The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-14

fast dropping tossTeep, notwfthsta andfhg his companfon'ss rapid flow of small talk It did not take Freddie long to decide. Ha was an outcast and a par 1ah and he was very lonely. He must have some one to talk to- Without more ado he bore down upon the cou- pie and a moment later was tact fully advising the sleepy Mr. Rodney to take himself off to bed-advfce which that gentleman gladly accepted. And so 1t came about that Freddie sat face to face with the last resort, at the foot of the chaise-longue, gazing with serene adulation into the eyes of woman who might have had a son as old as he-if she had had one at all. She had been a coquette in her salad days-there was no doubt of 1t. She had encountered fervid gaIlants in all parts of the world and in all stations Of life. But it remained for the gal 1ant Freddie Ulstervelt to bowl her oyer with surprise for the first time in her long and varied career. At the end of half an hour she pulled herself together and tapped him on the shoul- der with her fan, a quizzical smile on her lips.
 My dear MT. U1sterve1t, are you trying to make love to me? You nice AmericansI How gallant you can bel I am quite old enough to be your mother. Believe me, thank you for the compliment. I can't tell you how appreciate this delicate hatteFy. You aye very delicious. But,'' as she arose E~aCiously, "'Pd follow MT. Rodney's example if were you I'd go to bed" Then, with rare smile, which could not have been more chilling, she left him standing there.
 ''By Jovel''@ he muttered, passing his hand across his eyes as if bewiIdered. What was I saying to her? Good Lord, has it got to be a habit with mel Was I making love to-her?" He de parted for the American bar.
 MEs. Rodney had but little sleep that night. She went to bed in 8 state of worry and uncertainty, oppressed by the shadows which threatened eternal darkness to the fair name of the fam fly, however distantly removed. Kath- erine's secret had in reality been news to her; she had not paid enough atten- tion to the Medcrofts to notice any thing that they did, so long az they did not do it in conjunction with the l Odell-Carneys. The Odell-Carneys were | her horfzon-morning noon and night. And now there was likelihood of that | 1 sickening scandal in the vulgar fore 1 ground. sInspiredt by. Katherine's dread l full conclusions, the excellent lady set ] about to observe. for herself. During l the entire evening she fitted about the 1 hotel and grounds with all the snoop- 1 ing instincts of a Sherlock Holmes. 1 She Iurked, if fhatsis not putting it too 1 theatricaIIy. From unexpected hooks she emerged to view the landscape o'er; by devious paths she led her doubts to the gates of absolute certain l ty and then sat down to shudder to
 her hearts content It was all true! I For four hours she had been trying to ] get to the spot where she could see 1 with her own eyes and. at last she had
 come to it. Of course she had to ad l init to herself that she did not actually
 hear MT Medcroft tell Constance that
 he loved her, but it was enough fol l 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 othel
 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 hin | as one.
 Mrs. Rodney also discovered tha
 Mrs. Medcroft went to her room at
 o'clock, at least three hours before tht
 subdued tete-a-tete came to an end
 The poor thing doubtless was cryinl
 her eyes out, decided Mrs. Rodney. And now, after all this, is 1t to b.
 considered surprising that the distress
 ed mother of Katherine did not slee]
 well that night? Nor should her wake
 fitness be laid at the door of the tire
 MT. Rodney, who was ever a firm an'
 stentorian sleeper.