The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-02-20

A Pleasant story 81 thr Duke 81 Montasa.
tfrntn the nndon Queen

Wasthg fashion ul the monte. anu lpp~ ~
his time. hi- grace observed 4 middle
nced gentleman in q half military garb,
decidedly he worse for wear, but ex-
ceedincly neat and precise withal in the
EFT and and arrangement Of his dress.
And Il % happened that two or three
LAYS running h. noticed the poor gen
tlrman walking al the anne hour u the
day. IN the same place. with a grave
md solemn step, and a face evidently
full AZ care. Becoming Interested in
the gentleman's appearance, the Duke
eaused injuries to be made about him.
and with difficulty. through one Of his
Gentlemen. found out some little portion
II hi private history. He was a gentle
man from one ~ the northern counties,
who in early lie had sold his estate in
order 10 purchase a commission, AMI
had served with distinction, or AT all
events with credit, in more h = one
foreign country. but Was now placed Of
necessity On half pay, BY reason OF the
conclusion ~ peace. lie learned fur
,her that The poor officer had "A wife and
y family down iii Yorkshire-then near
IL a week distant from the metropolis
q whom re- SENT regularly half Of his
nav. whilst b. supported himself in poor
inIginrS near Charing-cross upon the
rest. living On from day 70 day in the
hop. that he might somehow or other
obtain an Office under Government, Or
from the Horse Guards. which would
add a little 10 his income.
The Duke having assured himself that
ihe veteran Ma worthy of relief. de-
,.rmIned y make him happy quite IN a
way ~ hi own - he sent his servant
with \ polite invitation for MIN 70 come
and ,.ine with his grace AZ MoEtagu
Uousp. n Whitehall. The unfortunate
uficer stared in amazement, a. well ne
might. AZ first thinking il 4 joke,
until III s.aw the ducal crest on the top
n III. -eal III the note. lie soon. how
ever. sufficiently recovered his sell
ro~esSiaa M reply that h. thanked the
Duke fsr hi~ kindness, and would obey
~ summons al the day and hour named
Nv him. Not the less. however. was he
lot M wonder how the Duke had found
him out. and ~till more why hc had
chosen thus N honor him.
When the dan fixed for the dinner had
arrived the officer appeared AZ Montaga
House. where the Duke received him
with every ~ign of courtesy and even
respect. And when he expressed m
surprise 81 being % honored, the Dnkt
took him quietly aside and old HIM
with an air Of great gravity and secrecy
that h. mad 4 particular reason for M
conduct. ITO tell you the plain TRUTH
aid HI grace. .sthere Is in my house
lady Who ha, often seen YOU, and VIII
has become 20 much Interested IN yol
and your fortunes that she very mucl
wishes for a personal interview
with Fou. and l am anxious
for reasons 81 my own, 70 fal
II with her wishes. Upon my soul. IN
- most worthy and excellent lady
and | think between yon and me, tha
he look~ anon you with no slight r.
gard The poor officer on this bega
IN feel 4 little alarmed for ne did nt
ike tie idea ~ being handed over !
The tender mercies uf a strange lady
married man. too. a. he was, with en-
dren II boot. In his perplexity and a.
tresS. therefore. he began % mutter y
fears that ..really there must DC son
mistake AMI added some y
other has Feen trying @ impose on yo'
grace. vi else On me. The fact i = 4
have y wife down in Yorkshire. and =
y the only person for whom care,
ever did rare. and I know 81 no la,
beside her who has a right 70 ieei ~
Keen interes, IN me-
..Neyer mind replied the goc
natnrei Duke. "no harm shall happ.
IL YOU: only just follow mc into u
next apartment, my good riend- a.
with these words he led his guest n
a dining-room. into which
had rs sooner entered than he saw !
own wife and his three rosy. countrih'
children. FOR whom the Duke had se
down into Yorkshire. and whom he nj
hrou0h. DO tp the great metropolis
meet him. AT first he felt not only ~
nIexed. mt alarmed: for were they
wife ana children. or only their gho'
and vrai.hsg A closer inspection, no
ever 900 treasured him that the oble'
III hi love and affection Were press
before him III the flesh; and before 7
third course ~ the dinner was over
party were a. happy and merry As COZ
be.
III. oficer was invited and pressed
STAY the night At Montagu House.
stead IL returning to his dingy and
comfortable lodgings, and y spen'
dav or two with his wife y chlini
there before going back home. he
-. AMI expressed his deep sense 81 81
itudc for the hospitality - kindly and
Unexpectedly shown 70 him.
A few mornings afterward, when
was packing up his traps preparation,
his departure, the Duke called me r
officer into his study and presented !
with 4 legal document which secured
him 4 comfortable annuity for iIfc'
marking Al the same time that he =
really feel no hesitation IN accepting