The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-12

"Come. Roxbury, what do you say to a good long walk?' cried Constance. s'I must talk to you seriously about great many things, beginning with ego tism'' He set forth with alacrtty, re- toicing in spite of his numerous lim1ta- tions.
 Upon their return from the delight full stroll along the mountain side, she went at once to her room to dress for dinner. Brock, more deeply in love than evef before, lighted a cigar and seated himself in the gallery dubious ly retrospective in his meditations. He was sore1y disturbed by her almost constant all,Ision to Freddie Ulstervelt and his amazingly. attractive ways" Was it possible that she could be real ly in love with tLat insignificant little whipper snapper? He seemed to be propounding this doleful question to the lofty, sphinxlike Waldraster- Spitze, looming dark in the path of the south.
 ''Hellor' exclaimed a voice close to his ear-the fresh, confident voice that he knew so well. sI've been looking for you everywhere" Freddie drew up a chair and sat down at his good side.'' The young man appeared to have something weighty on his. mind. Brock shifted uneasily. ''I want to put it up to you, MT. Medcroft, as man to man. You are Comics brother-in-law and you ought to be able to set me straight
 @Ah, see,'' said Brock vaguely.
 "You do2' queried the other, surprise and doubt in his face.
 ''No, should say don't, don't you see," substituted Brock. I
 ''I was wondering how you could have seen. It's matter haveift dis cussed with any one. I've come to have a liking for you, Roxbury. You're my sort; you have sort of New York feeling about you. I'm sure you're enough of a sport to give me unpreju- diced advice. Hands across the sea, see? Well, to get right down to the point, old man-you1l pardon my plain speechI think Constance ought to marry an American"
 Brock sat up very straight. 'fI think that's-thats matter for Miss Fowler to determine,'' he said coldly.
 You don't quite get my meaning" persisted Freddie, crossing his legs comfortably. T was trying to make it easy for myself.''
 'tYou mean, you think 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.
 'eThat's just the point, MT. Medcroft. We're not really engaged-but almost. As a matter of fact, we've got to the speak to her father about it, don't you II1oLyiIv
 ''Luckily?''
 t|Yes; that would have committed me, don't you. see. I've been tentatively engaged more than a 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 a jolly good sort, but she's not just my sort. I thought she was, but well, you know how it is yourself. The hearts a d-d queer organ. Mine has I gone back to Constance in the last two days You are her .brother-in-law, and you're a good fellow through and through. I 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, I can't quite carry the thing through with Kath- erine still feeling herself attached, as l it were. The thing to decide is this: How best can I let Katherine down easily and take on Connie without put ting myself in a rather hazardous po- sition? Pm a gentleman; you see, and 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 a fellow can't get near i her nowadays. Don't you think you l are carrying the family link too far? | Now, what I want to ask of you ss a friend is this: Will you put in a good word for me every chance you get? I'll square myself with Katherine all right Of course, you'll understand, I 1 don't want to actually break with Katherine until Pm reasonably. sure of 1 Constance Pm guest of the Rodney family, you see It would be down right indecent of me- No, sir; I'm not that sort I shouldn,ts think of ending it all with Katherine so long as we are both guests of her father. I'd wait until the end of next week. Brock had listened in utter amaze ment to the opening portion of this in 1 genuous proposal. As the hexile youth h progressed amazement gave place to 1n- dignation and then to disgust. Brock S
 brow grew dark; the impulse to pull his country1nan's nose was hard ts 1 overcome. Never in all his life had he listened. to such a frankly cold bIooded argument as that put forth by | the insuifera bIe KRickerbocker. In the end the big New Yorker saw only the laughable side of the little New York CTS plight After all, he was a harm less egoist, from whom no girl could expect much in the way of recompense. . 10 be CQ1tiRuadA