Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-07-14
Incognito
Story Of a Ranch Party
~ MARTHA v. MONROE

Yorker and member of the smart set,
issued invitations to a select few of
his friends In the swim to what he
called a ranch party. They were all to
go west by train to a station and from
the station to the ranch by stagecoach.
He did not own the ranch but said he
/ had hired II for the occasion. The
ranchman. Patrick Coleman. would re-
main In charge. MncKnight's guests
being in the nature OF boarders during
their stay ut MacKnight's expense.
| There was something novel In the
plan. and the dozen young men and
4 women who were invited considered
themselves fortunate. They arrived at
the ranch house In the evening and
took possession. MacKnight had as
sured them that for the period Of their
stay they were at liberty to do as they
pleased. and they did. When they
came the owner was out attending to
his herds. but they didn't consider his
presence Of much Importance so long
as his premises were at their disposal.
They were all. except one lady. repre-
sentatives Of American present day So
ciety-that Is. they had all come into a
good deal OF money during recent
date, had climbed into the swim and
kicked the ladder away from under
them In order that no one should be
assisted upward by taking hold Of
their skirts, The exception was Miss
Dewitt. a scion OF an old Dutch fami-
ly which had managed through many
generations TO retain some wealth.
On the second day after the party's
arrival the owner returned. The guests
greeting mcknight and Coleman gave
each other. which was quite cbummy.
Coleman was in ranch costume. rather
brusque In his manner, and spoke with
a brogue, though In his case 1t was
not rs broGd as that OF the ordinary
son OF Erin On the whole. the New
| Workers did not consider that there
was anything about him that required
different treatment from other men
who were hot la their set.
II soon developed that Mr.. Coleman
was not Of this opinion. He seemed
TO expect that he was to be taken In
as one OF the party. MacKnight treat
ed him as such and seemed to expect
his guests to do the same. Miss De
| Witt. who was cousin of the host,
seemed disposed to accept Mr.. Cole
man as an equal-at least, while under
his roof-but 1t was supposed by the
others that she had taken her cue from
the host. 1t was not long before Mr..
Coleman saw that he was persona non
grata and drew himself away from all
except Miss Dewitt.
Macknight seemed to be provoked
that his guests should carry their New
York petty assumptions into the wild
west. The men Of the party saw at
once that their host was displeased
and mended their treatment u Cole
man. but the women were not 30 mind
cd. After all, It was quite natural that,
having worked their way with 50 much
trouble to IA position where they could
prechted what they had gained ana
did not propose to relinquish any In
finitesimal part Of It.
There was one young lady. Miss Ell
leen De Vine-she had only just reach
ed the surface In the swim-who main-
tanned that. whatever be the treatment
Of Patrick Coleman. she would keep
him where he belonged.
"Pat." she said to him one morning,
''get me glass Of water"
Coleman colored a bit, but went for
the water. When he returned he said:
Are you related to the De Vines Of
Tfpperary county. Ireland"
II was now Miss De Vines turn to
be red in the face. Michael De Vine.
her grandfather. had been steward for
the estate OF the Earl OF Eringough.
She pretended not to have heard the
| question. turning to speak to a girl
sitting near her.
| 1t did not take Mr. Coleman long to
become used to the treatment of Mr..
MacKnight's guests. and. having been
assured that they had no use for him,
he seemed quite as well pleased as II
they had. But such was not the case
with MacKnight.
"You were wrong about this matter.
old man." he said to Coleman one day.
Your plan Of bringing these people
out here without letting them know
anything about you and expecting
them to take you In as one OF them
has been failure. l told you Il
would be-"
.No failure at ALL" replied the 9th
rr. II supposed you would bring
Americans such as are admired on
the other side Of the water for their
broad views. Your guests doubt
not are Of the commercial aristocracy.
They are all right. but they have not
been brought up to recognize a gen
tleman or lady without an adviser.
They must have some one 10 coach
them. just as the great bulk Of people
dust have critic for painting. a
statue or a poem"