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-11-06

not have been more chilling. she left
him standing there.
by JoyeY' he muttered, passing his
hand across bis eyes as if bewildered.
what was saying to herr Good
Lord, has it got to be habit with me!
Was I making love to-herT He de-
parted for the American bar.
Mrs. Rodney had but little sleep that
night. She went to bed In q state OF
worry and uncertainty. oppressed by
the shadows which threatened eternal
darkness to the fair name of the fam
lily. however distantly removed. Kath-
crimes secret had In reality been news
to her: she had not paid enough atten-
ton to the Medcrofts to notice any
thing that they did. so long as they
did not do 1t In conjunction with the
Odell- Carneys. The Odell Carneys were
her horizon-morning. noon and night.
And now there was likelihood Of that
glorious horizon being obscured By
sickening scandal in the vulgar fore
ground. Inspired by Katherine's dread
full conclusions. the excellent lady set
about to observe tor herself. During
the entire evening she lifted about the
hotel and grounds with all the snoop-
ing instincts Of Sherlock Holmes:
She lurked. II that 10 not putting 1t too
Electrically. From unexpected hooks
she emerged to view the landscape
DER; by devious paths she led her
doubts 10 the gates Of absolute certain.
ty and then sat down to shudder to
her hearts content 1t was all true!
For four hours she had been trying to
get to the spot where she could see
with her own eyes and at last she had
come to it. OF course she had to ad-
NIT to herself that she did not actually
hear Mr.. Medcroft tell Constance that
he loved her, but 1t was enough for
her that he sat with her in the semi
darkness for two unbrOken hours,
speaking In tones so low that they
might just as we'll have been whisper
ing so far as her taut ears were con-
cerned.
Moreover. other persons than her.
self had smilingly nudged each other
and referred to the couple as lovers:
no one seemed to doubt it, nor to re-
sent it, which is proof that the world
loves a lover when it recognizes him
as one.
Mrs. Rodney also discovered that
Mrs Medcroft went to her room at 8
O'clock. at least three hours before the
subdued ~tete.a-tete came to an end.
The poor thing doubtless was crying
her eyes out, decided Mrs. Rodney.
And now. after all this. Ia 1t to be
considered surprising that the distress
ed mother of Katherine did not sleep
well that night? Nor should her wake
fuiness be laid at the door Of the tired
Mr.. Rodney. who was ever a firm and
sleeper.
Morning came. and with 1t horse
back ride for Brock and Miss Fowler.
That was enough for Mrs. Rodney. she
would hold In no longer. Mrs. odeil-
Carney must be told. She. at least,
must have the chance to escape before
the storm of scandal broke to muddy
her Immaculate skirts. Forthwith the
considerate hostess appeared before
her guest with a headful Of disclosures.
She had decided in advance that IL
would not do to beat about the bush.
20 to speak. She would come directly
to the obnoxious point.
They were in Mrs. Odell-C arney's
sitting room. Mr.. Odell- Carney was
smoking a cigarette on the balcony,
just outside the window. Mrs. Rodney
only natural that he held himself in
Hospitality aloof. Mrs. Rodney bored
him to death. He did not hear all that
was poured out between them, but he
heard quite enough to cause him some
thing Of pang. He distinctly heard
his wife say things to Mrs. Rodney
that she had solemnly avowed she
would not say-things about the Med
croft baby.
1t goes without saying that Mrs.
by the disclosures. She calmly ad
mitted that she had suspected Med
croft Of being too fond of his sister-in-
law; but, she went on cheerfully, why
not? His wife didn't care a rap for
him-she said rap and nothing else.
Mrs. Medcroft had an affair Of her
own, dear child. She was not 50 slow
as Mrs. Rodney thought. oh. no. Mrs.
Odell- Carney warmed up considerably
I'm defending the not to be pitied Edith.
She safd che had Iikad her from tho
beginning. and more than ever, now
that she had really come to the con-
clusion that her husband was the kind
who sets his wife an example by being
a bit divaricating himself.
Mrs. Rodney fairly screeched with
horror when she heard that Tootles
was "a poor little beggar." and "all
that sort OF thing. you know"
my dear" said Mrs. Odell- Carney.
hating herself all the time for engag-
ing In the spread Of gossip. but femi-
ninety unable to Withstand the test.
"your excellent cousin, Mrs. Medcroft.
receives two letters day from Lon
don-great, fat letters which take If
teen minutes to read In spite of the
fact that they are written In per-
fectiy huge hand by mana man.
dye hear? They're not from her hus-
band He's here. He cannot have
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