Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-03

On a certain occasion, whilst walking
near the Mall in st. James Park, London, as
was the fashion of the mobiles and fops of his
time, his Grace observed a middle-aged
gentleman in a half-mIlitsry garb, de-
cidedly the worse for wear. but exceedingly
neat and precise withal in the cut and ar
rangement OF his dress And it SO hep
pened that two or three days running, he
noticed the poor gentleman walking at the
sane hour of the day, in the same place,
with grave and solemn step, and face
evidently full of care. Becoming inter-
ested in the gentleman's appearance, the
Duke caused inquiries to be made about
him, and with difficulty, through one of
his gentlemen, found out some little por-
ton of his private history. He was a gen.
tleman from one of the northern counties,
who in carly life had sold his estate in
order to purchase a commission, and had
served with distinction, or at all events
with credit, in more than enc foreign
country, but was now placed of necessity
on half-pay. by reason of the conclusion Of
the war lie learned further that the poor
officer had wife and family down in
YOrkshirc-then nearly week distant
from the Metropolis-to whom he sent
regularly half Of his pay, whilst he sup
ported himself in poor lodgings near Char
ing cross upon the rest, living on from day
TO day in the hope that he might somehow
or other obtain an office under Government,
or from the Horse Guards, which would
add little to his income. The Duke,
having assured himself that the veteran
was worthy Of relief, determined to make
HIM happy quite in a way of his own; so
he sent his servant with polite invitation
for him TO come and dine with his grace at
Montagu House, IN Whitehall. The I'M
fortunate officer stared in amaZement, as
well he might, at first thinking i. joke,
until he saw the ducal crest on the top of
the seal of the note. lie soon, however,
sufficiently recovered his self-possession to
reply that he thanked the Duke for his
kindness, and would obey his summons
at the day and hour named by him.
Not the less. however, was he lost in
wonder how the Duke had found him out,
and still more why he had chosen thus to
honor him.
When the day fixed for the dinner had
arrived the officer appeared at Montasu
House, where the Duke received HIM with
every sign Of courtesy and even respect.
And when he expressed his surprise al
being so honored, the Duke took him
quietly aside and told him, with an air of
great gravity and secrecy, that he had a
particular reason for his conduct in the
matter. ''To tell you the PLAIN truth, "
said his Grace. there is in my house a
lady who has often seen yor, and who has
become so much interested in you and
your fortunes that she very much wishes
for personal interview with you, and i
am anxious for reasons of my own. to fall
in with her wishes. Upon my soul, she is
most worthy and excellent lady: and /
think. between you and me, that she looks
upon you with no slight regard The
poor officer ON this began to feel little
alarmed; for he did not like the idea of
being handed over 10 the tender merciCs of
a strange lady-a married man, too, as he
was, and with children to boot. In his
perpiexity and distress, therefore, he began
TO mutter his fears that ''really there must
be some mistake and added. ''Somc one
or other has been trying TO impose on your
Grace, or else ON Inc. The fact is that !
have a wife down in Yorkshire, and she is
the only person for whom | care, or ever
did care. and know OF no lady beside her
who has a right to feel any keen interest
in me-"
Never mind" replied the good-natured
Dake, mo harm shall happen to you only
Just follow me into the next apartment,
my good friend" And with these words
he led his guest into sumptuous dining
room, into which he had no sooner entered
than he saw his own wife and his three
rosy, countrified children, for whom the
Duke had sent down into Yorkshire, and
whom he had brought up to the great Me
tropoiis to meet him. At first he felt not
only peTplexed. but alarmed; for were
they his wife and children, or only their
ghosts and wralths? 4 closer inspection,
however, soon reassured him that the
objects of his love and affection were
present before him in flesh and before the
third course of the dinner was over the
party were as happy and merry as could
be- The officer was invited and pressed to
stay the night at Montagu House, instead
of returning to his dIngy and uncomfort-
lON-lLl-S. anu W slNhu o VI wv
with his wife and children there before
going back home He did so, and ex-
pressed his deep sense of gratitude for the
hospitality so kindly and so Unexpectedly
shown to him. A few mornings afterward,
when he was packing up his traps prepara-
tory to his departure, the Duke called the
poor officer into his study, and presented
him with a legal document which secured
to HIM comfortable annuity for life, re-
marking at the same time that he need
really feel no hesitation in accepting it.
'sYou must know" added his Grace with
a smile, Il am trying, though rather late
in life perhaps, to do the best that | can
with my money, of which | have more
than know what to do with and | assure
you that / should not have done what |
have in respect of yourself if had known
how else, or where else, could have found
more pleasure and satisfaction from my
outlay"