La Junta tribune., 1911-03-25


remarked II lady In the diamond circle.
who In days gone by had pIrouetted
before The f0otIights. with that Roy
dcn In her box. He's tnen there every
night ihis week. wonder II she In
going To marry him"
III xhe does she'll lOse her social
hold. The Van vehtens haven't
money enough to do what they please
in society" said the descendant Of a
brewer. who sai beside her
Where did he come from any way?"
asked the irSt speaker.
"Austrnlia or Canada or New Yea
land He's Rritish. you know"
Whats he doing here7'
But the orchestra drowned the reply.
While Miss Van vechten's taking up
Mr.. Royden had originally sprung from
natural feeling Of q refined woman
TO take the Iart Of a stranger against
UPSTAIRS. there was that In the man
which soon caused her to forget her
motive In the interest be 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
Nehtcn was disposed TO draw him
out on these subjects. which he pre-.
scnred 10 her in n way TO insure her
understanding OF them. She did not
wonder that man who possessed
such treasures within himself should
be Indifferent to the gildcd circle.
! II WAS In this way that Mr.. Royden
won his way. II not TO Miss Van vech-
tens heart. AT least to a feeling that
she would like just such n man for a
husband. She encouraged him TO ask
| for her. moi that she would or would
not accept him. but that she nigh,
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 It except himself.
but he knew II very we'll One day he
announced his coming departure TO
Miss Van Vechicn.
Mr.. Royden had been very uncom-
municntive. even to Miss Van Vechten.
/ When he said he was going she knew
no more about where he would 20 than
where he had come from. Hut she
was too well bred TO ask him. Never
theless. he told her the story. More
over. he asked her to he his wife
| The day before Roydcn left New
/ York he was sitting In the lounging
room OF the u club reading n ncwspa-
per. Near him al n table. partaking of
Refreshments. were several OF the mem
bcrs Of that party who had discussed
him when he had entered the building
several weeks before. Among them
was Skinner. The cotlllion leader.
There's that fellow RoydcD over
there remarked skinner. He doesn't
seem To have made much headway In
society. | seldom meet him any
where
How do you know he cares TO he
metz asked another.
u don't"
Nobody seems TO know anything
about him. remarked another. Mrs
| Tracey cant foist these people on so
cicty Ms she once did. She's failed at
that
Al thar moment n stranger entered
the room and. catching sight Of Roy
den. rushed up To him with extended
hand.
Hello. Rob-" he cried Il haven't
seen you since we left Oxford. I'm
mighty glad To meet you. old man. and
TO congrn tuiaic 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 Roydcn beckoncd
him TO Join them. skinner did so and
was Introduced TO Roydcn.
This Is my friend the Marquis Of
iicssiingion. lie is on n diplomatic
mission 10 settle some matters about
fisheries or something"
Mr.. skinner bowed ob-.luiously.
II have heard " the marquis as Mr..
Itoyden." b. remarked.
What's thaty' said the Iniroducrr
Been going incog. i,obf Using your
own nam. instead ~ your iitley'
Il have been Obliged To- do 50 for
rcnsons connected with The diplomatic
service
- ss~.'
Then Mr.. skinner asked the marqui.'
u he could not bc ~ some service TO
him during the rest ~ his stay In New
York. 10 which the marquis replied
that he wn- leaving the next day.
That evening III. news .pr~sd among
the eyil1sSf stp.slss TINT s.lAs.~s