Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-05-21

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Story of a Ranch Party
By MARTHA v. MONROE

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 ~stngecoach.
He did not own the ranch, but said he
had hired 1t for the occasion. The
ranchman. Patrick Coleman, would re-
main in charge. MacKnight's guests
being In the nature Of boarders during
their stay at MacKnight's expense.
There vas something novel in the
plan, and the dozen young men and
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
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 a 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 a 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
were somewhat taken aback by the
greeting MacKnight and Coleman gave
Zach other, which was quite ehummy.
Coleman was in ranch costume, rather
brusque in his manner, and spoke with
a brogue. though in his case it was
moi as broad 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 not in their set
1t 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 a,cousin of the host.
seemed disposed to accept Mr.. Cole
man as an equal-at least, while under
his roof-but it was supposed by the
others that she had taken her u 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 hat their host was displeased
and mended their treatment OF Cole
man. but the women were not so mind
ed. After all. it was quite natural that,
having worked their way with SO much
trouble to a position where they could
look down on the multitude, they APP
preciated what they had gained and
did not propose to relinquish any in
finitesimal part of 1t.
There was II young lady, Miss Eli
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 a 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
Tipperary county, Ireland?"
1t 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 If
they had. But such was not the case
with MacKnight.
"You were wrong about this matter,
old man." he said to Coleman n day.
"Your plan of bringing these people
out here without letting them know
anything about you and expecting
them to take you in as n of them
has been a failure. l told you it
would be-"
mo failure at ALL" replied the 9th
er. 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 a lady without an adviser.
They must have some n to coach
them. just as the great bulk of people
must have a critic for a painting. a
statue OF a poem