The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-10-09

Americans! How gallant you can be!
l am quite old enough to be your
mother. Believe me. | thank you for
the compliment. | can't tell you how
l appreciate this delicate fattery. You
are very delicious. But" as she arose
Sraciously, I'D follow Mr.. Rodney's
example If ! were you. I'd go to bed
Then. with a rare smile, which could
no have been more chilling, she left
him standing there.
by Jove! he muttered, passing his
hand across his eyes as If bewildered.
What was | saying to her? Good
Lord, has 1t got to be a habit with mel
Was l making love to-her?" He de-
parted for the American bar.
Mrs. Rodney had but little sleep that
night. She went to bed In a 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-C arneys were
her Mountaineering, noon and night.
And now there was likelihood of that
glorious horizon being obscured by a
sickening scandal In the vulgar fore
ground. Inspired by Katherine's dread
full conclusions, the excellent lady set
about to observe for herself. During
the entire evening she fitted about the
hotel and grounds with all the snoop-
ing instincts Of a Sherlock Holmes.
She lurked, II that Is not putting 1t too
Electrically. From unexpected hooks
she emerged to view the landscape
DER; by devious paths she led her
doubts to 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 W eyes and at last she had
come to 1t. or course she had to ad-
hear Mr.. Medcroft tell Constance that
he loved her. but it 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 well 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 1t, nor to re-
sent 1t, which is proof that the world
loves a lover when 1t 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. is 1t to be
considered surprising that the distress
ed mother of Katherine did not sleep
we'll that night2 Nor should her wake
fulness be laid at the door OF the tired
Mr.. Rodney. who was ever a firm and
stentorian sleeper.
Morning came. and with 1t a horse
back ride for Brock and Miss Fowler
That was enough for Mrs. Rodney. she
would hold in no longer. Mrs. Odell-
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
co~nsiderate hostess appeared before
her guest with a headful Of disclosures.
She had decided in advance that II
would not do to beat about the bush.
30 to speak. She would come directly
to the obnoxious point.
They were In Mrs. Odell- Carney's
sitting room. Mr.. Odeli- Carney was
smoking a cigarette on the balcony,
Just outside the window. Mrs. Rodney
did not know that he was there. 1t is
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 a 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.
It goes without saying that Mrs.
Odell-Carney refused to be surprised
by the disclosures. She calmly ad.
mitted that she had suspected Med
croft Of being too fond Of his sister-in-
law: but. she ven 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 80 slow
a. Mrs. Rodney thought. oh. no. Mrs
Odell- Carney warmed up considerably