The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-30

Van Kleek said that she was the grand
daughter of one who had been promi-
nent in New York society half a CEN
tury before. The family had lost their
means, but had recently won a law
suit that had returned to them enough
Of their property to enable them to en-
ter the social circle. Miss Warren had
essayed to claim the social position to
which she was entitled by birth, but
her place there had been filled, and she
must begin at the bottom of the ladder
and climb like others.
Tuckerton asked Van Kleek for an
introduction to the young lady, and
Van Kleek at once granted the request.
The rest Of the evening Mr.. Tucker
ton spent with Miss Warren. No one
paid the slightest attention to them; at
least no one appeared to consider them,
though there was something about
them that caused certain unexpress-
ed interest. Mr.. Tuckerton was not
exactly like other men, and Miss War
rem had received that which the other
guests could not buy with money-the
stamp Of gentility to which one must
be born and can never attain
But this undercurrent Of interest did
not In the least tend to break down the
barrier that separated the couple from
the others. No one ventured to show
either of them the least attention.
Tuckerton could have made a request
to be introduced to any of them. Miss
Warren as a woman did not have the
same privilege But she was the only
person to whom he asked to be intro
duced during the evening.
This man and woman, then, spent
the evening together and seemed to
be entirely absorbed in the conversa-
tiOn between them that had started
after their introduction. At first their
talk appeared to he merely the formal
commonplace rcll;.ri, that come with
the introduction of well bred strangers.
but gradually 1t took on an air of in
terest that apparently riveted the at
tentiOn Of both and finally made them
oblivious to their surroundings. BY
the time the evening was over and
adieus were bidden Mr.. Tuckerton and
Miss Warren seemed like old friends.
A few days after Mrs. Worthing gton' s
reception the commission sent over by
the English government visited New
York and was received by the city Off.
cials and by throngs of citizens. When
the cavalcade passed up between the
multitude of banners that lined Fifth
avenue the two men who have been
mentioned as strOlling on the street
shortly before viewed 1t from a win.
dow In a club facing the street.
by Jovew exclaimed Vandergrin
suddenly.
whats the matter" queried Potter
do you see that fellow riding in
that carriage-the fourth from the
endT
why, he's the chap we met on foot
the other day-the man Van Kleek put
up and wouldn't vouch for"
whats he doing in that crowd, do
you suppose|
II don't know. Ill find out" And
he asked one Of the lookers-on about it.
'That's the Marquis of Annesley,
heir to the dukedom Of Arlington. He
came over with the commission incog.
nito. or, rather, under his untitled name
Of Tuckerton."
Great Scott! Is he a member of
the commission?
Il believe not officially, but he is
one of the principal persons in the
party"
Many Of those who had been guests
at Mrs. Worthington's reception saw
the man they had ignored riding up
Fifth avenue on that gala day and
learned for the first time who he was.
And there was gnashing Of teeth
among them.
One young woman viewed the pro-
cession from an upper window, Miss
Warren, who had nothing to learn Of
Mr.. Tuckerton's identity. He had Wis
tied her at her home and had not
sought to keep his rank from her The
reason for his doing SO to others was
that he dreaded being honised on ac-
count Of being a nobleman. The only
persons who knew of his identity were
Mr.. Van Kleek and Mrs. Worthington,
and he had pledged them not to re-
veal it. This was the reason why Van
Kleek had not vouched for him and
why Mrs. Worthington had not shown
him any especial attention at her func-
tion and had not introduced him to her
guests.
The appearance of the marquis in
the procession on the day the British
commission was received by the city
Of New York revealed his identity to
the elite of New York, for there were
many questions as to who was the dis
ttnguished looking man who rode In
the fourth vehicle from the end of the
procession.
Invitations poured in on him by
scores. and he was besieged by persons
to secure his attendance at social func-
lions. But he declined them all on the
ground that he was In America on i'm
portant business and ii would not be
possible for him to make a depression
socially.
There were many young women who
had millions to pay for the noble
mans hand and vhon hafora n, fofx