Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-10-08
long BY shrieking wheels and rasping

ca bles. i s.ts ~ i @s4ii
y"Al'sieur is very fortunate in being
so afflicted" he doomed. "a thousand
tunes III the night have wished that
might be deaf also. All! Even an
afiliction such as yours. m'sieur, has
its benedictions." ~
Matters drifted along smoothly, even
merrily. for several days. They were
all young and full Of the Joy Of living.
They laughed In secret over the mis-
haps and perils. They whitfield and
enjoyed the spice that filled the atmos-
phere in which they lived. They Wis
tied the gardens and the hofs, the
chateau at Schonbrunn, the imperial
sta bles. the gay ''Venice in Vienna
they attended the opera and the con-
certs. ever in most circumspect
trinity" as Brock had come to classi
fy their parties. Like dut1ful hus-
band. he always included his wife in
the expeditions.
You are not only most exemplary
wife. Mrs. Medcroft," he declared, "but
an unusually agreeable chaperon. l
don't know how Constance and I could
get on without you"
But the day Of severest trial was now
at hand. The Rodneys were arriving
on the fifth day from Berlin. Despite
the fact that the Seattle connections
had never seen the illustrious Med
croft. husband to their distant cousin.
there still remained the disturbing fear
that they would recognize-or, rather,
fail to recognize him!-from chance pic
lures that might have come to their
notice. Besides, there was always the
possibility that they had seen or even
met Brock in New York. He lugubri-
ously admitted that he had met un-
fortunate thousands whom he had
promptly forgotten, but who seldom
failed to remember him. 1t is not sur
prising. then, that the Medcrofts, ex
parte, were in state Of perturbation
condition which did not relax In the
least as the time drew near for the ar
rival Of the S o'clock train from the
north. Constance strove faithfully,
even valiantly, to inject confidence into
the souls Of the prime conspirators.
You have done so beautifully up to
this time," she protested to the dolorous
Brock, why should you be afraid?
once read of an Indian chief whose
name was Young-Nan-Afraid-of Of His
Wife. He was very brave fellow in
spite OF all that. You are afraid Of
Edith. but can't you be like the Indian?
He"-
That's all very nice" nsurned
Brock. But he could cover his con.
fusion with war paint. Don't forget
that, my dear. Think of the difference
In our disguises-war paint in daubs
| versus spats and an eyeglass! Besides,
he didn't have to talk west end Eng
lish. And, moreover, he lived in 4 wig
! wan and didn't have to explain, sky
bedroom to strangers who happened
along"
THAT il bit awkward" she con-,
fessed thouehtfully. But can't you
say that you have insomnia and can't
sleep unless you are above the noise Of
the street,"
He looked at her with an expression
that made a verbal reply to this sug-
gestion altogether unnecessary.
"Nurse says: that Tootles has forgot
ton the real Roxbury," she went on aft
, or a moment. "See how cleverly you
have played the part"
| Still he stared modify, unconvinced.
ut the roadway ahead. They were
| driving in the Haupt Alice
~
trouble by that interview l gave out
concerning the new method Of fire.
| proofng woodwork in Office buildings
and hotels. 1t occurred to me after
| ward that he is violently opposed to
the system l advocated it. He'll have
al might say devil Of time ex-
planning his change of 'front.'
As a matter Of fact, when Medcroft.
hiding in London, saw the reproduced
interview in the Times, together with
editorial comments upon the extraordi-
nary attitude Of a supposedly conserva-
tive Englishman of recognized ability,
he was tried almost beyond endurance.
For the next two or three days the
! newspapers printed caustic contribu-
tons from fellow architects and build
ers, in each of which the luckless Med
croft was taken to task for advocating
an impractical and famous New York
hobby in the way of construction. some
thing that staid old London would not
even tolerate or discuss. The social
chroniclfngs of the Medcrofts in VI
emma as dispatched by the correspond
ents Offset this unhappy "bull' to some
extent In SO far as Medcroft's peace Of
mind was concerned, but nothing could
have drawn attention to the fact that
he was not in London at that partic.
ular time so decisively as the Vienna
interview and its undefended front.
Even his shrewdest enemy could not
have suspected Medcroft Of patience
which would permit him to sit quiet In
London while the attacks were going
on. He found some small solace In the
reflection that he could make the end
Justify the means.
On their return to the Bristol, Brock
and Miss Fowler found the fair Edith
In pitiful state Of collapse. She de-
clared over and over again that she
could not face the Rodneys. 1t was
more than should be expected Of her.
She was sure that something would go
,rong. Why-oh, why was it neces-
AIRY to deceive the Rodncys? Why
should they be kept in the dark? Why
wasn't Roxbury there to counsel wise
", ana more, ad inhnitum. until the
| distracted p81r wora on tho n0int If