Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-03-13

the late afternoon train for the week
end. First there was Miss Caroline
Schermerly. half sister to Mr. Rem
wyck and belonging to the haute no
blesse Of old Manhattan. Flatterers
described her as lady OF uncertain
age. although there was little doubt as
to her personal antiquity. She was tall,
somewhat angular and incased in a
formal coat OF blue blooded sleet,
which had never thawed sufficiently
to admit OF a husband being warmed
TO her side. She approved OF earls.
They represented caste; therefore she
promptly took Richard under her
moltIng wing. to the vast discontinue
of the gentleman thus appropriated.
Then there was Miss Imogene Chit
tendon. a bosom friend OF Miss Rem
wyck, newly released from boarding
school and radiant In the glamour OF
her first season out She was blond,
fuzzy. glggly. enthusiastic, delivering
her sentences In a short. jerky STAG
cato. with deal of unnecessary en-
phasis, until her conversation suggest
ed some one playing telegraph opera
tor with vichy sIphon.
"She was so glad to meet a real live
English lordl Really. II was delight
full! How did It feel to be nobleman
instead OF just an ordinary American
But OF course he couldn't tell the diff
ference. never having been anything
else. you know" and 80 on ad libltum.
In his heart Richard agreed with her
literally. but was not In a position to
make explanations.
He was now introduced to the last Of
the guests, Mr.. Cornelius Van DEL
Awe, an overyoung young man. sad
eyed. dark and In love with Miss Chit
tendon to the verge OF melancholia
He said he was very much pleased tc
meet Lord Croyland and asked IL they
were having much fog at home.
Richard had been posted on London
fogs and was enabled to draw a pic
ture sufficiently dismal to meet with
the questioner's desires.
Dinner is served" announced tall
butler. who fortunately chanced to be
an Irishman. Otherwise there might
have been whisperings over some OF
the strange earl's characteristics In the
servants hall.
"All right" said Mr.. Renwyck; 1--WE
won't wait for Michael. He never
missed an opportunity OF being late in
all his life"
Richard. who against his every In
clination was forced to take in the
stately Miss Schermerly. was wonder.
ing vaguely who Michael might be
when suddenly his heart stood still at
the entrance OF the gentleman himself
and again In his ears sounded the
haunting echo of that doubtful compli-
ment
Every good seat for all Englishman
my lord"
Mr.. Michael Corigan was a merry,
hearty little man. brother to Mrs. Rem
wyck, not ashamed OF his immediate
Irish ancestry and thorn In his
brother-in-law Jacobs side. The two
gentlemen had never got on well to-
gether. owing TO an utter dissimllarity
OF tastes and bulldog tendency TO
argue out their respective sides OF ev.
cry question TO the bitter end. II one
made u statement the other was sure
to combat II, no matter what his prl-
vate convictions chanced 10 be, and
poor Mrs. Renwyck lived In mortal
dread OF tilt Ia outrance between
the two. Moreover. there had been a
recent discussion. which. had Richard
known II. would have caused him
much distress OF mind. for the rock
on which the brothers-ln-law had split
was business deal with one Bill VIII
liams OF San Antonio, Tex.
Before the advent Of Mr.. Corrigan,
Richard had been pluming himself on
having carried out his role so success.
fully. II was comparatively easy TO
throw sand In the eyes OF the Rem
wycks and their guests. but Mr.. Corri-
gan put different complexion on the
face OF things. for the Texan recog,
uized the gentleman as n stauch friend
of his fathers who had visited their
ranch some ten years before. Richard
was then mere boy and would scarce
ly be remembered. he hoped, especially
when masquerading as Il foreigner.
Still he had his Quaking doubts and re-
doubled his cn.ortS 10 appear un-Amer-
lean. As the dinner progressed he was
rejolccd 20 detect no sign OF recogni-
ton, but before the salad was served
he found himself in trouble.
For the benefit OF his guests MIR.
Renwyck recounted the afternoons
feat OF horSemans6lp, and Richard
found himself upon the defensive. For
tunutcly he knew the details OF the
real Lord CroyMud'S venture in Texas
cattle and told the story with good
effect thus accounting .tor his ability
to ride anything that ram ON four legs.
yet all the while %, felt the steady
gaze of Mir CorrisauS little gimlet
eyes, which made him most uucom
Portable.
When this ordeal was passed Miss
Chittcndon forced him into one more
complication
"Oh, Lord Croylaud." she gushed
FROM her seat ON the opposite side OF
the table wont YOU please tell us a