St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-26
The London Argosy.

great p0tentateS In tn6lr OWN land
looked upon as royal personages by the
smaller people who surrounded them.
The dukes property was of great ex-
tent and value, and the duchess had
also inherited a large fortune from her
brother. Thus Trey were enabled to
keep up a very lerge establishment and
live IN a very stately fashion.
The duke was extremely handsome
and dignified, and, truth to tell, exceed
ingly dull. He had very few opinions
of his own, but was always ready to
adopt those of his really clever wife;
and she, wisely, did her best to prevent
his appearing the nonentity he was by
constantly quoting him as an authority;
1.-THE duke says" or "The duke is of
the opinion" or THE duke wishes"
being phrases that frequently fell from
her lips.
The duchess, besides being a clever,
was a wonderfully handsome woman,
nearly as tall as her husband. with a
Queeuly presence, and features that,
though somewhat severely classical,
we're wonderfully beautiful. She al
ways wore handsome clotheS-rich vel
vets, Satins and brocadcS, priceless lace
and magnificent jewelS-knOWing that
they became her we'll. She was terri
bly, proud, and never ceased to deplore
the state of modern society.
The only child of this couple, the Mar
quis of Eliot, was, alas, a sad diSap-
small, Notwithstanding and any
thing but clever. AS a child he had
been terribly delicate, and in
guence he had never been able to go TO
school, but had a tutor and masters at
hOme-the one advantage in this ar
rangement being, as his mother said:
"He would not make undesirable. ac-
lu%aintanceS; both Elton and Harrow are
becoming terribly mixed. The great
aim of vulgar, pushing people is to send
their SONS to n of these schools, so as
to effect an introduction to the boys of
a class superior to their own"
Perhaps owing to his never having
been to school. and his delicacy having
kept him much in the backgror nd,
Lord Eliot was extremely shy and awk-
ward; he seldom spoke and made nO
friends. AS he grew up, the duchess
was in despair about him-he showed
absolutely no taste for any particular
tilC-llC WdS ltIIIICl pOlltlCldI, SCIlOldl
nor sportsman, and diSliked society. In
fact, he was merely a deadly dull young
man.
AS soon as his "coming-of-age" fes-
tivities were over, the duchess began to
look out for a wife for her Son. 1t was
important he should marry. The dukes
next brothers eldest son was fast and
extravaganza. and had married a rapid
little lady whose conduct scandalized
her husbands family terribly; and the
thought that she should ever be Duchess
of Skye was intolerable. So many eli
gible young ladies, whose birth and
breeding were such as to make them
suitable and desirable for S 70 high
a position, were invited with
their parents to visit the duke and
duchess, in hopes that Lerd Eliot would
fancy II of them. That any we'll
brought-up girl should think of refusing
SO great an alliance never entered the
duchess head. Alas! one after the
other came and went-Lord Eliot made
all, and, If forced to be in their COM
had gone on; the duchess had fire.
quently said: you ought to marry,
EliOt;' and he always replied meekly:
ayes, mamma, b~y-and-by;' still no
progress did he make to the desired end.
The winter of 1SS- was very severe.
The marquis caught a chill, and for
SEINE weeks his health caused great
anxiety. Then the doctors said he
must speud the spring in a warmer
climate. Nice was chosen, and, as his
parents were unable to leave home at
that time, the duchess settled that her
nephew, Lord George Chatfield, a
younger son of her brother, the Marquis
of Danecourt, should accompany him.
Lord George was rather a favorite of
his aunt's. He was an aStute young
gentleman, knew how to play upon her
weak points, and had early found that,
as the very liberal allowances he re-
ceived from his father could easily be
penst before the next years inStallment
was due, an occasional "tip" from the
duchess. who was most generous to
those she liked, was by NJ means IN
welcome. So he had, with a good grace,
endured the dizziness of Craigholme
Castle, Panshere Park, the Wilderness
and various other abodes of the duke
and the society of his still duller cousin
many a time and oft, knowing that
when his visit drew to a close a check
for a really substantial sun would find
its way from his aunt's possession into
his not unwilling hand.
He really was of a kindly nature, and,
though himself a good shot and fearless
rider, did not openly show that he de-
spISed Lord Eliot and considered him a
''pOor creature" because he could do
neither. Consequently, his cousin had
more liking for George than for any of
the other relations. who never concealed
their contempt for a "wretched weak
limo WhO hoe M map1ipacS ohOut him -
as they were wont to think and say.
A visit to Nice at that time suited
Lord George admirably. He knew all
expenses would be paid with a liberal
hand, and at the moment he was spec
tally hard up: "very much in Short
street" as he expressed IL. So a tempo
rary absence from home and too impOr-
tune duns, in a bright and CHEEKY place
like Nice, and within reach of Monte
Carlo, was not a bad prospect. The
preparations were soon made, DON in
the best hotel taken, and, accompanied
by courier, Wallets and a whole para
phernalia of travelling comforts pro-
vided by the duchess, the cousins left
England and fog for bright skies, clear
air and all the other delights of the
sunny south of France.
Lord Eliot wrote home regularly. His
lcllSIS WeIt ike HlHlSell-nOt very III
teresting. 81 feel stronger, and George
and l have been on several long drives.
The weather is charming-so nice to go
out without being nipped in two by an
east wind. Hope you are both WE'LL"
This was the sun and substance of all
his letters, and his parents, knowing
their son, did not expect more.
After two months at Nice Lord Eliot
wrote that, feeling much better, his
cousin had persuaded him to dine at the
table d'hote. George thinks it would
be more cheerful than in our private
apartment" he exclaimed. Altogether,
the Nice trip seemed to be a success.
The duke and duchess were spending
the spring months at Panshire Park.
The post arrived at breakfast time, and
one morning early in April the duchess
found a pile of letters beside her plate.
Zone from Eliot" she said, taking it
up and opening it; and, as usual, began
to read it aloud:
"My Dear Namma-You have always
urged me to marry, so l an sure you
will be glad to hear of my engagement.