Show I m i t Roberts Robert's Chum f MADGE looked very cool and happy sitting in the ivy-covered ivy window heri her fair head bent studiously over the letter i in her hand while I felt very warm and miserable for I was pressing a inch 22 belt around a inch 23 waist At last I Iff could stand it no longer Madge I said just look at this gown J- J Oh Bess how pretty I What a splendid fit y ys s Fit Fit I gasped it will send me into I one cant can't breathe My dear Bess what a dull prosaic bein being you are You dont don't want to breathe Voting and breathing are luxuries which we are not expected to indulge in You are a disgrace to your 1 sex You are overstepping the bounds r- r of f your you sphere And nd Madge adge broke roke r into a 3 merry laugh In in which I joined to the peril of the fastenings o on n my new gown Well help me out of this and then tell me what Robert says You need not read the the- complimentary y address No indeed said M Madge dge it covers two pages quite too long to be interesting interest interest- ing to ing-to to you Just wait until I read the newsy part and and oh oh 1 oh oh Robert Robertis is coming home When Madge I cried almost as excited ted as she Why he will be here tomorrow Listen He says You will be surprised when I tell you that that Oh Oh Bess Madges Madge's face assumed a most woebegone woebegone woebegone gone expression If If that isn't just too mean of Robert He is going to bring his chum with him Is that such a doleful piece of news I think it will be pleasant The house is large and and I But Bess you dont don't understands understand I want Robert to myself How can we talk about about about-about about anything when someone else is with us all the time I I see There was a long pause then I asked How are you going to arrange the difficulty Madge leaned forward puffed out both cheeks looked eyed cross-eyed a at t me and said in a mildly decisive tone You must postpone your canyon trip for a week and take I care of the chum Madge Thornton I I exclaimed are you crazy N Never ever minded clearer-minded in my life Now you will wont won't you Bess clear dear Just think I haven't seen Robert for a year and a week is not very long Please do Bess So after much coaxing I consented But what is the name of Roberts Robert's friend I asked He He doesn't say so I suppose we will have haa to call him Mr Chum Id I'd like to put a p on the end of it for he certainly should have had sense enough nough not to come I heartily agreed ed W with i th her for I L I. was disappointed in missing issing my trip P Suppose laughed Madge he heP he should fall in love wi with th you I Not at all unlikely I I replied leaning leaning leaning lean lean- ing back elegantly in III my chair And suppose you should fall in love with him In a weeks week's time I asked Why yes she an answered Stranger things than that have ha happen happened d. d Suppose Suppose Suppose Sup Sup- pose you do just for the fun of the thing it be romantic I saidA saidA said A A beautiful young beautiful ahem young damsel in ina a tight dress gazing rapturously at a haired ginger-haired watery-eyed watery snipe-nosed snipe legged bow-legged Lancelot he is sure to be most abominably ugly if 1 I love him just by way of con contrast you know know know-a a weeks week's existence in sugar and spice and andall andall andall all things nice a frantic proposal from him a gurgling assent from me a violent clutch in which both parties participate and then then and and then the why then n why then you must wriggle in and say in sepulchral accents This marriage cannot take place That you see will give us an opportunity to escape on the worn much-worn rope ladder You may laugh all you wish Miss Bess but every Jill ill has her Jack and you will find yours And Madge waltzed away little thinking that I had already found mine That night before retiring I opened my treasure-drawer treasure and took out a Across the back was written written written writ writ- ten in a clear fine hand Yours truly Jack Tack II He He doesn't care care for me I whispered and with wet eyes turned the key once more upon my secret The next morning Madge was in a great flutter Bess they are coming at last I know they are I can feel the carriage rumble Well it is time they were coming so station your mother in the parlor to W 1 t L receive Mr Chum and you remain here Robert will soon find you and you can have your violent clutch un un- disturbed What are you going to do I will display myself to excellent advantage tage behind the blind Naturally I wish to catch a glimpse of the chum If he does not look handsome distinguished distinguished dis dis- clever dever etc etc I am not going to say Pleased to meet you when we are introduced I ran up upstairs upstairs upstairs stairs to my own room and drew back the curtains just as the carriage stopped First Robert sprang out an and ana then m my heart gave a great reat bound for he was followed by Jack J Some time passed before I r gained enough courage to go into the parlor but once there Roberts Robert's heart hearty greeting placed me so entirely at ease that I Imet Imet If met Mr Mi without embarrass embarrass- ment My presence was desirable that first j morning for Robert and Madge made themselves thoroughly comfortable in a remote corner of the room and busy little Mrs Thornton vanished to see to things as nothing would go right unless she was there F It It gives me great pleasure to to- meet to-meet meet you here Miss Howard said Mr a misfortune misfortune misfortune mis mis- You have barely escaped the fortune of meeting my absence I r answered laughing I I was going away this morning In fact I remained only for the purpose of of Here I stopped suddenly but he finished the sentence for me Of keeping keeping keeping keep keep- ing Bob free from my my very amiable but rather too numerous presence I r nodded Thank you he continued with an amused glance at the lovers You are very kind Then he drew his chair close crose to tomine tomine mine and we examined Mr Thornton's Thorntons Thorntons Thornton's Thorntons Thornton's Thorn Thorn- j tons ton's fine collection l of et things Y t lL r r What we said I don t know but I was divinely happy At last I was startled by a gentle hand touching my shoulder Madge was Madge-was was standing standing standing-by by my side looking looking looking look look- ing into my face very intently and t. t saying I J I am sorry sorry to disturb you x t Bess but we have ha been called to dinner vim 4 twice As we passed through the hall r she whispered You humbug why did c not tell me r you x |