The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-08-07


mo. I should say I don't. don't you
see" substituted Brock
81 was wondering how you could
have seen. It's a matter haven't dis
cussed with any one. I've come to
have liking for you. Roxbury. You're
my Sort YOU have a 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 you'll pardon my plain
speech-i think Constance ought to
marry an American"
Brock sat up very straight. ~ think
thats-that's a matter for Miss Fowler
TO determine he said coldly,
"You don't quite get my .meaningr
persisted Freddie. crossing This legs
comfortably. Il was trying TO make 1t
easy for MYSELF - -
You mean. you think she ought TO
marry you"
That's 1t. precisely. How ciever
you are
But you are said 10 be engaged to
Miss Rodney" ventured Brock. feeling
his way.
That's just the point. Mr.. Medcroft,
We're not really engaged-but almost.
As matter Of fact, we've got to the
point where it's really up to me to
speak TO her fnther 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 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, bnt she's not
just my sort. / 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 brotherin-law, and
you're good fellow through and
through I want your help. I've got
money to burn, and the family's got
position In the States. Gun take care
of her as she should be taken care of.
No little old six room Hat for her But,
Of course, you understand. 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 I let Katherine down
easily and take on Connie without put
ting myself In a rather hazardous pc.
sition? I'm gentleman, You see. and
| can't do anything downright rotten,
Ii wouldn't do. I'm sure in her heart
Connie cares for me, could make her
understand me better II had half the
chance But n 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 a
friend is this: viii you put in good
word for me every chance you get?
III square myself with Katherine all
right. OF course. you'll understand,
don't want to actually break with
Katherine until I'm reasonably sure of
Constance. I'm a guest OF the Rodney
family. you see II would be down
right indecent OF me. No. sir; I'm not
that sort. shouldn't think of ending
Il 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
mont 10 the onentng portion of this in
genuous proposal AS the fiexile youth
progressed amazement gave place to In
dignation and then TO disgust. Brooks
brow grew dark; the impulse to pull
his countryman's nose was hard to
overcome Never In all his life had
he listened to such frankly cold
bIooded argument as that put forth by
the insuffera BILE Knickerbocker. In the
end the big New Yorker saw only the
laughable side of the little New York
ers plight After all, he 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
pie of n great New York class" reflect
ed Brock The futile. priggish rich!
There are thousands like him In my
dear New York-conscienceless inver-
tebrate sybaritic sons OF ideness, col
lege bred and underbred little beasts