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

sale surroundings OF conventional life,
he should find that he had been blind
to Constances defects? He recalled
each speech of hers, each gesture, and
could remember nothing unworthy.
But he longed TO put his love 10 the
test by observation, and the hours
seemed torture TO him.
He had written 10 the ladies 10 ex-
pect him at three O'Clock that after
noon, and about that hour, attired in
4 black frock coat. black trousers and
sable tie, as befitted his new occupa-
ton. he rang tho bell OF the Davenant
mansion OF Fffty-hfth street. After an
unusually long delay a liveyed serv-
ant opened the door 10 him.
"Er-Ive come TO see Miss Grice,"
stammered Lord Jocelyn, conscious
suddenly that he had no cards suit
able for his new alias.
We'll. young Teller. this amt the
place TO come" said the footman
| haughtily Down that Anyway and
ring the kitchen bell" Aad he slam
med the door in Jocelyn's face.
For n moment. speeches. with fury,
| Jocelyn meditated an assault upon
the mahogany panels: then, control
ling himself he descended the stairs
and rang the bell of tie area as he
had been directed. A stout cook in a
blue dress came TO the kitchen door.
Walk right in. young man." she
shrilled. extending the door invit!ngly.
And wipe your feet. Miss Mary's
particular. You'll find Comic in that
room back there"
Lord Jocelyn passed through = dark
passage. thinking he heard whispered
giggling from every side. Once, too.
he fanc!ed he heard the od!ous words,
Comics new beau" But he disre.
garded these external signs OF his fan
Gees position In the Davonant house
! hold and passed on into small room
NJ the end Of the hall-to find Con-
stance. clad in a bulging print dress.
| busily sweeping the carpet As he
came In she scrambled 10 her feet,
red and confused. and stood facing
/ him. still clinging TO the broom.
And then and there Richard, Lord
Joceiyn, was put 10 Tire test OF his
! life.
Down by the waves ut Atlantic City.
when the two women had associated
on terms OF practical equality, Joce-
Ign had been wholly ignorant of and
! indifferent TO social ratings and ranks.
II was enough for him that he loved.
and that nature attuned herself 10 his
wooing. But here, in these abodes OF
men. recalled with sud2snness To
those customs and ideas which n
thousand years Of civilization had
hardened into traditional code-how
could he stoop 10 raise this servant
in the ill-fitting dress TO his own social
level? How could he take her to
wife, bring her back TO Doublewith
Manor, Introduce her TO the country
side?
And yet he had been trained in the
conventional code of honor Of n gen.
tleman. Whatever he did he must do
quickly. for Constance Grice had read
the struggle in his face and. no longer
ashamed. was watching him curiously.
And then, instead OF disgust and
self-pity, Jocelyn felt only love new.
risen. and stronger than before. He
clasped her In his arms and kissed
her. and his fears dissolved like shad.
ows before the sun.
Connie, darling, must tell you
now" he said. Il really am Lord
Jocelyn, and not an undertaken.
wanted to test your love and now !
know II as surely as / know mine for
YOU"
well said. Richard" cried voice
outside the door. and out of the dark
passage emerged his stepmothcr. Rich.
ard looked at her in little surprise. So
many astonishing things had been hap.
pening that one more hardly counted
she was testing you, too. Richard
mis- stepmother said This Is Mary
Davenant. my halfsister. and the best