The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-07-04

d . . d. #.
The city editor of the Chicago paper
sent me down to Stanchfield, dis
tance of forty miles, to write funny
story about a misfortune which had
befallen one of the best men In the
state of Illinois. His name was Samuel
Brandon, and ne was known far and
wide as a genuine American. man
whom great wealth had not spoiled, In
every way broad minded and thorough
ly democratic in the best sense OF the
word. l..g ..
The joke was that Mr.. Brandon's only
daughter had recently become engaged
| to titled Briton, Lord Colewyn, whom
malicious fate had sent to the little city
of Stanchfield. This was a source OF
pride and joy to Mrs Brandon, who
was born arlstocrat, and of deep cha
grin to her husband, whose patriotism
was intense. .' A....ga
To add to the humor of the situation,
Lord Colewyn was to be guest Of the
Brandons on the Fourth of July, Upon
this day Mr.. Brandon always threw OPP
en- his spledid estate to the populace
and gave his fellow citizens such an
entertainment as spared the city all ex-
pense for a celebration. 1t was Mr..
Brandon's one day in the year; upon
the other 364 Mrs. Brandon ruled the
demesne in a fashion highly exclusive.
agreed with the city editor that this
affair partook of the nature of a jest.
The sense OF humor dawned upon the
world when one Of our monkey. ances-
tors pushed another off the limb OF
tree and was amused to see him light
upon his head instead Of on his feet,
and fun has not changed much In the
intervening millions of years. &
An early train took me to Stanch-
field, where my friend Tom Mason met
me at the depot. He was employed in
Mr.. Brandon's bank. and / depended
upon him for such of the facts as were
really common property and might be
told without indelicacy. Indeed. Tom
had already given me some of them la
a queer letter written about the time
OF the announcement of the engage
ment, in the middle of June. He SEEM
ed to suffer for Mr. Brandon. whom he
greatly admired, and to expect me to
sympathize fully.
In company with my friend went to
the Stanchfleld hotel for a bit of break
fast. AS soon as we entered the dining
room my attention was attracted by a
person who had the unmistakable air Of
a gentleman's gentleman. He was su-
perintending two walters in the ar
rangement of a table, the most favor
ably situated of all In the room. for 1t
was on dais in a corner and was al
Lord Colewyn's valet" said Tom.
His lordship evidently intends to
breakfast in public this morning.
why isn't he at the Brandons'?"
asked.
HE doesn't want to crowd the old
gentleman too hard, 1 guess" replied
Tom. my lord is not such fool as he
looks" ... .
Mr.. Brandon really takes this to
heart, eh?" said /.
docs hep" said Tom, with most ex-
pressiVe emphasis, and yet he's such
Thoroughbred. absolutely a man of
principle! He believes that O mother
is the natural and proper guardian OF
her daughter. In this matter he has
advised his wife. but he would never
attempt to control her. Toward Lord
Colewyn ne is strictly just. He'll be a
model father-in-law in every way.
Including the pecuniary way"
said /.
Tom smiled bitterly.
"As to that" said he, ''let me tell you
a story-not for publication, OF course,
for we are keeDlng 1t quiet. His lord
ship had about $1,000 in Mr.. Brandon's
bank. One day last week a man pre-
sented check to me as paying teller
at the bank for $1,000, drawn by Cole
wyn to his own o~der and indorsed by
him. Signature and Endorsement looked
All Ii6hL, diu i LOOK man TO De InaG
fiunky over there, who had cashed one
or two similar checks for small
amounts. 1t appears that the check
was forgery and that Bitters, as Cole
wyn Is pleased to call his valet, was
impersonated by a swindler who had
had room in this hotel next to my
lords for about week and has now
skipped for parts unknown. l could
have sworn that the man was Bitters.
but he wasn't, because Bitters was at
the Brandon place at the time"
Who says sop I demanded,
Everybody" answered Tom gloom
ily, Miss Brandon among the number.
Bitters was undoubtedly there with his
| master. And Ii was on me- of course.
I ought to have lost my job. But Sam
Brandon Is prince. He instantly made
good Colewyn's loss and lighted a cigar
with my resignation, and the whole af-
fair is dead except that detective is
secretly chasing the swindler."
As was about to ask a question Lord
Colewyn entered the dining room. and
at the sight of him 1 laughed A mo-
ment later began to be surprised that
he should have appealed TO me in that
way He was a big. blond Englishman,
naturally rather good looking g-indeed.
he might be called handsome But he
was the absolute ideal of SELF compla-
cency. In costume. carriage, express
SION. everything to the minutest detail.
he WIS entirely beyond criticism as the
eept esentatiye Of type of character.
The picture Of self satisfaction was SO
perfect that II even transcended nature.