The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-04-16
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"A Pleasant Story OF eEne Hssake Oh
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"A A.AGszSSGRa RaG sSa0EY Oh GEaE ESEGR8c
G HHo1a9agsa.
S On certain occasion, whilst Walkir
/ near the mall in ST. James Park, as w
) the fashion of the mobiles and fops of h
r time. his grace observed a middlc-age
2 gentleman in ha1f-military garb, decided
: " the worse for wear, but exceedingly ne;
t and precise withal in the cut and Arrange
: ment of lis dress. And it so happene
$ that two or three days running he notice
t the poor gentleman walking at the sam
, hour Of the day, in the same place, with
grave and solemn step, and u face evident
, ly full of care. Becoming interested in th
gentlelnan's S appearance, the duke cause
: inquiries to be made about him, and wit
J: difficulty, through one of his gentlemen
found out some little portion of his priyat
history. He was q gentleman from one
the northern counties, who III early life SOLE
his estate in order to purchase a colnmis
sion, and had served, with distinction, O
at all events with credit, in more than olls
foreign country, but was now placed o
necessity on one half pay, by reason OF tht
conclusion of peace. He learned, further
that the poor officer had a wife and fam
| ily down in Yorkshire-then nearly {
week distant from the n1etroplis-to whom
he sent regularly half OF his pay, whilst he
supported himself in poor lodgings neal
from day to day in the Hope t6ar 'ifff
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 ofrelief, determln-
ed to make him happy quite III way OF ms
own; SO he sent his servant with polite
invitation for him to come and dine WITH
his grace at Montagu House, in Whitehall.
The unfortunate officer started in amaze
ment, as we'll he might, at first thinking it
a Joke. until he saw the ducal crest on the
TOP ofthe seal of the note. He soon, how
ever, sufficiently recovered his self-posses-
sion to reply that he thanked the duke for
his kindness, and would obey his sum-
mons at the day and hour named by him.
Not the less, however, was he lost in Won
der how the duke had found him out, and
still more why he had chosen to honor
him.
When the day fixed for the dinner had
arrived, the officer appeared at Montagu
House, where the duke received him with
every sign Of courtesy and even respect;
and when he expressed his surprise at be-
ing so honored, the duke took him quietly
aside and told him, with an air of great
gravity and secrecy, that he had particu-
lar reason for his conduct. s'To tell you
the plain TRUTH said bis grace, "therc is
in my house a lady who has often seen you,
and who has become so much interested Ill
YOU, and your fortunes that she very much
wishes for personal interview with you,
and am anxious, for reasons of my own,
to fall in with her wishes. Upon my soul,
she is a 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 a
little alarmed for he did not like the idea
of being handed over to the tender mercies
of strange lady-a married man, too, as
he was. with children to boot. In his per-
plexity and distress, therefore, he began
to mutter his fears that really there must
be some mistake and added, 'ESome one
or other has been trying to impose On your
grace, or else on me. The fact is that 1
have a wife down in Yorkshire, and she is
the only person for whom | care, or ever
did care, and know OF no lady besides her
who has right to feel any keen interest in
me-
Never mind, replied the 1good-natur-
ed dnke; '.no harm shall happen you; only
lust follow nae into the next apartment, my
GOOD friend" And with these words he
led his guest into sumptuous dining-roon,
into which he had no sooner entered than
he saw his own wife and his three rosy,
countryfed children, for whom the duke
had sent down into Yorkshire, and whom
| he had brought up to the great metropolis
to meet him. At first he felt not only per-
picked but alarmed; for were they his
wife and children, or only their ghosts and
wraithse A close inspection, however,
soon treasured him that the objects OF his
love and affection were present before him
in the flesh; and before the third course OF
the dinner was over the party was as hap
py and merry as could be.
The officer was invited and pressed tc
stay the night at Montagu House, instead
of returning to his dingy and nncomforta.
BILE lodgings, and to spend day or two
| with his wife and children there before go
! inc back home. He did so, and expressed
his deep sense Of gratitude for the hospital
ity SO kindly and 50 unexpectedly shown
| to him.
A few mornings afterWard, when lie wal
packing up his traps preparatory to his de
parture, the duke called the poor officer int
his study, and presented him with iega
document which secured to him comfort
able annuity for life, remarkinga at the sam'
time that he need really feel no hesitation
in accepting it. You must know" addet
his grace, with a smile, 81 am trying
though rather late in life, perhaps, to d.
the best that l can with my money, o
which l have more than know what to d'
wi h: and assure you that | should no
have done what / have done in respect Q
yourself if / had known how else, and
could have found more pleasure and salts