Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-04-18
CHAPTER Nv.

Wnen Mlvins reached the apartments
he related his adventures to Carson,
whose imperturbability and carelessness
for emotion relaxed into peals of laugh
ter. saying: II discovered some time ago
that the baronet was 'bogus'-to use
some slang | learned in Wall street-and
trust the incident may become a social
lesson to American hostesses on the look
out for titled foreigners"
His courtesy lordship as younger con
had, when IN London, received scant Mt.
tention from British matrons and dnugh-
tiers who ranked in the list Of eligibles;
and he had been too indolent, and, per-
haps, too selfish to care for marrying
money where it abounded outside of ''eli-
gibles." In truth, he was fastidious-a
quality which is the progenitor of ennui,
that itself is the parent of cynicism. But
he had studied women throughout his
travels-those of heartless Paris, of flip
pant Italy of the vOluptuous Orient, Of
domestic Germany and of needless Swe-
den. But now for the first time he had
been moved to delight in feminine com-
partnership by Vera Rosebery. OF the 40
cial swims in which she disported he had
come to make point of taking close
cognizance. Nor had she now become, rs
she had heretofore been, Indifferent to
swainship. She was half orphan resid.
Ing with her mother. The father, once
an admiral, had left them a fortune that
he himself had inherited. Vera had en-
joyed every possible advantage. Her
childhood had been trained in the Man
hattanville Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Her forte was in language, of which she
spoke several. She was mistress of the
harp. An excellent memory, wide range
Of reading, cultured habits of thought,
impromptu wit, fondness for repartee AMI
ready command Of speech, with much resi-.
dence In Europe, had made Of her a bril-
liant conversationalist. Her old cover.
ness had named her Miss Crichton. after
the Admirable" Scot. But she threw
around her beauty, her grace, and her ac-
complishments cold reserve that held at
. distance the attentions of men that par
alyxed what society had begun to term
dudes" Perhaps 1t was the sang froid
OF Carson that first attracted her atten-
ton to him 20 that he became guest If
her mother's house, and bore with infinite
patience her persistent raillery. His
amusing indifference to life, the mystery
hanging about him, and the eccentricity
Of banking clerk keeping body servant
became additional incidents Of attention.
Neither was admittedly to each other in
love with the other; yet each confessed
II cared for association with the other,
Such combination in friendship, how
ever, often brings around the best union
OF head and heart Was It not written In
one OF the ephemera Of the first Lord
Lytton that sexual association invariably
led to that state Of heart and head which
found perfect happiness in the compan-
lonship OF two persons of different sexes,
and gave comparative misery during their
mutual absence. Misery only mollified By
the hope Of fresh companionship-a state
to which Lord Lytton gave the name of
love.
When her mother once limited at such
word, and deprecated her throwing
herself away upon 4 clerk or secretary Of
whom nobody knew anything" Vera hea--
tily laughed: yet when she retired to her
apartments, her mirror, if it had tongue,
could have prated other thoughtful do
meanor there, and Of her quietude, as IL
catechism of a certain kind was being
applied by the "Me" to the "Afyself."
When once the banker employer slight
~ rallied Carson upon his attentions to
the lady, Carson also laughed, but also
grew thoughtful and taciturn.
She had often endeavored to turn his
conversation upon English matters and
social associations in British cities and
ruralties, yet entirely without definite
clews % to whom he might be. His very
avoidance OF his past except a. to Lis
travels and adventures, more and more
increased the mystery, and aroused her
interest. She could, Of course. like many
Of her sex, have aired her curiosity IN
questions, or have intruded herself upon
bis sscrstiveness By many an adroit ri.