New Ulm review., 1913-10-08
THE
HUSBANDS
OF EDITH
By
GEORGE BARR
n'CUTCHEON
Cop,Rloht bu Dodd. Mead z CO.

fully. 4she's your wife in public only.
By the way. you'll have to get used to
the name Of Roxbury. Don't look
around as If you expected to 6nd me
standing behind your back when she
says 'Roxbury, dear! I shan't De
there. you know. She'll mean you
Don't forget that"
"Oh, l say" exclaimed Brock, halt
inR abruptly and staring in dismay ut
the confident conspirator. "will ! have
to wear suit of clothes like that and
an eyeglass and-and-good Lord!
spatsr.. >.
'By Jove, you shall wear this very
suit!" cried Medcroft, inspired. Were
Of a size. and it won't ct you any better
than it does me. Our clothes never mt
10 in London. Clever idea of yours.
Brock. to think Of it. And. here! Well
stop at this shop and pick up glass.
You can have all day for practice with
IT. And. I say, Brock, don't you think
you can cultivate a-er-httle more OF
an English style Of speech7 That
twang Of yours WON'T
@Heavens, man, I'm to be a low
comedian tool" gasped Brock as he was
fairiy pushed on to the shop. Three
minutes later they were on the side
walk, and Brock was In possession OF.
IN object he had sc0rned most OF all
things in the world-a monocle
Arm in arm they sauntered into the
Rita Medcroft retained his clasp on
his friends elbow as they went up In
tho ift, after the fashion of one who
fears that his victim is contemplating
aiRht As they entered the comforta-
bio little sitting room Of the suit
young woman rose gracefully from the
desk at which she had been writing.
With perfect composure she smiled and
extended her slim hand to the Ameri-
can rs be crossed the rom with Med
crofts jerky introduction dinging In
his ears. d.
my old friend, Brock. dear. He has
consented to be your husband. You've
never met your wife, have you. old
man?' A blush spread over her ex-
Quisite face.
"Oh, Roxbury, how embarrassing!
He hasn't even proposed to me. SO
glad to meet you. Mr. Brock. I've been
trying to picture what you would look
IKE ever since Ro1bury went out to
ind you. Sit here please, near me.
Roxbury, has Mr.. Brock really fallen
into your terrible trap? Isn't 1t the most
ridiculous proceeding. Mr.. Brock
Call him. Roxbury. my dear. He's
fully prepared for It. And now let's
ret down to business. He insists upon
talking it over with you. You don't
mind me being present, do you, Brock!
I dare say I can help you out a bit.
I've been married four years"
For an hour the trio discussed the
situation from all sides and In all Its
phases When Brock arose to take his
departure, he was irrevocably commit
ted to the enterprise. He was, more
over. completely enchanted by the vista
Of harmless fun and sweet adventure
that stretched before him. He went
away with his head full Of the bril-
liant, quick witted, loyal young Amer
ican who was entering so heartily into
the plot to deceive her own friends
for the time being in order that her
=, husband might profit in high places.
'.She is ripping" he said to Medcroft
in the hallway All Of the plans had
been made and all Of them had been
approved by the young wife. She had
shown wonderful perspicacity and fore
sight in the matter Of details. Her ca
pacity for selection and disposal was
even more comprehensive than that OF
the two men, both of whom were some
what staggered by the boIdness OF
more than one suggestion which came
from her fruitful storehouse Of roman
tic ideas She had grasped the full hu'
NOR of the situation, from inception to
denouement, and to all appearance was
heart and soul deep in the venture, de-
epising the risks because she knew
that succor was always at her el-
bow in the shape of her husbands
loyal support. There was no condi'
tion involved which could not be ex-
planned to her credit; adequate COM
pensation for the merry sacrifice was
to be had in the brief detachment from
rigid English conventionality. in the
hazardous injection Of quixotism into
an otherwise overly healthful life OF
platitudes. Society had become the
sepulcher of youthful inspirations. She
welcomed the resurrection. The ex-
quisite delicacy with which she ana
lyxed the cost and computed the IN.
terest won for her the warmest regard
Of her husbands friend, fellow con-
spirator IN a plot which involved the
subtlest test of loyalty and honor.
"Yes," said Medcroft simply. "You
won't have reason to change your opin-
ion, Brock" He hesitated for mo-
ment and then burst out, rather plain
lively: "She's an awfully good sort,
demme, she is. And 50 are you, Brock.
It's mighty decent OF you. You're the
only man in all the world that could
hn~p~ = e..