Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-10-01
The.
Husbands of
Edith
s.,
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCnE0N
Copyright BY Dodd. Mead ( Go.
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTChf0N
Copyright BY Dodd. Mead { Go.
CHAPTER ~.
~ am ConafancA -

ID When the waiter departed he
leaned forward and said quite
frankly:
you'll pardon me, I'm sure. but
can't understand how l was so short.
sighted as to marry your sister,"
"Well, you see. you didn't catch a
glimpse Of me until after you were
married." she rallied. II was in the Sa-
cred Heart convent, you remember"
am considered an unusually discrimi-
mating person. Let me see: married
a Miss Fowler. didn't ~
Eyes, Roxbury-four years ago in
London. at st. Georges, in Hanover
square. at o'clock on Saturday
Didn't they tell you all that?'
II don't think they said anything
about 1t being o'clock. I'm glad to
know the awful details, believe me
Thanks! Do you know l decided you
were an American the instant | saw
you in the door," he went ON. quite IT.
relevantly.
"How clever Of you, Roxburyw
"Oh, say, Miss Fowler, I'm not such
an ass as look-really I'm not. I'm
trying to look like
"'Sh! II you want me to believe
you are not the ass you think you look
be careful what you say. Remember
am not Miss Fowler to you am Con
stance-sometimes Connie. Can you
remember that, Roxbury?"
He drew long breath. "Oh, say
Connie, I'd much rather be plain Brock
to you"
"Please don't forget that am doing
this for my sister. not for myself by
any manner Of MEANS" she said stif1y
He flushed painfully, conscious of the
rebuke
"Please overlook my faults for the
time being" he said "I'll do better
You see, I've been rather overcome by
the sense Of my own Importance. I'm
not used to being the head Of an es-
adjustment. 1t has dazed me. A great
many things have happened to me
since I left the Care de rEst last
night" He was considerate in not re
ferring to his unhappy mode of trav.
cling. "For instance. I'VE completely
lost my head" He might have said
that, but that would have sounded CON-
monplace and earthly.
"One does, you know, when he loses
his identity" she said sympathetically.
Edith says you are ripping and all
that sort OF thing" she went on bur-
riedly, In perfect mimicry. "You come
very highly recommended as a broth
er-in-law."
"Are you to be with US until the end
of the play?"
"Yes The Rodneys are my friends.
not Edith's. Katherine Rodney was in
the convent with me. We see a great
deal Of each other. I'm sure you will
like her. Everybody falls dreadfully
In love with her."
How very amiable of you to permit
It," he protested CALAMITY. "I'm sure
/ shall enjoy falling In love. Which
reminds me that I've never had a Sis
ter-in-law. They're very nice, I'm told
It's odd that Medcroft didn't tell me
about you. Would you mind advanc
Ing bit of general information about
yourself-and, may I say. about my
family In general? 1t may come
handy"
Il feel as though had known you
Tor years." she said. frankly returning
his gaze. She leaned forward. her ell
bows on the table, her chin in her
hands. I'm merely Edith's sister.
We live In Par1s-that Is, father and |
I'm three years younger than Edith
OF course you know how old your
wife is, so we won't dwell upon that
You don't? Then I'd demand it of
her. ! haven't been in Philadelphia
since was seven. and that's ages ago.
! have no mother, and father Is of In
South America on business So you
see little sister has to tag after big
sister. Oh" She interrupted the re
cital with an abrupt change of man.
ner. I'm so sorry you've finished
your coffee. Now you'll have to 70.
Roxbury always does"
"But I haven't finished" he exclaim-
ed eagerly. I'm going to have three
or four more pots. You have no idea
how
ITS all right, them" she said. with
her rarest and most confident smile
"Well, Edith asked me to come to
London for the season. The Rodneys
were in Paris at the time, however
and they asked me to join them for q
fortnight In the Tyrol. When / said
that was Off for visit with the
with you, mean-they insisted that
you all should come too. They are
connections in way, don't you seei
So we accepted. And here we are"
You don't, by any chance, happier
to be engaged to be married, or any
thing of that sortY' he ventured
''Don't crush me! It's only as a safe
guard, you know. People may ash
Questions"
"You are not obliged to answer them
z Roxbury," she said. The flush hal
deepened In her cheek. 1t convinced
him that she was In love-and engag
ed. He experienced queer sinking
Of the heart you can say that you
don't know. If any one should be sc
rude as to ask" Suddenly she caught
her breath and stared at him in sort
Of panic. Heavensp, she whispered
~ u Ey,@s "a {. al