The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-05-17

cable interval had elapsed before ne
continued:
You asked me why | am sad" he
said. Constance, darling. will you
give me your word of honor that you
love me for myself alone? That you
are not enticed by the glamor OF my
manner"
why. no, Richard" she answered
wonderingly.
lie led her 10 the stone bench and
sat down. but suppose that | were
d!shonorable," he said Would you
still love me?"
You dishonorable?" she whispered.
laying her check against his own.
You could not be dishonorable, Rich
ard"
but ! am" he said with n groan
Il am a masquerader. I am not Lord
Jocelyn. Listen, Constance. | am
one of those Englishmen who, having
somehow acquired knowledge OF the
ways of gcntlefolks, frequent this
country under false titles for the pur-
pose OF gaining wealthy brides.
cane TO Atlantic City TO pursue Miss
Dayenant. But love claimed me and
| am happier in my failure that If
had succeeded. But am no lord"
Then what are you, Richard?" his
companion demanded.
He hesitatod, casting round in his
mind for the occupation which might
most easily arouse disgust in her.
How could lie 80; her to the hardest
test, something commensurate with
the suiferings that he must endure for
her? r-tailor-Goldier-
-" the Jingle ran through his mind.
Then, with an inspiration, he answer
ed:
Il am an undertaken, Constance.
Could you love m undertaken"
Il could love any honest man, Rich.
ard" SHE answered And | honor you
only the more for having confessed
the truth 20 me-
But what will Miss Davenant say?"
asked Joce!yn with n sudden qualm
OF regret.
Poor Mary" said Constance, smil.
ing Richard win you let me break
the news TO herr"
She parted from him at the entrance
TO the hotel, saying good night there,
and left him sitting meditatively with
out, pondering over this new problem
that had arisen so swiftly and yet had
been so happily solved. II was past
midnight when he went TO bed.
Miss Davenant received the news
with equanimity. At the breakfast Ia
bic on the following morning she con-
graduated him and his fiancee kind.
ly. Both ladies were ia travelling
dress.
and so you're not Lord Jocelyn aft
or ALP" she said. We'll, you must
come and visit us just the same. 1t Is
TOO bad that your engagement should
have cut short our happy time togeth-
er here"
But why should il be cut short,
Miss Davenant?" Lord Jocelyn asked.
When do you leave?"
This afternoon" she answered.
ut would hardly be the thing t.
leave you two young people together
here unchaperoned."
In this decision she proved inexor-
able. and she bore her companion
away on the early afternoon train,
promising Richard, however. that he
might visit the ladies' at Miss Dave
nant's town house on Fifty.ilfth street,
New York, on the third day, when
they had finished the autumnal house
cleaning. When they had gone he sat
down and wrote letter 10 his STEP
mother
Il have made n glorious fool of my.
self" he wrote. Il have become en-
gagged TO the companion. And yet
am glad Of II. for | know that this
time ! have met girl who Is exactly
suited To me and that we are destined
TO be very happy together, for have
told her that ! was only masquerading
rs a lord and that | am really an ua-
dertaker, and she s,fll loves me VIII
you keep up the illusion, In which
Miss Davonant believes, iGtercede
with my father for me-and forgive
ne?-Richard."
No answer came until TIE third
morning. just as he was feyerish!y
packing his suit case for the run up 10
town. Then, by the last post 10 ar
rive before the train started, Jocelyn
received a note from his stepmother.
Richard" 1; began. 81 could not
bring myself 10 write to you before
This disgrace is too terrible for me
to bear and dare not break the news
Of II 10 your father until our own
honeymoon is over; he Is so proud of
You and believes so fully in you. Rich
ard. break il off like gentleman
Poor fellow. you do not know what
you have let yourself In for. for. IL
you thought that you deceived that de.
signing Gricc woman. she deceived
you tenfold. She is only companion
In training. Miss Davenant has Gu
rious whims and Is now attempting TO
make n lady out Of scrubwoman.
Yes, Richard. II Is scrubwoman
whom you have engaged yourself TO.
and II you will take the trouble 10 call
ut the Davenant house unexpectedly
YOU will find your inamorata in all her
native clement down on her knees,
and very red in the face. polishing
Goors.'