The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-05-18

blurring up with tears. She was q
little bit slack and edgy today anyhow.
What he had just referred to In a
dozen brisk words, was the final dis
appearance Of the home they had all
grown up In. Their father, one Of
ChIcago's great men during the twenty
odd years from the Fire to the Fair,
had built 1t when the neighborhood
included nearly all the other big men
of that robust period, and had always
been proud OF 1t. OF course for years
the nelghborhood had been impossible.
Her mother had chung to 1t after her
husbands death, but Rodney had sim
ply stayed on, since her death, waiting
for an offer for II that suited him. His
curt announcement that the long
looked-for change had come, brought
up quick, unweicomed tears. She
squeezed them away with her palms.
lis that" she asked, "why you've
been looking SO sort of-gay, all the
evening-as IL you were licking the
last of the canary's feathers off your
whlskers?'
Perhaps So" he said. ''It's been
pretty good day, take II all round"
She got up from the couch, shook
herself down into her clothes little,
and came over to him. "All right,
since It's been a good day, let's go to
bed" She put her hands upon his
shoulders you're rather dreadful"
cha said shut xtn,,1ra Aaar Van
don't bite my head off when urge you
10 get married, though / know you
want to. But you will some day.
don't mean bite my head off-won't
you, RodT'
"When see any prospect of being
as lucky as Martin--ind girl who
won't mind when turn up for dinner
looking like drowned tramp, or kick
her plans to bits, after she's tipped me
Off as to what she wants me to do !"
Frederick took her hands off, step
ped back, and looked at him. There
was an ironical sort of smile on her
lips. you're such an innocent, Roddy
dear. Don't think the girl you marry
will ever treat you like that"
"But look hereI" he exclaimed.
"How In thunder am going to know
about the girl get engaged to, before
it's too later"
"You won't" she said. "You haven't
a chance In the world"
"Hmi" he grunted, obviously struck
with this idea. you're giving the
prospect OF marriage new attractions.
You're making the thing out-an adj
venture"
She nodded rather soberly. "0h,
I'm not afraid for you." she said.
MEN like adventures-you more than
most. But women don't. They like to
dream about them, but they want e
turn over to the last chapter and see
how it's going to end. It's the girl
| I'm worried about. oh, come
alongl We're talking nonsense. I'll
go up with you and see that they're
giving you pajamas and toothbrush
She had accomplished this purpose
kissed him goodnight, and turned tC
leave the room, when her eye fell upor
a heap of damp, warped, pasteboard
bound notebooks, which she remem
hered having observed In his side peck
cts when he first came in. she wen
over and picked them up, peered at th'
paper label that had half peeled off the
topmost cover, and read what wa:
written on II.
"Who," she asked with considerable
emphasis, ''is Rosalind Stantonf"
"Oh," said Rodney, very casually, be
hind the worst imitation of yawr
she had ever seen. ooh, she got put OF
the ear when did,
'"That sounds rather exciting" said
Frederick behind an imitation yawr
Of her own--but a better one. "Goins
to tell me about It'll"
Nothing much TO tel" said Rodney
"There was a row about fare, a.
l said. And then, we both got put of
So, naturally. walked with her owe
to the elevated. And then forgot t
give her her notebooks and came ava,
with Them"
"NHhat sort Of looking girl?" aske'
Frederick. sis she pretty?"
"why, 1 don't know" said Rodne,
iudicially. "Really. you know, hard
ly got fair look at her."
Frederick made funny-soundin
laugh and wished him an abrupt 'goo
night"
She was a great old girl, Frederick
uretty wise about lots of things. bu
Rodney was inclined to think she wa
mistaken in saying women didn't Xix
adventures.
you're liar, you know" remagke
his conscience. telling Frederick 20
hadn't a good look at her. And no
y about those notebooks--about forge
ting to give them to her!'
IL CHAPTER III.