The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-05-09
leceiving her in putting her to the

deceiving her in putting her to the
proof?
These thoughts ran through his
brain like lightning; hardly an appre.
ciable interval had elapsed before. he
continued:
"You asked me why I 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
name?"
why, no, Richard" she answered
wonderingly.
He led her to the stone bench and
sat down. "But suppose that I were
dishonorable," he said. would you
still love me?"
"You dishonorable?" she whispered,
laying her cheek against his own.
"You could not be dishonorable, Rich
ard"
"But I am" he said with a groan.
II am a masquerader. I am not Lord
Jocelyn. Listen, Constance. I am
one Of those Englishmen who, having
somehow acquired a knowledge of the
ways Of ~gentlefolks, frequent this
country under false titles for the u
pose of gaining wealthy brides. 1
came to Atlantic City to pursue Miss
Davenant. But love claimed me and
I am happier in my failure that if I
had succeeded. But I am no lord"
"Then what are you, Richard?" his
companion demanded.
He hesitated, casting round in his
mind for the occupation which might
most easily rouse disgust in her.
How could he put her to the hardest
test, something commensurate with
the sufferings that he must endure for
her? Observation-Disclosures
II" the Jingle ran through his mind.
Then, with an inspiration, he answer
ed:
II am an undertaken, Constance.
Could you love an undertaken"
Il could love any honest man, Rich
ard" she answered. "And I honor you
only the more for having confessed
the truth to me-"
but what will Miss Davenant say?"
asked Jocelyn with a sudden qualm
of regret.
"Poor Nary" said Constance, smil-
ing. Richard, will 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, bordering over this new problem
that had arisen so swiftly and yet had
been so happily solved. 1t was past
midnight when he went to bed.
Miss Davenant received the news
with equanimity. At the breakfast ta-
BILE on the following morning she con-
graduated him and his fiancee kind
ly. Both ladies' were in travelling
dress.
"And SO you're not Lord Jocelyn aft
er all?" she said. We'll, you must
come and visit us just the same. It Is
too bad that your engagement should
have cut short Jul happy time togeth-
err here"
But why should it be cut short,
Miss Davenant?" Lord Jocelyn asked.
when do you leave?" ~
This afternoon" she answered.
1T would hardly be the thing to
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-ffth street,
New York, on the third day, when
they had finished the autumnal house.
cleaning. When they had gone he sat
down and wrote a letter to his STEP
mother. .N
Il have made a glorious fool of my
SELF" he wrote. II have become en-
gagged to the companion. And yet I
am glad of it, for I know that this
time I have met a girl who is exactly
suited to me and that we are destined
to be very happy together, for 1 have
told her that l was only masquerading
as a lord and that I am really an I'M
dertaker, and she still loves me. Will
you keep up the illusion, in which
Miss Davenant believes, tntercede
with my father for me-and forgive
me?-Richard."
No answer came until the third
morning, just as he was feverishly
packing his suit case for the run up to
town. Then, by the last post to ar
rive before the train started, Jocelyn
received a note from his stepmother.
Richard" it began, II could not
bring myself to write to you before.
This disgrace is too terrible for me
to bear and I dare not break the news
Of it to your father until our own
honeymoon is over; he is so proud of
you and believes so fully in you. Rich
ard, break 1t of like a gentleman.
Poor fellow, you do not know what
you have let yourself In for, for, If
you thought that you deceived that de.
signing Grice woman, she deceived
you tenfold. She Is only a companion
in training. Miss Davenant has Gu
rious whims and is now attempting to
make a lady out Of a scrubwoman.
Yes, Richard, 1t is q scrubwoman
whom you have engaged yourself to,