The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-06-11
Select Sturp,
CAPT. SPENCER'S CARD-CASE

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less fellow on the face of the earth p re-
marked Capt. Dalrymple, half seriously,
half banteringly, TO his friend and comrade
Godfrey Spencer, as the two young men
strolled along the promenade of the impor-
tant naval station and garrison town Of
Mudport. "You're always losing some
thing, or forgetting something, or getting
taken in by somebody, Or
Don't row at me, Dalrymple, just be-
cause | don't happen to be as orderly and
precise as you are" returned the other, a
handsome young fellow, with pair of
mischievous brown eyes. 81 cant help
being naturally untidy and lazy. | would
if | could. Aud after ALL what does it
signify losing trumpery card-case? The
old thing wasn't worth five shillings.
Though | grant it was annoying to have
no card to leave on the new people at the
pockyard, after hunting all my pockets
through twice for my case, until | looked
like fool. But it's just my luck
And he began softly to hum tune, as
though he wished to change the subject.
Gust your carelessness, you mean, y
ruthlessly retorted the other, whose Scotch
method and thrift were often being ont
ragged by his friends slipshod ways. 81
wonder how many cigar-cases and purses
and sticks and umbrellas you have con-
tr;vad to lose since came to Mudport p
to say nothing of your being always ready
to empty your pockets at the request Of
any plausible vagabond who comes to you
w;tb wb;nino tale You'u cet Yourself
into some nnnleasant mess one Of these
days Won mort nv words
III: friend whose bannv temnerament
was not easily rnfIed merely launched in
renly and thouoht no more of the card
aofa p', which had mvsterionslv disappeared
from his nocket in the course of a stroll.
The description given by his friend Dal-
rymple was so accurate, that | need offer
no further delineation of Can't. Godfrey
Snancer excent to saw that, though highly
ndnnIor in bis regiment his careless habits
iDdpa popa aiways nIac;no him in some dilemma
W. m o,bar Perhans unfortunately for him
SaIf bo was nossessed of sufficiently ample
means to enable him to bear losses with
aamon;m;tv for he was entirely his own
,spn,nr hau;na Iost both norants when \
' LII ''''' ~
'AtiG; t,TL ,,on,lomon in vo,r room cir
ineie > d. =" ',n', ,La r C:nta;n'S servanf
nens5 Mai' ~ h;s PC nootar & mnon he iatters re.
,nrn ",u l ~ barracLs an bonr LATER
" aNr Algernon Lascelles Mortimer y
raod Godfray from the card which was
- 80 =, h;m uDon,t know tho name at
n nm ara - ro,, srro he asted for me ?"
A' aoL IL s;r uo oame ahout half an
on, YES, 81 81, rhon - 7 % ,aid him Won were
nun o. Is'' - sa;d al ha'J wo;t unt;I Won came
p pu'i "' ''''4 "
'AIH, Easu ,,o;no Godfrey asked no fnrtbe,
Ity p, ,,I,,no;,T m s,,;rs optnred
Par'iouiri m - ~ - -, mh;ob vaS
'"e .tLi,' smut hn 9hanoo,as;at;o r. ;ts nwner
50 tnorousniy 1nai"o.Ii n.Ir '''lo 80 e. 80 ~. >
anu 'nere iotn lounu iadl;u@ ISe" aud @antIamoDlv
ua'h, s"n 81 "bnmt his own aae wbo
yors g. T h;s NJ viii sm;Ie
'''iu ~ - 80 ~, ;c T,o,, ara NV. Cran
~ ~ ah"nJ H. hon, tnoun fo, anv.
.TL' T. ioe e. S ,onn TLanass 70 vonr brotbe,
Gnere,o VIZ i'o w. name ;s very familiar II
mo End i ;s noss;ble that INV friend
Coor@a NAV have mentioned mine To Won
in reiurn Has he -
"Well no. I can't call to mind Just
now that he ever smoke of a friend named
Mortimer returned Godfrey, whose
nonnoer brotbar Qeoroe was \ lieutenant
n an infantry regiment stationed at Dub.
l.. en- ron oon,o from Ireland ~
"WelI not iust lately. 1t is about a
month since | left Dublin" replied Mr.
Mortimer. "And your brother has SC
many friends-you know how popular he
is-tbat il is not surprising that nv name
sbonld escane mis- memory although [
snent manv pleasant evening in the
mess room Of The dear old Twenty-second
I always 8" call it 50. because 80 many of my
neople have been at one time or another in
tbe regiment But il was quite by acci
dant that I came to call upon YOU today.
n nansad and drew something from his
noctet I believe this card case belongs
70 vou | picked it up this afternoon in
the Hioh Street. and, looking at the card.
- fn5 o,t 10 whom il belonGed I saw The
n.ma of Snencer and it occurred to me
that G Won mpst be the brother at Mudport
| of whom | have 80 often heard George
snaaL
Thanks said Godfrey cordially, pleased
to have his nronerty restored. ssIt was
awfnIIv GOOD Of vou 10 take the trouble 10
brino & back | dropped it this afternoon.
And 90 GEORGE has talked to YOU about
me9 I haven't seen him for more than d
wear moor old boy. No. you mustn't
think Of going vet. Sit down and tell me
how Won liked Dublin
He Hospitality brought ont spirits and
cioars and the two young men had a long
talk. Godfrey was delighted with his com
paniOn, who seemed to have seen good
deal Of the world. 1t appeared that he
% was STRANGER at Mudnort where he was
merely stayino at hotel for a day or two
Although not in the army, he seemed to
be acquainted with the officers of most of
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