Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-30

my sort; you have sort of New York
feeling sabout you. I'm sure you're
enough Of n sport to give me unpreju-
diced advice. Hands across the sea.
see? Well. TO get right down TO the
point. old man-you'll pardon my plain
speech-I think Constance ought to
marry an American"
Brock sat up very straight. 81 think
that's-thats matter for Miss Fowler
to determine" he said coldly.
You don't quite get my meaning"
persisted Freddie, crossing his legs
comfortably. II was trying to make it
easy for myself"
You mean. you think she ought to
marry you"
That's it. precisely. How clever
You are"
But you are said to be engaged to
Miss Rodney" ventured Brock. feeling
his way.
That's just the point. Mr.. Medcroft
We're not really engaged-but almost.
AS a matter of fact, we've got to the
point where it's really up TO ME to
speak to her father about it. don't you
know. Luckily l haven't"
Luckily"
Yes: that would have committed me,
don't you see. I've been tentatively
engaged more than Il dozen times, but
never quite up to the girls father.
Now, don't mind telling you that I've
changed my mind about Katherine.
She's a jolly good sort. but she's not
Just my sort. thought she was. but
well, you know how it is yourself. The
hearts a id queer organ. Mine has
gone back to Constance in the last two
days. You are her brother-in-law, and
you're a good fellow through and
through. | want your help. I've got
money to burn. and the family's got
position in the States. | can take care
of her as she should be taken care of.
No little old six room fat for her. But,
of course, you understand, ! can't quite
carry the thing through with Kath-
crime still feeling herself attached. as
it were. The thing to decide IS this:
How best can ! let Katherine down
easily and take on Connie without put
ting myself in a rather hazardous po-
sition? I'm gentleman, you see. and
l can't do anything downright rotten.
1t wouldn't do. I'm sure In her heart
Connie cares for me. could make her
understand me better If had half the
chance. But a fellow cant get near
her nowadays. Don't you think you
are carrying the family link too far?
] rot I IN of a "a
friend is this: Will you put in a good
word for me every chance you get?
! I'll square myself with Katherine all
right. OF course. you'll understand, l
don't want to actually break with
Katherine until I'm reasonably sure OF
| Constance I'm a guest of the Rodney
family, you see. 1t would be down
right indecent OF me No. sir: I'm not
that sort. | shouldn't think of ending
+ it all with Katherine so long as we
( are both guests of her father. I'd wait
I until the end OF next week"
/ Brock had listened in utter amaze
ment to the opening portion Of this in
/ genuous proposal. AS the flexile youth
/ progressed amazement gave place to in
dignatlon and then TO disgust. Brock S
I brow grew dark; the impulse TO pull
5 his countryman's nose was hard to
overcome. Never in all his life had
he listened to such a frankly cold
blooded argument as that put forth by
the insufferable Knickerbocker In the
/ end the big New Yorker saw only the
laughable side Of the little New York
er's plight After all, he was a harm
( less egoist, from whom no girl could
. expect much in the way Of recompense
1t mattered little who the girl Of tbs
moment might be, she could not hops
TO or even seek to hold his perambula
] tory affections. Hes a single exam
pie Of a great New York class" reflect
ed Brock. The futile. priggish rich
There are thousands like him in M
dear New Observation-Disclosures inyer
tebrate. sybaritic sons Of idleness, col
lege bred and underlined little beast.
: who can buy and then cast off at theil
I pleasure They have no means OF
knowing how TO fall in love with q
good girl They have not been trained
to it. 1t is not for their scrambled In