The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-13

cared person with London drawing room instinct, she plainly could hear what they were saying as they ap preached. These were the first words she fully grasped, and they caused her to prick up her ears:
 ''I don't give hang, Edith. Pm tired of being her brotherin-law."
 You're tired of me, Roxbury-that's g what it is,'' in pIaintive tones.
 You're happy, you love and are lov- ed, so please don't put. it that way. It's not fair. Think of the pitiable pc sition Pm in.''
 My dear Roxbury,'' quite severely, eff there's nothing else that will inf1u- ence you, just stop to consider the che-ild! There's Tootles, dear Tootles, to think>4Of
 Of course Mrs. OdeI-Carney could not be expected to know that Edith was blithely testing.
 My dear Edith" he said just as firmly, '"Footles has nothing to do with the case. You know, and Constance knows, and I know, and the whole world will soon know that Pm not even related to her, poor little begsar. I don't see why she should come be- tween me and happiness just because she happens to bear a social resem- blance to a man who isn't her father. Come, now, let's talk over the situation sensibIy."
 Just then they passed beyond the hearing of the astonished eavesdrop- per. Good heaven, what was this :? Not his child? Two minutes later Mrs Odell-Carney was back at the spring where they had left her somnoIent. hus- band, who had refused to climb a hill because all of his breath was required to smoke g cigarette.
 Carney she said sternIy, her lips rigid, her eyes set hard upon his face, ''how long have the Medcrofts been married?''
 He binked heavily. How the devil should I know? 'Pon me word, it's"-
 -Four years, I think Mrs Rodney told me. How old is that babys''
 'Pon me soul, Agatha, Pm as much ip the dark as you. I don't know
 f''A little over year, I'd say. We'll, just heard Medcroft say that she wasn't his child. Whose is ttP'' She stood there like an accusing angel. He started violently, and his jaw dropped. | An expression of alarmed protest leap ed into his HstIess eyes.
 "'Pon my word, Agatha, how the devil should know2 Don't look at me like that Give you my word of honor, I don't know the woman 'Pon me soul, don't, my dear.''
 He was very much in earnest, thor oughly aroused by what seemed to be direct insfnuation.
 "Oh, don't be stupid" she cried. Good heavens, can there be a scandal in that lovely woman's Iife?'
 There's never any. scandal in a wo- mans life unless she's reasonably lovely remarked he.
 Whose child is she, if she isn't Med croft's?" she pursued with a perplexed frown.
 'Demme, Agatha, don't ask me-" he said trritably, passing his hand over his brow 'I've told you that twice. Ask them; I dare say they know"
 She looked at him in disgust. "As if I could do such a thing SIS that! Dear me, I don't understand it at all. Four years married. Yes, I'm sure that's it. Carney, you don't suppose''- She hesitated. It was not necessary to complete the obvious question. Agatha said he, weighing his re mark carefully, "Pve said all along that Medcroft is a fool Take those windows, for instance. If he''-
 esOh rubbish! What have the win dows to do with it? You are positive ly stupid. And I'd come to like her