The Fifth Wheel

attended a Country Club dance the following Saturday night, at which she chanced not to be present. She was told he had actually

nk so at first when, in the course of his constitutional, Dandy suddenly bristled and growled at a terrier twice his weight and size, and then with a pull and a dash fell to in a mighty encounter, rolling over and over in the dirt and dust. Afterward, with the yelping terrier disappearing down the road, Dandy held up a bleeding paw to his mistress. She didn't have the heart to scold the triumphant little warrior. Besides he w

ed. "At last! Where

do," she rep

epeated. "I've been hanging aro

as surprised. "

played. I was mad clean through at first. What d

gement," she r

previous engagement now, have you? Because,

e said. He opened the door to th

I'll take you anywhere you'

roduced. How do I know who you are?" She w

o. Get in, and we will run up to the Club a

im. "I just prefer to walk-th

slip this time, young lady. Savvy that? Wa

nd green pastures. Then she glanced down at Dandy. Her name in full appea

see, and if you would be so kind-I hate to ask so much of a stranger-it seems a great deal-but if you would le

No more of those scarf games on me! So

ed her dog to

marked. And then abruptly for no a

Your own? Th

ence was stamped upon her. For nothing in the w

all. And I'm game. Stuff him in, if y

ow kind you are! I do app

our little pet, pray, before starting that I'm no abductor. Good-by-and say," he added, as the car began

you mean?" She

Good-by." And off h

, smiling almost all the way. When she arrived, there was

uth Che

tead, Hil

se No

he stem of one was an envelope, and inside the envelop

he is!" Miss Va

ly a day passed but that I heard the approaching purr of his car. And never a week b

nd teas and social functions if he wanted to indulge in his latest fancy. The affair, carried on as it was before the eyes of the whole community, soon became the main topic

t had before been slow and difficult sailing for Edith and me now became as swift and easy as if we had added an auxiliary engine to our little

I be good enough to fill in a vacancy at a week-end house-party. Of course I would! Proudly I rode away beside Breck in his automobile, out of the gates of the Homestead along the state

t ease in the grand and luxurious house. The men were older, the women more experienced, but I wasn't uncomfortable. As I wandered through the beautiful rooms, conversed with what to me stood for American aristocracy, basked in the hourly attention of butlers and French maids, it occurred to me that I was peculiarly fitted for such a life as this. It became me. It did

't be absurd. I wouldn't marry

of love was such, that beside it all my friends' love affairs and many of those in fiction seemed commonplace and

ight portion of his tokens of regard, to keep him interested, and yet remain absolutely free and uninvolved. I couldn't manage it inde

ted them night after night for Edith's sunken garden, and me, though I begged him to be reasonable, urging him to stay away. I didn't blame his mother, midsummer though it was, for closing Grassmere, barring the windows, locking the gates a

sort of unwritten law that once a man proposes and a girl refuses, attentions should cease. I came in on Sunday afternoon from an automobile ride with Breck

ision immediately. I dreaded to undertake to explain to her what a slaughter to my ideals such a marriage would be. O

Edith," I attempted at last

elf?" she inquired in that cold, unsympa

nce for all sorts of good things

e years, you know," s

remained closed and barred. I did not see my young millionaire again unti