Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-10-23
MY dear, the baby is a darling"
'sRut what an ass MedcrOft is"

MY dear, the baby is a darling"
But what an ass Medcroft is"
And thus is it proved that Mrs.
Odell-Carney was not only a dutiful
wife in taking her husband into her
confidence. but also that Jointly they
enjoyed a peculiarly rational outlook
upon the world as they had come to
know it and to feel for the people
thereof. 1t is of small consequence
that they could not find it in their
power to be in tun with the v%irtuous
Rodneys-the Rodneys were conditions.
not effects.
However that may be. it was Kath-
crime Rodney. pretty. plump and spoil
ed. who pulled the first stone from the
foundation of Medcroft's house of
cards. Katherine had convinced her
self that she was deeply .enamored Of
the volatile Freddie. The more she
thought that she loved him the greater
became the conviction that he did not
care as much for her as he professed.
She began to detect a decided falling
off in his ardor. 1t was no use trying
to hide the fact from herself that Con-
stance was the most disturbing symp-
tom in evidence. Jealousy succeeded
speculation. Katherine decided to be
hateful. She could not have helped it
if she had tried.
1t was very evident. to her at least,
that Freddie was not to blame. He
was being led on by the artful Miss
Fowler. There could be no doubt of
it-none in the least. declared Miss
Rodney in the privacy of her own mis-
cradle reflections.
Just as she vas on the point Of car
rying her woes to her mother an
astounding revelation came to her out
of a clear sky; an entirely new condi-
ton came into the problem. 1t dawned
upon her suddenly. without warning,
that Roxbury Medcroft was in love
with his sister-in-law.
When she burst in upon her mother
half an hour later that excellent lady
started up from her couch. alarmed by
the excitement in her daughters face.
Mrs. Rodney. good soul, was one Of
the kind who always think the world
is coming to an end. or the house is
on fire. or the king has been assassinat-
ed. if any n approaches with a look
of distress in his face.
my dear. my dear!!" she cried as
Katherine stopped tragically in the
doorway. What has happened to your
father? Speak,"
Mamma. it's worse than that! r.
'Merciful heaven!' The good lady
blindly reached for her smelling salts.
I've made a dreadful discovery"
went on Katherine in suppressed tones.
ut came to me like a flash. I couldn't
believe my own brain. So 1 watched
them from my window. There's no
doubt about it, mamma. It's as plain
as the nose on your face. He
my darling. what are you talking
about? Is my nose-what is the mat
ter with my nose?" She vaguely felt
of her nose, in horror.
Hes in love with her. There's no
mistake. And, will you believe me.
mamma. she is encouraging him! Pos
itively! Why-why, it's utterly con
temptible! Oh. dear. what are we
to do?"
Mrs. Rodney looked blankly at her
daughter, who had thrown herself in
a chair. She gasped and then gave
vent to a tremendous squeak.
"In love! Your father? With whom
who is she?"
Father? Oh, Lord. mother, I didn't
say anything about father. Don't cry!
It's another man altogether"
"Not Freddie Ulstervelt?" quavered
Mrs. Rodney, pulling herself together.
AFTER all he has said to you
mo. no. mamma" cried her daugh-
ter irritably. Freddie may be in love
with her. but he's not the only one.
Mammal" She Strengthened up and
looked at her mother with wide. horror
struck eyes. "Roxbury Medcroft is
madly in love with Constance Fowler!!'
Mrs. Rodney did not utter a sound
for fully a minute and a half. She new
er took her eyes from her daughters
distressed face. The color was coming
pack INTO ner own, anu her lips were
setting themselves into thin red lines
above her rigid chin.
I'm sorry. Katherine. that you have
seer it too. l have suspected it for
several days. But 1 have not dared to
speak-it seemed too improbable. What
are we to do?" She sat down sudden
ly. eve weakly.
"She's not only leading Freddie on.
but she's flirting with her own broth
er-in-law-her own sisters husband
h~er-her"-
Her own niece's father! It's afro.
clous!"
"She's a horrid beast! And I thought
! loved her, Oh. mamma. It's just
dreadful!"