The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-07-21
Select Storg,
THE DUKES SHARES.

CHAPTER l.
MIR. Heriot Brooke had a reputation fol
caution which was unenyiable, as his ex
ceeding wariness, especially in money
matters, afforded his acquaintances fire
quent matter for jesting. From his father
he had inherited a considerable fortune
which must have increased greatly during
the seven years it had been in his posses
sion. as. he had lived far within his in
come.
Though the bulk of his money had beer
acquired in trade, Mr.. Brooke had never
himself engaged in business, and was rather
swell in his way, as he was a member Of
very select club and had large circle Of
aristocratic friends But for his parsimo
ny he might have been in Parliament, and
as he did not lack ability, might have
taken a far more prominent position il
society than he did. He also was debar-
red from close intimacy with many mem
bers of his club, who would gladly have
cultivated his friendship, but he could
never be induced to back horse for more
than five pounds or play whist for higher
than half-crown points. So foreign to his
nature were expenditure and speculation Of
any kind, that, though nearly thirty y-seven,
he had hitherto refrained from taking a
venture in the matrimonial lottery. In an
older man his extreme cautiousness would
have been less remarkable, but when thir-
ty-ave he bad the prudence of three-score
and ten.
One afternoon Mr.. Brooke was waiting
at crossing near the Piccadily entrance
to HYDE Park till the traffic would permit
of his getting to the other side of the road
when his attention was attracted to an
aristocratic looking old gentleman who was
standing close by him, with apparently tn e
same object as himself. He was fine.
looking man, a foreigner apparently, and
clearly a man of rank. Just as Mr.
Brooke's eye fell upon him for the second
time the old gentleman made run in
order to cross. the street, for there was a
temporary break in the line of vehicles; but
he had not observed rapidly advancing
hanson, and in his efforts to avoid it he
fell, and the next moment he was HudeI
the horse which the driver had failed to
pull up in time Uttering an exclamation
of horror Mr.. Brooke rushed to the rescue.
He was the fret to reach the place, and
succeeded in extFicatiDg the old gentleman
from bis perilous position. Fortunately he
did not seem to have received any injury.
A crowd soon gathered, and when police
man came up to take the cabman's mum.
Der and address the gentleman protested
that the fault had been entirely his own,
and that it was impossible the driver could
have seen him On finding that there was
nothing to look at the people began to dis
perse almost as quickly as they had col
lected. Though he had received no iuju-
ry the old gentleman told his deliverer
that he felt slightly stunned by the fall; so
when they reached the pavement he walk
ed along leaning on the arm which Mr..
Brooke had offered him. They had not
gone many steps when Mr.. Brooke sug
gested that lie should hail cab; but in
reply his companion said that he had only
a short distance to go and would prefer TO
walk. So they went together in the direc-
ton of Victoria Owing to the opinion
which he held regarding the old gentle
mans station in life, Mr.. Brooke was not
surprised to learn from him that he was
staying at the Grosvenor Hotel. When
they reached the hotel entrance, after a
few courtly words of thanks, he begged
Mr.. Brooke to do him the favor of accom-