The Washington times., 1918-06-16
CHAPTER III.
Forbidden Fruit.

Josiah BROWN cut the top of his egg
with a knife at his breakfast next
day. The knife grated on the shell in
determined way, and Theodore felt her
heart sink at the prospect of broaching
the subject of the breakfast at the Cafe
Henry.
Il am so glad the rain has stopped" she
said, nervously. 1T was raining when
awoke this morning.
Indeed" replied Josiah. And what
kind of an evening did you pass with that
father of yours?'
"A very pleasant one" said Theodore
crumbling her roll Papa met some old
friends, and we all dined together at the
Ritz l wish you had been able to come,
it might have done you good, it was so
gay!"
q am not fit for gayety," said her hus-
band, peevishIy, scOoping out spoonfuls of
yolk And who we're the party, pray?"
Theodore obediently enumerated. them
all. and the high-sOunding title Of the Rus
sian Prince, to say nothing of the English
lord and lady, had notifying effect on
Josiah Brown. He even remembered the
name of Bracondale-had he not been a
gFocer's assistant in the small town Of
Bracondale for whole year in his ap-
premiership days?
Papa wants US to breakfast to-day With
him at Henry's for you to meet some Of
them" Theodore said, with more conf
dence.
Josiah had taken a second egg and his
frown was gone.
We'll see about it, we'll see about it."
he grunted; but his wife felt more hope
full, and was even unusually solicitous Of
his wants in the way Of coffee and mar
malade and cream. Josiah was shrewd If
he did happen to be deeply selfabsorbed in
his health, and he noticed that Theodora's
eyes we're brighter and her step more
elastic than usual
He knew he had bought 'One of them
there aristocrats," as his old aunt, who
had kept a public-house at New Norton,
would have said-bought her with solid
gold. He had no Illusions on this subject
and he quite realized if the solid gold had
not been amassed out of England, so that
to her family he could be represented as
something from the colonies-rather
rough. but such a good fellow"-even Cap
tain Fitzgerald's impecuniosity and rapac-
ity would not have risen to his bait
He was also grateful to Theodora-she .
had been so meek always. and such kind
and unselfish nurse With his impaired
constitution and delicate chest he had
given up all hopes OF looking on her as a
wife again, just yet; hut. as a nurse and
an ornament peg TO lang the evidences
of his wealth upon-she was little short of
perfection. He could have been frantically
in love with her If she had only been the
girl from the station bar in Melbourne.
Josiah Brown was not a bad fellow
By the time Mr. Toplington advanced in
his digniied way with the accurately meas
ured tonic on a silver tray and the single
acid drop TO remove the taste. Josiah
Brown had decided to 20 and partake rood
with his father-in-law at Henrys. If he
had been good enough to entertain the
Governor of Australia, he was quite good
enough for Russian princes or English
lords. he told himself Thus it was that
Captain Fitzgerald, who came in person
in few minutes to indorse his invitation,
found an unusually cordial reception await
ing him.
81 am too delighted, my dear Josiah"
he said, that you have decided to come