Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-16

"She isn't!" said Herbert.
u don't think she knows she is, any
more than Miss Devine does. But that's
what they are doing all the time"
But it's absurd" cried Herbert.
"Scruton's is not a gambling hell; the
plays perfectly fair there. I asked LIE
Quesne and l asked the duke. They
were both u that it was"
Were they " I said. What does
that matter? The play is quite fair at
Monte Carlo. Every one will be saying
that Miss Maynard was a decoy at a
gambling hell, If o bring her into
prominence by marrying her. And you
will bring her itno prominence. You
are so eligible"
"Well = we'll - they'll say some
thing just as bad about any n I
marry"
mot about Anne"
81 wish you'd get that silly idea out
of your head. I'm not going to marry
Anne" said Herbert pettishly.
l was sure that he was;>hu 1t was
no use telling him so.
1T isn't only that, but Miss Maynard
wouldn't make the kind of wife you
want. She's had a poor time: and il
ohS h1oiilCo q lASA llldu. wv II uidhc up
for it - hard. She'll set up the backs
of all your political crowd; and she'll
never take the trouble to learn the
political game the drawing room part
Of 1t. She wont be bothered with it,"
I said.
You're wrong quite wrong. I
know that Kitty is fond of pleasure.
She admits it - frankly. But she has
a plastic nature; I should mold her"
/ looked at Herbert hard. The idiot
who could say that about Miss May.
nard was worth looking at.
"You couldn't mold her in a hundred
years not with a club" I said slowly.
IF there's any molding done. she'll do
it. Within six months of your marri-
age she'll have you a regular attendant
at every big ace meeting in England"
"Preposterous!" said Herbert.
'1ll bet you a tenner," I said.
"You know I never bet" said Her
bert.
mo, you don't; and yet you propose
to marry Miss Maynard"
But don't see the connection" said
Herbert stiffly.
(Which shows you have no business
to be marrying Miss Maynard"
But | do see that | was foolish to
consult you. The fact is. Rupert, you
are so incorrigibly frivolous yourself
that you are incredulous Of the pos
sibility of seriousness in any one else"
he said pompously.
1T isn't that at all" | said. But
there are some brands of seriousness
that won't mix. Yours is one of them
Herbert rose solemnly and said: 81
see that | was foolish to consult you.
l had my doubts, grave doubts, of the
wisdom of it. Good morning. And he
stelked toward the door.
Good morning" l said. But don't
forget that I've told YOU"
He went out solemnly.
| had done no good: but that did not
trouble me. l had not expected to do
any good. The important thing was
that l had told Herbert the facts, and
my mind was quite at ease.
went round to Scruton's next party
he gave them twice a week = for I
felt that as the head of the family l
ought to keep an eye on Herbert's love
affair and besides I wanted to know i!
the ghost girl had forgiven me for hav-
ing been so omen with me.
CHAPTER vi (%Continued.)
talked to her two or three times in
the interval of playing; but she would
not come on the balcony again. Per
haps she felt that it led to condolences.
l talked to her about Kitty Maynard,
of course, for I wanted to know as
much as possible about her; and once
more she said what a pity it was that
the Maynards were so hard up.
We'll, Miss Maynard must marry a
rich man." I said.
"She says she means to. But I do
hope she won't. 1t isn't right to marry
a man you don't love-" she said in a
very genuine tone.
ITS often done" I said. And Fred
dy Gage would be awfully cut up
you've noticed that? You are quick.
TITS pretty obvious" ! said.
1T would be SO much the best thing
to do. He's very nice. But I'm afraid
he hasn't enough money" she said
with a sigh.
Some one Joined us and I got no,
more talk with her that evening.
After that I fell into the way Of 60
ing to Scruton's parties regularly. I,
had to keep an eye on Herbert. His
love affair was going on in a very salts
factory way, for him; and he was wear
ing his most important air. Freddy
Gage was the only man who gave him
any trouble. 1t lay between them plain
ly enough. The more I saw of Miss
Maynard the less reason ! found 10
change my belief that Herbert would
come the complete cropper.
Ono night he and I came way to-
gether.
Il nave quite satisfied myself that
you were entirely wrong about Miss
Maynard" he said pompously. "She
has a thoroughly adaptable nature. At
heart she is a very serious girl
Well talk about that later" I said.
When you have been married six
months"
But l must get rid Of Gage" he
went on without taking any notice of
my kind words. HE encourages her
in her frivolity. The worst of it is, If
] do he'll go to Ambledon. Ambledon
has been trying to get him from me
for the last six months"
Very good man, Freddy Cage l
said. And we went orr different WAYS