New Ulm review., 1913-11-05

feeling about you I'm sure you're
enough Of sport to give me unpreju-
diced advice. Hands across the sea.
see? Well. to get right down to the
point. old man--you'iI pardon my plain
speech think Constance ought to
marry an American IS
Brock sat up very straight. II think
that's--that's a matter for Miss Fowler
to determine" he said coldly.
"You don't quite get my meaning"
persisted Freddie. crossing his legs
comfortably. 81 was trying to make 1t
easy for myself
you mean you thlnk 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.. Medcr0ft
We're not really engaged-but almost.
Az 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 haven't"
Luckily"
"Yes; that would have committed me.
don't you see. I've been tentatively
engaged more than u 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 jolly good sort, but she's not
just my sort l thought she was, but
well, you know how 1t is yourself. The
hearts id queer organ. Mine has
gone back to Constance in the last two
days. You are her brother-in-law. and
you're 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, l can't quite
carry the thing through with Kath-
crime still feeling herself attached. as
1t were. The thing to decide Is this:
How best can l let Katherine down
easily and take on Connie without put
ting myself In rather hazardous po-
sition? I'm gentleman. you see. and
I can't do anything downright rotten.
It 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 fellow can't get near
her nowadays. Don't you think you
are carrying the family link too far?
Now. what want to ask Of you as
friend Is this: Will you put In a good
word for me every chance you get?
III square myself with Katherine all
right or course. you'll understand. l
don't want to actually break with
Katherine until I'm reasonably sure of
Constance. I'm 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 walt
until the end Of next week"
Brock had listened in utter amaze
meat to the opening portion Of this in
genuous proposal AS the flexile youth
progressed amazement gave place to In
d1ghdtIon and then to disgust. Brooks
brow grew dark; the impulse to pull
his countryman's nose was hard to
overcome. Never in ali his life had
he listened to such a frankly cold
blooded argument as that put forth by
the insuffera BILE KnfckerbOcker. In the
end the big New Yorker saw only the
laushable side of the little New York
ers plight. After all. be was harm
less egoist. from whom no girl could
expect much in the way Of recompense.
1t mattered little who the girl of the
moment might be. she could not hope
to or even seek to hold his perambula
tory affections. Hes single exam
ed Brock. The futile. priggish rich!
There are thousands like him in my
dear New YOrk-conscienceles inver-
tebrate. sybaritic sons of id!eness. col
lege bred and underbred little beasts
who can buy and then cast off at their
pleasure. They have no means of
knowing how to fall in love with
good girl They have not been trained
to it 1t is not for their scrambled in
tellects to discriminate between the
chorus girl brand Of attack and the
subtle wooing of Gentlewoman. They
can't analyze: they can't feel! And
this insipid. egotistical little bounder
is actually sitting there and asking
me to help him with the girl I love!
Good Lord. what next?" He surveyed
the eager Ulstervelt in the most irri
tating manner. finally laughing out
right in his face. The very thought Of
him as Comics accepted lover! She.
the adorable. the splendid. the unap-
1t was excruciaungIy
funny!
"Oh. | say. old man." cried Freddie
when the disconcerting laugh came.
don't laugh. It's no joke
"'Pon my soul. Ulstervelt," apollo
gized Brock, with magnanimous
smile. II haven't said it was joke. ,
YOU
Hok