Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-06-14

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
A party of travellers sat chatting on
the deck of a Pacific liner, and the con-
versation turned upon British lords
marrying American heiresses. One OF
the party whispered to lady sitting
next to him:
That Englishman Is one Of 'em.
He's going over for multimillion-
airess."
which one" asked the lady inter
ested.
'.The short. thick one. The other Il
his lordships secretary"
Young Peterson. who made this
statement, was a great wac. he did
not expect it to be believed and was
astonished later when one Of the girls
of the party said to him:
do you know that one Of those
Englishmen Is an earl going over to
America for rich wife?'
"You don't mean itr' said Peterson
with feigned establishment
| tteiSO1 NAIht0 ~ u Ahah SeNHNA49
near to follow him. and the two went
| of together.
by Jove, Charley" said the wag.
1--WE got something that will help to
kill time and give us lots Of fun be-
sides during this long voyage. For
Joke / told one Of the ladies that that
sawed OF Britisher Is lord going to
America to marry a big fortune and
that the other one was his secretary.
She took 1t all in earnest. told the
story to the rest Of the party, and 1t
came backto me-"
"wenr
well, don't you see that al these
women aboard-there are some high
steppers among them-win be sticking
to him like bear to honeyT
But the Englishmen win hear Of It
and deny it"
Suppose they do: we can say the
earl Is travelling incog. and won't ad-
init his identity. Besides. doubt II
be viii object to sailing under false
colors; he'll be treated royalty"
But the other. the secretary; It's my
opinion he's gentleman and won't
consent to any such imposition"
tits no imposition for him to play
an unimportant part. Besides, II he
denies the story he won't be believed"
His iordship was Thomas Sully, a
bagman. or what In America we call a
commercial traveller. Peterson told him
Of the plot. and he entered into the
spirit of it at once. Nothing was said
to the other Englishman. whose name
appeared on the list Of passengers as
Arthur Craven. He was OF serious
cast and not likely to have any sym
pathy with the joke or consent to be
one of the principal participants.
Great was the amusement derived
by Peterson and his friend Tomkins,
whom he had admitted to the secret,
at the marked attentions paid to the
bagman. whose title. Earl of Gambler
wall. was let out by the apparently in
cautious display Of an envelope that
he had addressed to himself for the
purpose. There were many English
people on board. all Of whom were
very obsequious to a nobleman Of
their own country. Several American
girls. who. though not multimillion-
airesses. were well supplied with
funds, entered the lists for the prize.
Ladies'" the bagman protested, ~
a humble British subject with no pre-
tense whatever"
"Oh. my lord" was the response,
how can you tell such a story? Your
aristocratic bearing gives you away"
You are incorrigible." the bagman
would reply. delighted
Peterson and Tomkins. who were
present when this amusing episode
came out. hurried away to conceal their
laughter. and when they got out Of
hearing. exploded, then as soon as
they could get Sully into the smoking
room opened bottle of wine for him,
and Peterson assured him that his
noble mien was what was enabling
him to carry out the joke so well.
Meanwhile Arthur Craven heard
nothing Of what was going on. for. be-
ing reserved man. he kept very much
to himself Some Of the ladies' re-
marked to Peterson that Mr.. Craven
did not seem to be very hard worked
by his master. whereupon Peterson
explained that the earl had no use for
a secretary on shipboard and had ex-
pressly forbidden Craven to pay him
any attention whatever lest he let out
the incog. Craven spent most Of the
time reading. He did not smoke. there
fore had no occasion to visit the smok-
ing room, where he would have been
astonished to see Sully vainly denying
by words that he was an earl. but by
his manner convincing those present
that he was.
Like seeks like. and Craven. having
made the acquaintance Of a refined
American family. found whatever
companionship he seemed to need with
Them Indeed. as the voyage pro-
crossed he showed greater disinclina-
20 a.. IL 81.