Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-27
land Hes British. you know"
whats he doing here?"

TO take the part of a stranger against
UPSTAIRS. there was that In the man
which soon caused her TO forget her
motive in the interest he inspired in
her. A fairly Intelligent young woman
she was able TO appreciate his knowl-
edge of many subjects which go to
make up the intellectual world. He
had made a study of history. philo-
sophicaiIy considered. the formation OF
nations. governments. constitutions-ip.
deed. such information as might be
beneficial TO one who aims TO follow
public political life. International law
seemed TO be his hobby Miss Van
vechten was disposed to draw him
out on these subjects. which he pre-
sented 10 her In a way 10 insure her
understanding of them. She did not
wonder that a man who possessed
such treasures within himself should
be Indifferent TO the gilded circle
1t was in this way that Mr. Royden
won his way. If not to Miss Van Vech-
| tens heart. at least 10 a feeling that
she would like just such a man for a
| husband She encouraged him to ask
for her. not that she would or would
not accept him. but that she might
have the choice of doing either one or
| the other.
Now, all this happened within the
| short space of a few weeks. Mr.. Roy
den's stay in Gotham was coming to
an end. No one knew il except himself.
but he knew it very well. One day he
announced his coming departure to
| Miss Van Vechten.
Mr. Royden had been very uncom-
! municative. even to Miss Van Vecbten.
When he said be was going she knew
no more about where be would go than
| where he had come from. But she
was too well bred to ask him. Never
theIess, he told her the story. More
| over. he asked her to be his wife.
The day before Royden left New
York he was sitting in the lounging
room of the U club reading a newspa-
| per- Near him at table, partaking of
eshments, were several of the mem
Ibers of that party who had discussed
| him when he had entered the building
several weeks before. Among them
was Skinner. the cotillion leader.
There's that fellow Royden over
| there" rem. -,-ed Skinner. He doesn't
seem to have made much Roadway in
society. / seldom meet him any
where"
How do you know he cares to be
! metz" asked another.
II don't"
Nobody seems TO know anything
about him. remarked another. Mrs.
! Tracey can't foist these people on so
ciety as she once did. She's failed at
that"
at that moment a stranger entered
/ the room and. catching sight of Roy
| den. rushed up to him with extended
| hand
Hello. Bobv he cried. 81 haven't
seen you since we left oxford. I'm
mighty glad TO meet you. old man. and
to congratulate you on the position you
/ have attained Why are you not In
! Washington
Going tomorrow; have been waiting
for the minister
The man who had entered, seeing a
friend in Skinner. nodded to him and
after brief talk with Royden beckoned
him to join them. Skinner did so and
was introduced TO Royden.
|
Washington. He is on diplomatic
mission to settle some matters about
fisheries or something"
Mr. Skinner bowed obsequiously.
II have heard of the marquis as Mr..
| Royden." be remarked.
whats that?' said the introducer.
Been going incog. Bob? Using your
own name instead of your titleT'
II have been obliged to do so for
reasons connected with the diplomatic
service"
! 81 see"
Then Mr.. Skinner asked the marquis
| If he could not be of some service to
him during the rest of his stay in New
York, to which the marquis replied
that he was leaving the next day.
That evening the news spread among
the gilded circle that the oldest son of
a British duke and a prominent diplo-
mat had been in New York incog, and
no one except Mrs. Tracey. who alone
knew who he was. and Miss Van Vech-
tSl. who didn't. had had the honor of
entertaining him. Everybody blamed
the former for not making known the
rank of the man she bad introduced.
and nobody believed but that Miss
| Van Vechten knew all the while who
| she was entertaining. Mrs. Tracey ex-
cused herself in the statement that
| prominent scientist whom she bad in.
] troduced and whom society had snub-
bed had given the marquis a letter
to her. at the same time advising him
| to visit - " York incog.
Then came the news of the engage
ment of the marquis TO Miss Van
Vechten. If the women were wroth
| at being deprived of the honor of en-
tertain!ng the diplomat. the younger
ladies were positively mad 70 think
1 that none of their number had had
an opportunity to catch him. that adj
vantage having been appropriated by
Miss Van Vechten herself
Hardness and Goodness.