Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1912 — Second Fiddle [ARTICLE]

Second Fiddle

There was a slightly fictitious note |a the daughter’s voice as she remarked with a yawn: "You go down tonight, mother, and talk to the |}udge. Tm tired.” Mrs. Metcalfe turned from the mirror, surprise and displeasure distinctly visible on her youthful, comem face. “I must say you’re the queertest specimen of a girl I ever saw, Catherine. The judge is one of the Eest looking men in New York. He brainy, prominent, rich —and foolily in love.” From her luxurious stronghold temong the sofa cushions, Katherine istifled a yawn. "Yes,” she assented meditatively. "Indeed I believe that Is all quite true.” She watched her knother with drowsy interest as she brushed out the heavy masses of shining gold hair and looped them into an tertlstlc knot low on her neck. : "And what excuse am Ito make to [fudge Gresham this time?” Bhe Inquired stiffly, turning with a* little brisk movement from the mirror. “I’m ill, dearie. You know I am. |Think of motoring from nine till one, lunching—golfing till dusk —" . . "All with that impossible Jack baker.’’ . “Ah! the door / bell now, mother. Run along and don’t keep his Judgeship waiting.” I With a slightly heightened color in her cheeks, Mrs. Metcalfe passed through the door and closed it quietly behind her. And presently Katharine heard the sound of their voices In the library below, i Two hours later Mrs. Metcalfe jeame up and found her daughter jpeacefully asleep. She half-roused at the sound of soft footsteps about the room and muttered lazily: "Dear me, Muzzle, is it midnight? You must have found the judge enormously entertaining.’’ j “I wonder, Kitty, if you’re going to jeome to your senses and quit dawdjllng?” i “Give me time, please; I’m only twenty. But what do you mean?*’ ; "Why shnply that if you’re- going to marry Judge Gresham you ought to do It and stop your nonsense,” was the crisp retort | "But he hasn’t asked me.” ; "You won’t give him a chance.” ; "Half a man would make one—if [he wanted it” she replied significantly. “But let’s go to bed and get pome beauty sleep; I’ve an engagement at Seven to go sailing.” j "With that Baker?” ; Katherine nodded as she slipped llnto bed. Mrs. Metcalfe smothered a islgh and the fingers that unfastened [her bodfcfl trembled. The clock was striking twelve when she turned out the light When she awakened the [following morning Katherine was igone and the room was in a frenzy of [disorder. , At ten o’clock Katherine had not returned and in despair Mrs. Metcalfe decided to read the Judge’s note and see if It required an answer. "Dear Miss Kitty: "I want to take you to drive behind ja new pair of grays, if I vnay. I shall [appreciate it very much if you will list me have your answer at onoe. "Cordially, “B. R. GRESHAM.” "P. S.--If Mts. Metcalfe would care [for the drive, you might ask her to jeome with us. B. R. G.” The blood flamed hotly in the little mother’s face. Her lips set determinedly. She wouldn’t go—she wouldn’t! It was all her daughter’s doing—this bringing her into all their prrangefhents—making her play “seciond fiddle” and thus defeating the [amiable gentleman’s obvious intentions —and arousing his secret disgust! With the color still beating 'high in her cheeks she sat down at [her desk and wrote a hasty reply to [the letter. Mrs. Metcalfe had put her foot Idown at last and when, at a few minrutes past.eleven, Katherine burst into the room with sun-blistered cheeks land wind-tossed hair, her mother chilled the exuberance on her lips by a cold glance of disapproval. "Judge Gresham has invltetd you to drive with him at three,” she announced wtiffly. “I took the liberty of accepting for you.” "Bully! Let’s see the letter, dearlie?" Katherine reached out her hand [for the paper and devoured its contents at a glance. "And you?” she (queried. "I? I shall remain at home—of (course.”^ The girl uttered a little Incredulous Baugh. "Shucks!” she cried. "Do you Imagine I'd let you snub him In this fashion? Never! The fact Is. if you don’t go, I shan’t either!” Mrs. Metcalfe knew her offspring too Well to remonstrate. She half smiled and her mouth showed signs of weakening. “I’m sure you’d not jbe so selfish and discourteous, Kitty. But for fear you might ” "You’ll go—certainly.” And having, las usual, gained her point, Katherine bounced up from her chair, kissed her mother’s cheek and said breezily: >*Tm off to refresh myself with a cold jjjdGßge tpfore- - After luncheon, when Mrs. Met' icalfe went up dutlfuly to. prepare for the outing, she found her daughter dozing on the bed. "You’d better hurry, dear; ifa aft er two,” she hastened to say. Mrs. Metcalfe walked toward the door. Alone, Katherine suddenly relaxed

By NELLIE CRAVEY GLMORE

(Copyright, 18U, by Associated Literary Press.)

the rein she had held upon herself. A bored look came to her face. She put on her things listlessly—lt was such a relief to be free from - her mother’s vigilance. As she unfastened the neck of her blouse, a man’s silk handkerchief, knotted about her throat, exhaled the insidious odor'of pipe smoke. With a little gesture of vehemence, she pressed it eagerly to her burning cheek —buried her face in its soft folds. Mrs. Metcalfe bit her lip as Katherine whimsically insisted upon climbing to a seat beside the driver. But she did not interfere and smiled with what grace she could muster as the judge helped her to her place beside him in the rear. They drove for hours, up red and gold-spangled hills, through cool valleys and along picturesque stretches of- level, flower fringed road. The girl scarcely spoke, but sat. in silence, drinking in each fresh beauty. Mrs. Metcalfe and Judge Gresham kept up a lively flow of conversation. The mother’s constraint vanished. The Judge was in (me of his liveliest moods. When, finally, at twilight, they stopped in front of the house, Mrs. Metcalfe excused herself and hurried inside. Judga Metcalfe detained Katherine a moment at the gate. “Little girl,” he began awkwardly, “there’s something T want to say to you, have been wanting to ask you for a long time. Can you guess what It is?" ‘1 believe so. I think so,” was the faltering reply. “You know, of course, why I’ve kept coming here. And yet I’ve lacked the courage to speak/ Katherine lifted an impulsive hand and laid it on his coat sleeve. "I —don’t think you—have anything to fear,” she said with a little smile. The Judge took her fingers and held them close in his big warm palm. "Thank you,’ 'he said, “and do you think I might call this evening?" "You may come in right now and stay to t.ea with us. Do!" Judge Gresham followed her on up the steps and into the dimly lighted library. There she left him, with a backward smile of assurance, till sbe could "remove her things.” As she entered ber room, Mrs. Metcalfe looked up anxiously. "I—l couldn’t help hearing part of it, Kitty; I beg your pardon—but—you accepted him?” Katherine suddenly sat down on tbe edge of a chair and putting her elbows on her knees, propped her chin in her hands. "I—did not,” she announced « “You did not? But I always hoped —I always believed —that you ” "As a father, perhaps; not as—a husband,” came the thunderbolt from her daughter’s pretty red lips. "O Kitty!” she cried. "Yes,” continued that young person glibly, "he’s downstairs now, pretending to be waiting for me. In reality it’s you be wants to see. Now left hurry and get on the mauve dress; do your hair in that nobby new style and ” Mrs. Metcalfe lifted an appealing hand. "Please!" she Implored, “you mustn’t You don’t know what you’re saying." - • - Katherine rose quickly, crossed the room to her mother’s chair and dropping on her kneeß beside it took tbe trembling little woman in her arms. “I know only too well, you foolish little dove,” she murmured tenderly, “I’ve known all along. As for that precious old muttonhead of a Judge, do make baste and get into your rags It’s almost tea-time and you’ve a guest waiting in the library. And—by the way, Muzsle, I’m going out with Jack to the theatetr at eight o’clock. This is one time I won’t be made to play second fiddle!" Three hours later, when Katherine , returned,. the light was still burning brightly Tn the library and with her finger im her Ups she ushered young Baker supertltfously Into the drawing room across the hall.