Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-04-11
VENGEANCE BY VERA R0SEBERY.
a Story Of a Brton in American Society," Written
for This Paper by A. Oakley Hall.

want of enthusiasm. His expensive
tastes in carriage nire, change of dress,
books, and in menus that rather gratified
the eye than impressed the palate, oil
kept his purse thin, but he had learned
how to marry thrift to desires. He suf-
the faithful Aiivins.
Time hung heavy around the latter 8
neck. He could not, like Mark Tapley,
become jolly under adverse circum-
stances He missed his music hall of the
evening. BY day, his old nook in a
pub" was exchanged for the noisy tip
pie amid a crowd of strugglers at an
American ''bar." These shocked his
traditions. He missed his lounge among
the ratings Of Rotten row in Hyde
Park. Everybody is SO busy here"
he would remark to his incognito lordship;
Il have been through Central Park this
afternoon, and the carriage folk and
equestrians seem from their look to be
doing the park only under medical ad-
vice."
Thus. suffering ennui that rs often
visits ''high life below" as above "stairs,"
there came one day to Mivins a curious
incident. Several months after the exiles
had exchanged Astor House comforts
for apartments, one of the newspapers
that originate rumors for other papers to
deny contained an article of which the fol-
lowing is an extract:
''There also recently arrived an eccen-
trio nobleman, who intends to do our
country without divulging his identity.
He affects the disguise of valet and
courier, and it is said plays his part with
perfection of acting that would do hon
or to any theater," etc.
This extract fell under the notice of
Mrs. Mortimer Merton, widow of for
tune and social cleverness, who was
known in New York society as it's Mrs.
Leo Hunter. Celebrities-especially from
foreign parts"-formed an element of
her social craze whenever luncheons, din
ners or receptions were to occur Mt her
hospitable menage in 'Upper-tendom."
She read the reference over and over with
sparkling eyes, and called her daughter
in her tenth season of bellehood-in con-
sultation. They conversed Of how to OBJ
tain a clew. "Yet the masked nobleman
must come into evidence somewhere"
So for ut least fortnight Nine. Nor
timer Merton converted herself into a
detective at all social gatherings, asking
pertinaciously, "Have you, my dear,
heard anything about an eccentric noble
man who" etc., etc. Soon chance
threw into her way clew that diligent
search had failed to evolve.
CHAPTER II.
Mivins was cooling his ennui by vio-
lating an ordinance of Central Park in
it's thickets and treading its
verdure with all the quietude and stealth
mess Of poacher, when he heard half
stifed shrek proceeding from the neigh
boring bride path. Gaining its skirts,
he saw young girl clinging to her sad
die pommel, while her harse-4uite a 10
Gle looking animal-was running away
with a portion of the bride unbuckled.
Meanwhile dazed looking groom was
coming up behind. Mivins, who, in hal
cyon days gone by, had in many seasons
ridden to hounds in attendance on his
master, and was himself cool hand
with FESTIVE horses, instantly ran on
ward until the excited steed reached him.
While the animal was still running he
seized the curb rein and soon had the ami
NAL in check. He then disengaged the
affrighted lady and laid her upon the side
of the bank as the stupid groom came up.
to whom the rescuer dealt a few sarcas-
tic remarks with illusions to the groom's
better horse and his want of presence of
mind.
They found that the young girl soon re-
from the shock. Taking Mivins'
hand she began to pour out her heart in
thankful words. She asked for his card,
and the groom shyly added something
about her father, 'who would be happy
to know who had been so heroic" Miv-
ms merely said: II have been something
of groom myself, and am now only a
body servant. Wherefore, my name can
be Of no service, and I am only glad to
have accidentally proved of aid" Thus
saying he touched his hat-Mivins had
caught graces and such magnetic assist
ances as residence amid good breeding
disappeared in the bushes,
But not until he had unkuowingly drop
ped from his pocket an used envelope
his address. The young girls sharp eyes
saw it, while the dull vision of the groom
missed it. and in q moment it was in the
pocket of her riding dress.
Naturally the incident soon became a
family topic, and the story was duly told
the next evening at one of Mrs. Mortimer
Merton's stereotype receptions, to the
great delight of that lady.
what luckw she exclaimed, "and nm
ex groom? And he claimed to be body
Have you not read about the
disguised and eccentric English noble
men? What luck indeed! 1t must be he.
But" she added under her newly bridged
teeth, II shall be the first to take advan.
tage of the lucky discovery"
Before the flights had fled or the gar
lands were dead" the scheming hostess
had duly written to the address copied
from the truant envelope her compli-
ments. Her r. s. v. p. card requested
the pleasure Of the company, etc., ETC., on
Wednesday evening fortnight to dinner.
She sealed it with her crest, as befitted
the destiny of the missive-the motto be-
ing, Fortuna Juvat Audaces."
Meanwhile "Mr. Carson, solely to oblige
his employer, had compromised with his
dislike of society, and accepted an invi-
tation to large evening party, and
while the Central Park incident was &C.
tually in progress, had been gossiping
with one Of his fellow banking clerks
who eagerly coached the "Britisher" on
the methods and characteristics of New
York society.
In the evening after his little coaching
he made his debut at the reception of