Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-03-30
Sir James
Butler
BY MARVIN ST. JOHNS

/ Lie young SduthScpSK Ia VNCthtS
who opened the cabin door to the
Kents was certainly an intelligent
looking young fellow. Mrs. Kent felt
that she could address him in the
terms that one would use to an edu-
rated man.
/ We've lost our way" she explained.
my husband, my daughter and myself
are motoring, as you see, through the
Scotch Highlands We were told that
Sir james behring's country seat was
situated at the head of the lake, but
we must have taken the wrong turn.
suppose you can accommodate us for
the night. You shall be well recon-
Epensed, of course"
The young man looked at her curl
Ously.
Il can let you have rooms" he said.
/ And followed by her daughter, she
sailed majestically into the cottage.
The young man waited at the table,
and, with an appetite born of 90
miles drive among the mountains, Mrs.
1 Kent managed to make so satisfactory
i a meal that afterward she thawed out
graciOusly.
"You see," she said to her hos, my
father was the youngest son of Sir John
Deering. He was disinherited owing
to some quarrel and came to America,
where he married New York girl,
lmy mother. My husband who is very
rich, has retired from active business,
and we are making tour of Europe.
We expect to call on Sir James, who Is
my cousin, and to give him the sur
prise of meeting his American rela-
ltives. Has he not splendid mansion
hereabouts?"
"Yes, ma'am," said the young man.
HE owns all this territory, as far as
you can see. The mansion is about
IL miles up the lake. You turned Off
at Ridgeley'S Bend. This is his shoot
ing box"
"IIe must be Sir James gamekeep-
err" whispered Mrs. Kent to Luella,
later. "A most intelligent young man.
| wonder whether he wouldn't come to
America to be our butler"
She preached the subject before re-
firing, and the young man seemed de-
lighted at the prospect.
The next morning the gamekeeper
/ had the automobile cleaned and IN
readiness for them as soon as they
had finished breakfast. He courteous
ly indicated the road to them, respect
fully received five-pound note, and,
raising his hat, not without last look
at pretty Luella Kent, withdrew.
"Luella," said her mother severely,
show often must tell you not to flirt
with all kinds of people!
'Flirt, mamma!' exclaimed Luella
turning scarlet. 81.
1l--"1ruu talked to him for hall an hour
this morning before we were down.
saw you from my window. l heard
you telling him about Cincinnati"
"Well. mother he's coming to Gin,
cinnati, isn't he?" asked Luella.
"Well. please be more careful"
/ Forty minutes later the car drew up
before the old castle. Upon the porch
were Stdtloucu uoAeu ScINdHtS "dll-
ing to receive them.
chauffeur took the automobile into
the garage, two f0otmen carried out
the baggage, and the hOusekeeper
courtesying before them, explained
that Sir James was away in London
but that Mr.. Somers, the bailiff, had
given instructions that they were to
be made comfortable.
Mr.. Somers came over daily to take
the ladies driving, or to initiate Mr..
Kent into the mysteries of grouse
shooting Mrs. Kent was shrewd
woman, and soon observed the defer
ence with which the servants treated
Somers. She saw the growing attach
ment between him and Luella and, like
wise mother, contriyed to leave the
young people to themselves a good
deal.
Before the week had ended it be-
came evident that romance was in
progress. Shrewd Mrs. Kent spoke to
| her husband about it.
''Do you know who that Mr.. Somers
ISL" she asked
'The bailiff, amt he?" answered the
man of the house.
mo" declared his wife emphatical-
ly. "He is Sir James in disguise. And
Luella loves him, and the Deering es-
tates are coming back into the fam
ily."
| And, acting upon her insight, she
| spoke a few half yelled words to Mr..
l Somers which threw the young man
into happy confusion
Sir James was to arrive on Sat
urday, and MIS-. Kent did not doubt
that the secret of Mr.. Somers' identity
was to be revealed. She practiced the
confusion with which she was to re-
ceive the.' startling news that "Mr
Somers" and Sir James were one and
the same person. VIII 4 the gathered
retinue of retainers perceived Mr..
Somers driving fussy, black-whisk-
cred little man up to the castle in a
dogcart she gathered her daughter I'M
der her protecting wing and waited
for the denouement.
4 THE lawyer, no depbt, my dear"
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