[Betty at Fort Blizzard by Molly Elliot Seawell]@TWC D-Link book
Betty at Fort Blizzard

CHAPTER VIII
9/18

Colonel Fortescue rated Broussard's newly-acquired taste for the simple life at its true value, and was sometimes a trifle sardonic over it.
"I wish," said Colonel Fortescue savagely one night in his office, where he always smoked his last cigar, Mrs.Fortescue sitting by, "I wish Broussard would let up a little in his attention to me.

I know exactly what it means and it is getting to be an awful nuisance." "Cheer up," answered Mrs.Fortescue encouragingly, "he'll let up on his devotion to you as soon as he marries Anita--for I have seen ever since the night of the music ride that Anita has a secret preference for him, and it's very natural--Broussard is an attractive man." "Can't see it," growled the Colonel.
"If you would just limber up a little and not be so stiff with him," urged Mrs.Fortescue, "let him see he can have Anita." "How can I limber up and tell him he can have Anita ?" roared the Colonel.
"The fellow hasn't asked me for Anita." "He's asking you all the time," answered Mrs.Fortescue, smiling.
Colonel Fortescue looked up at her with sombre eyes.

He had seen Anita become the target for the flashing eyes of junior officers.

He realized that Mrs.Fortescue, woman-like, did not share and could not understand the pangs of his soul at the thought of parting with Anita.

He had often observed that mothers willingly gave their daughters in marriage, but he had never seen a father give up his daughter cheerfully to another man.
Mrs.Fortescue saw something of this in Colonel Fortescue's face and leaned her cheek against his.
"Dear," she said, "I believe most fathers suffer as you do at the thought of giving up a daughter and some day I shall suffer the same at giving up my son to another woman.


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