Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-03-08
A Seaside Comedy

that may happen. He who sets out
with my purpose ready-made In his
mind, is doomed to perpetual disap-
pointment."
And l haven't found an adventure
for nearly three weeks" he added, as
he finished his asst game Of solitaire.
He rose, the light of a new resolution
in his eyes, and ang for his valet.
Talbot he said, as that servitor
appeared, I'm going away"
Yes, SIR replied Talbot respect
lively, waiting for his master to reveal
the place of his destination.
Where shall l 60, Talbot" contin-
ued Jocelyn. New York's too hot
for me-"
Il ave card say, sir, that Craig's
Peaks the place this season. There's
a very nice hotel there, sir, called the
Randolph which was told me by a
young woman who"
Spare me these amatory conf
dences, Talbot, ! beg YOU" replied his
master. Il shall go to Craig's Peak
n spend a week by the seashore.
Put up my things this afternoon"
1t was still early summer and Lord
Jocelyn found the hotel only half full.
There seemed little probability that
the quiet, ~unassuming Mr.. Jocelyn"
of the visitors book at the Rand
olph" would discover anything extra
ordinary in that sedate and fashiona-
Bile watering resort. After the third
day Mr.. Jocelyn had begun to weary
of the varied and not too fascinating
sports of picking up sea-shells, gather
ing plant specimens from the noun
tain slopes, and discovering new and
rare entrees upon the menu. Per
haps that is why he fell a victim to
the designs of Mrs. ard Miss Muriel
Van Loo. Of Boston.
My DEAR" said the elder lady,
that tall, distinguished Englishman
is a parsonage in his own country, or
looks don't count for anything."
He may be an impostor, Mamma"
said her daughter cynically. "Remem-
Der that one that made up to us last
summer at Atlantic City,"
"Muriel," replied her mother, don't
be suspicious. 1t is not a fascinating
quality in a young girl. Leave that
to me. Your meter is innocence, with
just a dash of dare-devilishness, but
not too strong. Why didn't you pack
'BurFe's Peerage'?"
II did, Mamma" answered her
daughter dutifully. But l left out the
Landed Gentry of Great Britain be-
cause there wasn't room in my trunk"
Bring down Burke, then" com
manded Mrs. Van Loo, and she put on
her tortoise-shell trimmed eyeglasses
preparatory to the hunt. Muriel soon
reappeared bearing the volume.
"JoceIyn, Jocelyn," Mrs. Van Loo
murmured, turning over the pages.
Here we are. Muriel, darling. Joce-
Ign, fourth %viscount, of Doublewith
And no brothers or sisters. He will
undoubtedly inherit the property"
The heir always inherits the prop
erty," answered Muriel.
without a doubt, dear, that is Lord
Jocelyn in Disguise" said Mrs. Van
Loo. Tonight / shall speak to him"
She found her opportunity, and thus
began the acquaintance, which, at first
a bore to Jocelyn, developed into a
1t was the week of tho
full moon, and moonlight walks were
a specially of Muriel Van Loo's. Be
fore the week was ended the three
had become fast friends. On the sew
enth day Jocelyn re-engaged his room
for the following week.
In spite of many experiences, Lord
Jocelyn felt himself fast succumbing
to the charm of Muriel Van Loo. To
begin with, her hair was bronze, and
Jocelyn adored bronze hair-when it
was in his proximity. Then she had
the clearest blue eyes, with just a sus-
picion of raillery in them-and blue
ewes were Jocelyn's speciality, in de
fault of brown, hazel or gray. And
Muriel's unworldliness and innocent
ways produced a profound impression
on the young mans heart. Needless
to say, the many rivals of Lord Joce-
lvn. who had delighted to bask in
.Muriel's smiles before his advent, hat
ed hin cordially. But their glances
of scorn passed by him like Tie Cool
breezes that blew all day over the
summit of the peak. If he had known
of the feelings that he inspired he
would have been genuinely concerned,
for Jocelyn was singularly warm
hearted.
It soon became evident that Mur1el
concealed beneath the corsage or her
Fifth avenue gown a heart that thrill
ed to the promptings of romanticism.
This is how Jocelyn made the dlscov-
cry:
What do you like best about Amer
lea. Mr.. Jocelyn?" asked her mother
one evening
Its democracy" Lord Jocelyn an
swered promptly. THE feeling that
one man is as good as another is de-
lightfully strange to one used to the
class subserviency of my own coun-
try. It positively thrills me when go
into my tailor's, for example. to feel
that I am being fitted by a man who
holds to be as good as l am M de-
mands the same respect. M when
] dine out, to know that he butler
who takes my hat is really my social
equal is most novel and fascinating
o know
"A.. ses,' said Mrs. Van Loo, with
out enthusiasm. But among our pest
people a different feeling is growing
up
Don't say that, Mamma. cried Mu'
riei earnestly. Don't you recoliect