The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-22
Choosing 4
Wife
By JUSTIN wENTwooD

Wife
By JUSTIN wENTwooD
sBut Aurely you won't disinheril
your son just because he wants to
marry the girl Of his choice?"
r Colonel Weir turned his blue
eyes upon Miss Madeleine Raines
Il shall do just that" he an.
swered.
At flfty-five the colonel was still
an attractive man. He was d mar
tinet; he believed In home dlsci-
pline. And his son Phil had be-
come engaged without hts leave to
an actress.
Colpnel Weir had oil-fashioned
ideas about actresses. and he was
inordinately proud Of the Weir
name.
He was pouring out his grief to
Miss Raines. She was an extraOr-
dinarily attractive girl whom he
had met at the beach hotel, where
he had gone for q week TO recuper-
ate from the shock Of the breach
with Phil.
And he had found such consola-
ton as had not been his since his
wife died. many years before:
He did not want to marry Made
leine Raines. He was 100 old for
that. But he would hive liked to
have had her about him. In some
capacity, for the rest OF his days.
III only the boy had had the
sense to have chosen someone like
you, Madeleinel' he sighed. He
called her that now, and she called
him Harry. 1t was one Of those
delightful, quick firtatiOns that
spring up between the young and
the middle-aged.
"But, Harry, you haven't even
seen this girl. I understand some
actresses are quite charming" pro-
tested Madeleine.
My dear, there has never yet
been member Of the stage In the
Weir family, and there never shall
be with my cOnnivance. Either my
son gives up this association or he
ceases to be son Of nine"
Madeleine sighed. She felt that
the colonel was unjust. And she
liked the colonel.
1--WE given him till Monday to
make up his mind finally" he con-
tinued. Hes coming down then,
and you shall see. him for your
self. But l guess that actress wom-
an won't want him when she learns
that he's to be disinherited II she
marries him."
do you think all women are like
that, Harry?' asked Miss Raines
softly.
Most of EN-" answered the
colonel.
"And met" queried Miss Ralnes,
How 1t happened the colonel
never knew afterward, but he
found that he had kissed Miss
Raines. and that he had affronted
her beyond pardon.
She rose to her feet. Icy and pale.
f"I thought you were a gentleman,
Colonel Weir," she said.
She received the colonel's STAN.
mering apologies in silence. isn't
there anything I can do to win for
giveness?" he asked.
1T isn't matter of forgiveness
You have shown me your opinion
of me-oh, quite, quite plainly,
Colonel Weir. You think I'm like
like an actress, and that any man
can kiss me-"
II respect you beyond every won.
an I've ever met. Miss Raines,
II will you marry meT" he blurt.
ed out, overcome by emotion.
Madeleine shook her head sadly,
"You have convinced me, Harry"
she said,. "but-but there's another
man"
"D-ni" muttered tho colonel
under his breath.
"But I'll always be q daughter ia
you, If you want me-" she said. al
they neared the hotel.
Colonel Weir heaved a prodigioul
sigh. He slept unhappily. He knew
his proposal had been q foolish
thing, but life without Madeleine
seemed the essence Of boredom and
loneliness.
Then Monday came. The colonel
waiting to receive his son. showed
no signs of the emotional storm he
had been through. His relation
ship with Miss Raines had been a
| formal one since that unlucky cpl
sode. He stiffened as he saw Phi
coming toward him.
"Well. dad7'
swell, Phil. what's the answer3'
1.-THE same. dad"
''Then there's nothing more t.
say" said the colonel. turning away
! A soft voice ut his side arrested
him. Colonel, for my sake won'l
you let Phil marry the cir. Of his
choice1' pleaded Madeleine.
"Not even for you. ue-why-
why. what's thls7" he demanded.
For Madeleine had slipped hel
arm through Phil's. ELL said
I'd be a. daughter to YOU" she fal
tered.
f"You-you did young scoundrei
Phil! You-why-why-let's Oh
| 20 In to lunch.
g. 1893. Western Newspaper unioa.,
e.f .