Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-04-01


1t was the misfortune Of Beryl Mich.
olson to live amongst famous people
It was the misfortune Of Arthur Do
bell. who was something in the city
an Insignificant something withou,
fame or repute-to fall in love with
Beryl Nicholson.
Neither years, money nor social pc
sition divided them. The entire dis
parity consisted in the fact that she
lived. moved and had her being in the
golden atmosphere of fame. And that
Is the next worst thing to being ia
nous ones self.
Her own people were horribly ia
nous.
Her father was the renowned Prof
Nicholson. confessedly one of Britain's
greatest scientists. In himself he was
q dull old bookworm, to whom no one
could listen for more than five min
utes without getting fearfully bored.
But from everyone who did not know
him personally five minutes attention
was secured. Was he not famous?
Her brother was a musical doctor,
who had written an opera that had
~(crowning dignity!) been once per.
formed at Covent Garden during the
grand opera season. The performance
was not repeated. The papers said
that this was because British music
was not encouraged at that home OF
German and Italian art. The critics
In their hearts believed that Nichol.
sons music wa not worthy Of a sec.
ond repetition. Wagner Is to be pre-.
ferred without water.
Her brother-in-law vas q well-known
novelist. His fame once acquired by
Q good novel. he turned out q success
or every nine months with monot.
onous regularity. There was never
the smallest variation In style or mat.
ter, but neither his publisher. the cir
culating libraries nor the uncritical
reading public minded that. Fortu'
nately for our modern novelists. a rep
utation that Ia born in the hills may
descend to the plains without nine
readers out of ten being in the slight
est degree aware Of any difference of
altitude.
Arthur Dobell thought Of those ap-
pallingly famous three and shot his
fingers helplessly through his hair.
And they hlled only the inner court
Of fame in his loved Beryl's life-that
was the worst Of 1t. The outer courts
were often flocked with renowned PEG,
pie. There were "at homes" held
monthly through the winter months
when celebrities celebrities in cul
ture, music and literature-buzzed like
bees round the Nicholson hive. Elk.
cept for that inveterate buzzing they
all behaved like ordinary people, and
only about one in twenty had the
smallest distinction Of appearance. Do
bell would get into a corner, put his
fingers into his ears and groan aloud;
that buzz was too awful.
Was It his fancy that Beryl took
color from her environment? Thank
heaven. she appeared to have no as.
piratlons after being a celebrity her
oelf, but she basked like a cat in the
sunshine Of fame about her. 1t was
horrible image to use of a girl one
loved. but he could think Of nothing
else that 50 exactly hit of the truth.
And he, alas! could~contribute moth.
ing to the glow radiating upon her per.
sonality. He could not bring even a
farthing rushlight Of fame to add to
the general illumination.
Suppose he took-hts courage in both
his hands, proposed and was accept.
ed! Would his sense Of satisfaction
survive those douches of cold water
sprinkled from every hand? He saw
himself introduced at Beryl's fiance to
that tiresome procession of celebrities
"What name did you say? Dobell?
don't seem to have heard Of anyone
Of that name. What has he done!
Nothing? What is he, then? Only q
city man! Oh, how absolutely uninter'
estiag! Really. Beryl might have
looked rather higher. Not even well
Oh. you say? Dear me not a single re
dseming featured The girl has simply
thrown herself away on him. Have
you read that delightful paper of the
Professors in the Twentieth Century
o. Socialism and Science?"
Such was the exact position Of at
DlIU Wne1 DOOeii Aau HIS odIuiuo'
afternoon visitor.
It was 4 miserable day, and Dobell
Vas spending the half holiday curled
up In IN armchair before the fire. To
nisAt he had to face n Of those awful
monthly gatherings at the Nicholsons'
A.man could be excused for spending
the afternoon in selfish fashion.
"A gentleman to see you. sir"
ssWho. Elizabeth"
HE gave me that card, sir"
The name on the visiting card
Martin Elison-was not enlightening
II don't know sim. What does h
OpHtr