Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-03-23


the steps that Hobbs ought to be in
vited to the ball. Prince Robin rolled
on a couch snd roared with delight.
Lieutenant Dank, as became an Of
ficer of the Royal guard. stood at at
tention-in the bow window with his
back to the room, very red about the
ears and rigid to the bursting point.
"I suppose, however, we'll have to
keep ON the good side OF the Blithers
syndicate" said Robin soberly. after
his mirth had subsidized before her
wrath. "Good Lord, Aunt Lorraine.
simply cannot go up there and stand
in line like freak In side show for
all the ladies and girls to cape at. |
TIL get sick the day OF the party.
that's what I'll do. and you can tell
'em how desolated am over my mis-
fortune"
'sThey've got their eyes on you.
Bobby" she said fatty. "You can't
escape SO easily as all that. II you're
not very, very careful they'll have
YOU married to the charming Miss
Maud before you can say Jack RAD
bit"
think so? Is she good lookingT
well, | would consider her to be
very good looking girl"
"Blonde?"
"Mixed. Light brown hair and very
dark eyes and lashes. A little taller
than I, more graceful and splendid
horsewoman. I've seen her riding.
"Astride?"
mo. rye seen her in a ball gown
90. Most men think she's stunning"
Wen, let's have game Of billiards"
sand he, dismissing Maud in a way that
would have caused the proud Mr.. Blith-
ers to reel with indignation.
A little later on, at the billiard
table, Mrs. King remarked, apropos
of nothing and quite out OF clear
sky, so to speak:
"And she'll do anything her parents
command her to do; that's the worst
of it. If they order her to marry a
title she'll do it. That's the way she's
been brought up, I'm afraid"
The next day Count Quinnox and
King returned from the city, coming
nm in a private car with Mr.. Blithers
himself.
"Ill have Maud drive me over this
afternoon" said Mr.. Blithers as they
parted at the station.
| But Maud did not drive him over
that afternoon. The pride, Joy and
hope of the Blithers family fatty re-
fused to be a party to any such ar
rangement and set out for horse
back ride in a direction that took her
as far away from Red Roof as pos
sible
"What's come over the girl?" de-
manded Mr.. Blithers, completely nom
plussed. "She's never acted like this
before. Lou"
"Some silly notion about being
made a laughing stock, l gather
said his wife. "Heaven knows I've
talked to her till I'm utterly worn
out. She says she won't be bullied
into even meeting the prince, much
less marrying him. I've never known
her to be SO pigheaded. Usually
can make her see things in a sensible
wav. She would have married the
duke. I'm sure, Tiff you hadn't put
a stop to 1t on account of his so called
habits. She
'Weu. it's turned out for the best,
hasn't It? Isn't prince better than
duke?"
you've said all that before, Will !
wanted her to run down with me this
morning to talk the ball over with
Mrs King. And what do you think
happened?"
"She wouldn't go?"
~Worse than that She wouldn't let
me 90. Now, things are coming TO a
pretty pass when :,
"Never mind. I'll talk to her" said
Mr.. Blithers somewhat bleakly despite
his confident front. "She loves her
old dad. can do anything at all with
her"
"she's on a frightfully high horse
lately" sighed Mrs. Blithers fretfully'
TIT can't be that young Scoyille'
can it,"
"IfI thought it was Td-Pd"- There
is no telling what Mr.. Blithers would
have done to young Scoville at the mo
ment for he couldn't think OF any
thing dire enough to infiict upon the
suspected meddler.
In any event it's dreadfully upset
ting to me, VIII. she-she won't lis
ten to anything. And here's some
thing else-she declares she WOE. |
stay here for the ball on Friday night
Mr.. Blithers had her repeat II and
then almost missed the chair In SIT
ting down. he was so precipitous
about It
won't stay for her own bail7" he
beloved
"she says it isn't Ler ball" lamented
bis wife.
IF It isn't hers, IN the name OF sense