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collected camp…chairs and settled ourselves in a cool place on the boat
deck。 Kinney had bought all the afternoon papers； and； as later I had
reason to remember； was greatly interested over the fact that the young
Earl of Ivy had at last arrived in this country。 For some weeks the papers
had been giving more space than seemed necessary to that young Irishman
and to the young lady he was coming over to marry。 There had been
pictures of his different country houses； pictures of himself； in uniform； in
the robes he wore at the coronation； on a polo pony； as Master of Fox…
hounds。 And there had been pictures of Miss Aldrich； and of HER
country places at Newport and on the Hudson。 From the afternoon
papers Kinney learned that； having sailed under his family name of
Meehan； the young man and Lady Moya； his sister； had that morning
landed in New York； but before the reporters had discovered them； had
escaped from the wharf and disappeared。
〃'Inquiries at the different hotels；'〃 read Kinney impressively； 〃'failed
to establish the whereabouts of his lordship and Lady Moya； and it is
believed they at once left by train for Newport。'〃
With awe Kinney pointed at the red funnels of the Mauretania。
〃There is the boat that brought them to America；〃 he said。 〃I see；〃 he
added； 〃that in this picture of him playing golf he wears one of those knit
jackets the Eiselbaum has just marked down to three dollars and seventy…
five cents。 I wish〃 he added regretfully。
〃You can get one at New Bedford；〃 I suggested。
〃I wish；〃 he continued； 〃we had gone to Newport。 All of our BEST
people will be there for the wedding。 It is the most important social
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
event of the season。 You might almost call it an alliance。〃
I went forward to watch them take on the freight； and Kinney stationed
himself at the rail above the passengers gangway where he could see the
other passengers arrive。 He had dressed himself with much care； and was
wearing his Yale hat…band； but when a very smart…looking youth came up
the gangplank wearing a Harvard ribbon； Kinney hastily retired to our
cabin and returned with one like it。 A few minutes later I found him and
the young man seated in camp… chairs side by side engaged in a
conversation in which Kinney seemed to bear the greater part。 Indeed； to
what Kinney was saying the young man paid not the slightest attention。
Instead； his eyes were fastened on the gangplank below； and when a young
man of his own age； accompanied by a girl in a dress of rough tweed；
appeared upon it； he leaped from his seat。 Then with a conscious look at
Kinney； sank back。
The girl in the tweed suit was sufficiently beautiful to cause any man
to rise and to remain standing。 She was the most beautiful girl I had ever
seen。 She had gray eyes and hair like golden…rod； worn in a fashion with
which I was not familiar； and her face was so lovely that in my surprise at
the sight of it； I felt a sudden catch at my throat； and my heart stopped
with awe； and wonder； and gratitude。
After a brief moment the young man in the real Harvard hat…band rose
restlessly and； with a nod to Kinney； went below。 I also rose and
followed him。 I had an uncontrollable desire to again look at the girl
with the golden…rod hair。 I did not mean that she should see me。 Never
before had I done such a thing。 But never before had I seen any one who
had moved me so strangely。 Seeking her； I walked the length of the main
saloon and back again； but could not find her。 The delay gave me time to
see that my conduct was impertinent。 The very fact that she was so
lovely to look upon should have been her protection。 It afforded me no
excuse to follow and spy upon her。 With this thought； I hastily returned
to the upper deck to bury myself in my book。 If it did not serve to keep
my mind from the young lady； at least I would prevent my eyes from
causing her annoyance。
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
I was about to take the chair that the young man had left vacant when
Kinney objected。
〃He was very much interested in our conversation；〃 Kinney said； 〃and
he may return。〃
I had not noticed any eagerness on the part of the young man to talk to
Kinney or to listen to him； but I did not sit down。
〃I should not be surprised a bit；〃 said Kinney； 〃if that young man is no
end of a swell。 He is a Harvard man； and his manner was most polite。
That；〃 explained Kinney； 〃is one way you can always tell a real swell。
They're not high and mighty with you。 Their social position is so secure
that they can do as they like。 For instance； did you notice that he smoked
a pipe？〃
I said I had not noticed it。
For his holiday Kinney had purchased a box of cigars of a quality
more expensive than those he can usually afford。 He was smoking one of
them at the moment； and； as it grew less； had been carefully moving the
gold band with which it was encircled from the lighted end。 But as he
spoke he regarded it apparently with distaste； and then dropped it
overboard。
〃Keep my chair；〃 he said； rising。 〃I am going to my cabin to get my
pipe。〃 I sat down and fastened my eyes upon my book； but neither did I
understand what I was reading nor see the printed page。 Instead； before
my eyes； confusing and blinding me； was the lovely； radiant face of the
beautiful lady。 In perplexity I looked up； and found her standing not two
feet from me。 Something pulled me out of my chair。 Something made
me move it toward her。 I lifted my hat and backed away。 But the eyes
of the lovely lady halted me。
To my perplexity； her face expressed both surprise and pleasure。 It was
as though either she thought she knew me； or that I reminded her of some
man she did know。 Were the la