The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-08-16


he found Miss Van Vechten's home
very attractive The Van vechtens
were part of the diamond horse
shoe,r name given to that curve Of
boxes at the Metropolitan Opera Hous,
leased or owned by New York's wealthy
social magnates.
There's Miss Van Vechten again, {"
remarked lady in the diamond circle,
who In days gone by had pirouetted
before the footlights. with that Roy
den in her box. He's been there every
night this week. l wonder If she Is
going to marry him."
If she does she'll lose her social
hold. The Van Vechtens haven't
money enough to do what they please
In society,"" said the descendant Of a
brewer. who sat beside her.
Where did he come from anyway r.
asked the first speaker.
Australia or Canada or New Zea-
land. He's British. you know"
whats he doing hereY
But the orchestra drowned the reply.
While Miss Van vechten's taking up
Mr.. Royden had originally sprung from
natural feeling of a refined woman
to take the part of 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 20 to
make up the intellectual world He
had made study of history, philo-
sophically considered. the formation of
nations, governments. constitutions-in-
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 to her in way 10 insure her
understanding of them. She did not
wonder that 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 to a feeling that
she would like just such man for
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 few weeks. Mr.. Roy
den's stay in Gotham was coming to
an end. No one knew 1t except himself,
but he knew it very well. One day he
announced his coming departure to
Miss Van yechten.
Mr. Royden had been very uncom-
municative, even to Miss Van vechten.
When he said he was going she knew
no more about where he would go than
where he had come from. But she
was too well bred to ask him. Never
theless. he told her the story. More
over. he asked her to be his wife.
The day before Royden left New
York be was sitting in the lounging
room Of the o club reading a newspa-
per. Near him at a table, partaking of
refreshments. were several of the men,
bers of that party who had discussed
him when he had entered the building
several weeks before. Among them
was Skinner. the cotilllon leader.
There's that fellow Royden over
there" remarked Skinner He doesn't
seem to have made much Roadway in
society. l seldom meet him any
where"
How do you know he cares to be
metT asked another
81 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 q stranger entered
the room and. catching sight Of Roy
den. rushed up to him with extended
hand.
Hello Bob!" be 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
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.
This is my friend the Marquis of
Washington He Is on a 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 thatY' said the introducer
Been going incog., Bob? Using your
own name instead of your titleg'
Il have been obliged to do so for
reasons connected with the diplomatic
service"
"a see.''
Then Mr.. Skinner asked the marquis
II 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 gflded circle that the oldest son of
a British duke and 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-
ten, who didn't, had had the honor Of
entertaining him. Everybody blamed
the former for not making known the
rank of the man she had 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 a
prominent scientist whom she had in
troduced and whom society had snub
bed had given the marquis letter
to her. at the same time advising him
to visit New York incog.
Then came the news of the engage
ment of the marquis to Miss Van
Techten. If the women were wroth
at being deprived of the honor of en-
tertaining the diplomat. the younger
ladies were positively mad to think
that none of their number had had
an opportunity to catch him. that ad
vantage having been appropriated by
Miss Van vechten herself.
Tickling the Debtors.
John Barrett was only twenty seven
years old when President Cleveland
appointed him minister to Siam. The
first important task which confronted
the youthful envoy was to press