The Raymer enterprise., 1912-03-14
A FRUSTRATED
ALLIANCE

Madison avenue, New York. Lord
Richard Joselyn was struggling into
his dress clothes. and his face wore
an expression Of as much dissatistac-
ton as he ever permitted to appear
there. When he had brushed his hair
and settled his white tie he took up
letter from his father. the cause OF
his distress. and re-read 1t slowly.
my dear Richard" wrote the fourth
viscount from his home at Stockton.
England. you have now been Six
months In America and have not sue
ceeded In your quest OF bride who
shall restore the much depleted fam.
lily income to It's pristine size before
We had radical ministries In power
and doles for the laboring classes at
the expense OF the landed gentry. Nor
have you displayed any evidence that
you are likely to succeed In such an
attempt in the near future. And
meanwhile the sands OF my patience
are running out. and, what will dis
concert you more. fear, the allow
ance that | am making you must
shortly come to an end.
81 have. therefore. Richard. picked
out bride for you. She Is Miss May
Jerrod. the daughter OF the Pittsburg
millionaire. who owns magnificent
house In Fifth avenue. New York. The
family have recently been visiting
England, where | met them. have
entered into tentative contract with
the mother, and you will do your best
to bring about an engagement now
that they have returned to America.
You will be warmly welcomed, and
there Is little doubt that II you are
not lost to all sense OF duty, Double
with Manor will see new bride next
year"
Upon the table lay second mis-.
siye. an engraved card. announcing
that Mr.. and Mrs. Jcrrold requested
the pleasure OF Lord Jocelyn's COM
pany to dinner that evening.
Lord Jocelyn had paid one visit to
the Jerrod's and It had not pleasant
ly impressed the young EnglIshman.
He had found May Jerroli a plain.
featured. rather worldly girl, and the
father nonentity. socially speaking.
ruled by the mother, pompous per-
sOnage. who. In language hardly veil.
ed had suggested that the exchange
OF the tile for the Jerrold wealth
would be In the best interests OF both
families As TO the wealth, there was
no doubt OF its existence Though he
had recently been implicated in some
rather speculative transactions In
Wall street, Jerrold pere was rcputed
by conservative judges TO worth fifty
millions.
Il suppose that there's no help for
It," Lord Jocelyn sighed. 'Iye got
to get spliced. Tonight | shall warm
up to the Jerrold girl. and soon, after
a decent Interyal-two weeks. say
shall ask her to be my bride"
He struggled into his ovcrcoat and
passed out OF his apartment and down
the stairs A crawling taxIcab loomed
up out OF the mist. Lord Jocelyn en-.
tered. and some twelve minutes later
emerged at the threshold OF the Jcr-
rOld home.
The guests We're for the most part
already assembled In the drawing
room when he entered. Mrs. JerrUld
fected enthusiasm. and after he had
shaken hands with her daughter, In.
troduced him to some OF those near
est
Prince Won Mitfohlcn, want you
to meet Lord JoceIyn," she said
The prince. tall slender young
man OF military bearing. bowed stifi.
ly and looked at Jocelyn curlously.
"A real prince, Lord Jocelyn," whs-
pcred Mrs. Jerrold with evident self.
satisfaction He's in the Almanach
dc Gotha.' Lord Joselyn-Mr Henry
Doane."
The latter was the antithesis Of the
prince: short, round. joyial Amcri.
can OF the successful business type,
who grasped Jocelyn's hand warmly.
A few more introductions were effect.
ed. and then the servant announced
dinner.
You are to take my daughter down.
Lord Jocelyn." said Mrs Jerrold. and
May Jerrold put her small gloved
hand upon his arm and accompanied
him down the stairs. The drawing
room was at the top OF tho second
flight; at the top Of the first was n
large conservatory. the entrance
guarded by two antique sets OF armor.
each posed. lance In hand as though
to warn all persons away who had
not serious business within. On the
ground floor was tho dining room, Law.
ishly decorated with pictures OF all
shapes and sizes. most Of which bore
the names OF old masters and had
been sklllfully copied for tho Ameri.
can purchaser In Brussels.
The dinner passed on quietly. tho
attention OF the guests being concen.
trated rather on the viands than upon
one another. On the other side OF
Iocaivp'a conpanion sat prinro Nit.