The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-09-11

NhoSt Va thCSC LhSiiSh hiu tuih
out abominably," commented Miss
Rodney, who was twenty, very pretty
and very worldly. "Oh, did l tell you
that Freddie Ulstervelt is with usT"
"No!"
1--WE came across him in Berlin, and
dad asked him to join us If he had
nothing better to do, so he said he
would. He was with us In Dresden
and Prague and-don't you think he's
awfully jollyT"
"R~ippingv' said Constance with de,
plorable fervor.
How awfully English! He said he'd
seen you In Paris this spring"
YES" said Miss Fowler, her cheeks
going red suddenly. 81 told him you'd
asked me to be with you in June"
She could have cut out her tongue for
saying this, but 1t was too late. Kath-
crime laughed a trife hardly after a
stiff moment; then a queer light fitted
In to her eyes-the light Of awakened
opposition. Constance was saying to
herself: "She's In love with Freddie.
| might have known it." Back In her
brain lay the memory Of Freddie's viO-
lent protestations Of love, uttered dur
ing those recent days in Paris. He had
threatened to throw himself into the
Seine; she remembered that quite well
and also the fact that he did nothing
Of the sort. but had a very jolly time
at Maxim's and SEN her flowers by
way of repentance. Knowing Freddie
so well, it would not have surprised
her In the least to find that he had be-
come engaged to Katherine. His heart
was a very flexible organ.
"Oh," said Katherine. 81 believe he
did say that you had mentioned IS"
OF herself she was asking, II wonder
If she is in love with himY'
And thus it transpired that Freddie
Ulstervelt Anticipated, good looking,
inconstant Freddie, just out Of college
was transformed into a bone of con
tention. whether he would or no.
He was Of the kind who love or
make love to every new girl they meet,
seriously enough at the time, but cas-
lily passed over If need be. Rebuffs
may have puzzled him, but they left
no jagged scar. He belonged to that
class which upsets the tranquility OF
inexperienced maidens by whispering
intensely, Heavens, it's grandP' And
he means 1t at the moment.
Katherine Rodney was in love with
him. He belonged to a Fashionable
New York family of wealth, and he
had been a young lion at Pasadena
during the winter just past. He own
ed automobiles and a yacht and an
extensive wardrobe. These notable as
sets had much to do with the conquest
of Mrs. Rodney. She looked with favor
upon the transitory Mr.. Ulstervelt. and
believed in her heart hat he had some
thing to do with the location Of the
shining sun. But Of this affair more
anon, as the novelists say.
Brock was presented to the Rodneys
just before The party went in to din
ner. Ee managed his eyeglass and his
drawI bravely and got on swimmingly
with the elder Rodneys. until Con
stance appeared with Katherine and
Freddie UlsterveIt. 1t was not until
then that 1t occurred to Miss Fowler
that Freddie, being from New York.
was almost certain to know Brock Ell
Their personally or by sight. She ex-
perienced a cold chill. the distinct ap-
proach Of catastrophe. Brock had just
been told that young Uktervelt OF
New York was to be Of the party. His
blood ran cold. He had never seen the
young man, but he knew his father
well. He had even dined at the mHn-
sion In Madison avenue. There was
every reason, however, to suspect that
Freddie knew him by sight. Even as
he was planning a mode Of defense in
case Of recognition the young man was
presented. Brooks drawl was some
thing wonderful.
"T-aw-knew your family, I'm sure
law, quite sure" he said. "You know,
Of course. that I lived in your-aw-
delightful city for some years. Strange
we never met. pom my soul"
"Oh, New York's a pretty big place,
Mr.. Medcroft," said Freddie good ma
turedly. He was a slight young fellow
with q fresh. inquisitive face. "It's
bigger than London in some ways.
It's bigger upward. Say, do you know.
you remind me Of a fellow ( knew In
New York;
"Haw, haww laughed Brock without
grace or reason. Miss Fowler caught
her breath sharply.
Fellow named Brock. Stupid sort
Of chap, my mother says. p
"Oh, dear me, Mr.. U~lstervelt," cried
Edith. breaking in, "you shan't say
anything mean about Mr.. Brock. He's
my husbands best friend"
II didn't say II. Mrs. Medcroft 1t
was my mother. Brock was hiding q