Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-04
she did not take Booth into her conn.

she aid not take Booth into her conn.
denco.
Leslie Wrandall went abroad in Au.
gust, ostensibly to attend tho aviation
meets in Franco and England. His
mother and sister sailed in September.
but not before the entire colony Of
which they were part had begun to
discuss Sara and Booth with q relish
that was obviously distasteful to the
Wrandalls.
Where there Is smoke there Is fire,
said all the gossips, and forthwith pro.
ceeded to carry faggots.
A week or 80 before sailing, Mrs.
Redmond Wrandall had Booth in for
dinner. I think she said en- famille.
At any rate, Sara was not asked.
which 10 proof enough that she was
bent on making 1t family affair.
After dinner. Booth sat in the
screened upper balcony with Vivian.
He liked her. She was q keen-witted,
plain-spoken young woman, with few
false ideals and no subtlety. She was
less snobbish than arrogant. OF all
the Wrandalls, she was the least self.
centered. Leslie never quite under.
stood her for the paradoxical reason
that she thoroughly understood him.
"You know. Brandon" she said.
after long silence between them.
they've been setting my cap for you
for long. long time" She blew a
thin stream Of cigarette smoke toward
the moon.
He started. It was q bolt from q
clear sky. "The deuce!"
"Yes," she went on in the most cas-.
ual tone, mothers had her heart set
on it for months. You were supposed
to be mine at first sight, believe
Please don't look 50 uneasy. I'm not
going to propose to you" She laughed
her little ironic laugh.
$50 that is the way things stood,
eh?" he said, still little amazed by
her candor.
YES. And what IL more to the
point am quite sure should have
said yes If you had asked me. Sounds
odd, doesn't Il? Rather amusing, too,
being able to discuss It 80 unreserved.
ly, isn't IT,"
Good heavens, viv!" he cried I'm.
comfortably. I'll had no idea you
cared"
Cared" she cried. as he paused.
u don't care two pins for you in that
way. But I would have married you,
just the Same, because you are worth
marrying. I'd very much rather have
you for q husband than any man
know, but as for loving you! Pooh!
I'd love you in just the way mother
loves father, and wouldn't have been
bit more trouble to you than che is
to him" aM
Cad, you don't mind what you
say!"
Failing to nab you, Brandy, dare
say I'll have to come down to duke
or, who knows? maybe q mere prince.
It isn't very enterprtsing. = It? And
certainly it isn't gay prospect Real
~. l had hoped you would have me.
latter myself I suppose, but. hon.
estly now, We would have made
rather nice looking couple, wouldn't
we!''
you flatter me-" he aid.
But" she resumed. calmly exhal.
Ing. you very foohshly fell in love
with some one else. and 1t wasn't
necessary for me to pretend that I
was In love with yoo-whtch I should
have done. believe me. II you had
given me the chance. You fell in love,
hrst with Hetty Castleton-"
''First?" he cried, frown1nE.
And now you are heels over head
IN sove with my beautiful sister-in.lav.
Which all goes to prove that I would
have made Just the kind OF wife you
need. considering your tendency TO
f1uctuate. But how dreadful it would
have been for q sentimental, loving
girl like Hetty!"
(To Be Continued.)