Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-23
The Duke Of MOntagu as q Fairy GCd.
Father.

On Q certain occasion, whilst walking
near the Mall in st. James Park, as
wa, the fashion of the mobiles and fops
OF bis time, his Grace observed middle
aged gentlemaB in half military garb,
decidedly the worse for wear, but ex-
ceedingly neat and precise withal in the
cut and arrangement of his dress. And
it SO happened that two or three days
running, he noticed the poor gentleman
walking Mt the same hour Of the day, in
the same place, with grave and solemn
step, and a face evidently full of care.
Becoming interested in the gentleman
appearance, the Duke caused inquiries
to he made about him, and with diff
Guilty, through one of his gentlemen.
found ont some little portion of his
private history. He was u gentleman
from one of the northern counties, who
III early life had sold his estate in order
80 purchase g commission, and had
served With distinction, or at all events
With credit, in more than one foreign
country, but was now placed Of heces-
sity GU half-pay, by reason of the con-
clu-i"n Of peace. He learned further
that the poor Off .er had wife and n
family down in Yorkshire nearly
= week distant from the metropolis-to
whom lie :, ut regularly half of his pay,
-niist he supported himself in poor
lodgings hear Chsring 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 a little L, his income
The Duke, having assured himself
that the veteran was worthy OF relief,
determined to make him happy quite in
way If hi own SO he sent nls servant
with polite invitation for him to come
and dine with his Grace at Montagu
House. in White-h hall. Tue unfortunate
9TH ;er stared in amazement, AS we'll he
mIgst, at first thinking it a joke, until
he saw the ducal crest ON the top of the
seal IF the note. lie soon, however,
sufli iently recove. ed his self possession
to reply that he thanked the Duke for
his Kindness, and would obey his sum
mons at the day and hour namei 10y
him. Not the less, however, was he
lost in wonder how the Duke had found
him out, and still more why he had
IL
When the day fixed for the dinner
had arrived the fiji Ger appeared at Non
tagu House, where the Duke received
him with every sign of courtesy ami
even respect. And when he expressed
his surprise at being so houored, the
Duke took him quietly aside and told
him, with an air of great gravity and
secrecy, that he had particular reason
for his conduct in the matter. To
tell you the plain TRUTH" said his
Grace, I" there is in my house lady
who has often seen you, and who has
become so much interested in YOU and
your fortunes that she very much wishes
for personal interview with you, and
1 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 re-
gard The poor officer on this began
to feel 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, and with
children to boot. In his perplexity
and distress, therefore, be began to
mutter his fears that really there
must be some mistake" and added +,
Some one or other has been trying to
impose on your Grace, or else on me-
The fact is that have wife down in
Yorkshire, and she is the only person
for whom care, or ever did care, and
1 know of no lady beside her who has a
right to feel any keen interest in me. 4"
Never mind" replied the good
natured Duke, " no 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
a sumptuous dining-room, into which
he had no sooner entered than he saw
his own wife and his three rosy, coun
triied children, for whom the Duke had
sent down into Yorkshire and 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 wraiths A closer 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 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
uncomfortable lodgings, and to spend
a day or two with his wife and children
there before going back home. He did
so, and expressed 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 preparatory
to his departure, the Duke called the
poor officer into his study, and presented
him with legal document which Sc
cured to him comfortable annuity for
life, remarking at the same time that he
need really feel no hesitation in accept
ing it. You must know" added his
Grace with a smile. " am trying,
though rather late in life perhaps, to do
the best that l can with my money, of
which have more than know what to
do with aud l assure you that
should not have done what have done
in respect of yourself if | had known
how else l could have found more
,,laor,ra apl a.s,sfactinn frnp1 my