The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-13
THE DUKE.

just week before Christmas-neyer
mind how many years ago-Frank Furniss
and were spending our last day of uni
yersity life in nay rooms at Trinity College,
Cambridge.
We'll, what are you going TO do this
Cbristmas?" | asked.
Goodness knows. ] am in great de-
mand. dear boy, and shall probably spend
the vacation a. a half deZen different
houses"
That was Franks way. He talked big;
but il meant little.
'What do you say to this % asked, read
ing from letter L had received week pre-
Viously:
Sc. my dear boy, We shalt depend upon
you, and bring TWO or three Of your friends
with you. We shall have a houseful of nice
people, and AIN sure you Will enjoy your
Wen, what do You sayq" l asked.
That's an invite from Mrs. Bassett.
Beastiy common people; but plenty OF
money, nice house ana lots Of fun"
My dear boy, consider 1t settled; the
Bassetts shall be honored with our COM
pany."
Tight; IN send them wire tonight.
But now let me read you the postscript of
III 5. BaSsetPs letter. It's rather fun
u hear that the young Duke Of Dorset is
know him. II you choose to bring him
down with you | shall be very pleased to
entertain his Grace"
Coed old tutthunter," cried Frank. Il
am afraid Dorset wouldn't see il"
Dorset be bothered" / calculated. The
young cub ina giues himself a little king
We met on the Kings parade the other day
and lie cut me dead"
No; but really [ have an idea; we
might get sonie fun out OF this. You know
Greene"
what. that Welsh fellow in the rooms
beiow?'
The same. Itel you there is a wealth
of amusement to be got cut Of him. He is
a diamond of the FIRST water"
SIN tie rough, presume"
Exactly. He wants polishing. and why
can't we do il ?'
Duke OF Dorset" Iexelaimed, in bewiider-
ment.
Everything Mrs. Bassett wants
Duke-for her daughter, | suppose; why
can't we provide her with one. Green is
impecunipus, and is more or less n country
y0kel. Why not pass him of as the Duke
OF D1rset-we could easily work it,"
Frank, you are genius! | cried in
admiration. Mrs. Bassett has a daughter
rather pretty. believe. We will work up
Green to make love to her. DO you think
be will be able to act the part?"
'Ohi OF course, any fool can make love to
pretty girl. Won't it be fun TO see the
maternal parent toadying to the Duke q"
The next day we all three jonrneyed to
stanton Hall. Norfolk, the magnificent
country residence of John Bassett ESQ, re-
tired manufacturer OF fancy soap Green
agreed 10 our scheme much more readily
than | expected. OF course we were re-
eeived with open arms. Basseit was inn
portant, but eheery aud hearty, Mrs. Bas-
sett gracious ard gushing; Miss Bassett
sweet and trembling.
had not seen Fanny BasSett for three
years. a our last interview she was a
damsel of "A in short frocks. Now-well,
she was delicious. When the Duke" was
introduced TO her she was still school
girl, for she trembled, turned white, and
was obviously greatly distressed. Mamma
BaSsett passed this Oft, however, and we
soon became the best of friends. 1t was
wonderful, indeed, how readily Green as
sumed his part. After the first embarrass-
ment had departed he and Fanny got on
wonderfully together We had not been
three days in the house when Frank made a
remark TO me which set me thinking. We
were alone in the billiard-room playing a
game al pool. Frank was playing wretch
eddy. Suddenly, after making particularly
bad Shot, he remarked:
IL say, old man, don'tiyou think Green s
rather OVERRIDING itY'
Now strangely enough. a sim liar thought
had occurred to me.
'Well-er-yes." | replied. perhaps he
is. but OF course. il does not matter 10 you.
He is only doing what we told him to do
that's whore the fan comes in, you
know"
Fun be hangedI" cried lie, finging his
cue aside and confronting me. Look here,
It's 10 use playing The fool any longer. /
am in love with that girl, and | mean to
marry her."
The devil you do!' thinks l to myself,
for similar idea had begun to enter my
mind. Tie more one saw of Fanny Bassett
the more irresistible she became. She was
pretty when she smled-she was prettier
when she frowned. Her eyes were like.
But, there. if | try to describe her | shall
give you no idea OF what she was
like. aud you will only put me- down as an
eXlrayagant old fool.
well, Furniss, l admire your taste, but
might have something 10 say on that ques-
ton" | ngured to remark.
What do you mean? he said, turning on
me SsvagelY.
We'll. never mind. we are both agreed
that the Duke is a nuisance and must be
got rid Of"
Exactly. You had better speak to him.
Tell BIN the fun is worked out and he must
drop it."
Acting upon this advice, yentured to
suggest to Mr.. Green that he had better
throw off his ducal character and pay
We'll, to tell you the truth. l am just be-
ginning 10 en5oy the fun" he replied, with
an odi0us grim Thanks for the hint-but
l think I'll stay. Ia, ia, old man, you'll
excuse me. won't you? but have arranged
to play q game of chess with Miss Bassett"
| have no clear recollection of what i'm
mediately followed, but l fancy | swore.
The next evening we were all sitting to-
gether IN the grand old parl0r enjoying the
scandal, or the music. according to our
tastes. Fanny was playing some quaint old
airs, which seemed to suggest old ashioned
times and old-fashioHed ways. Green was
standing by her side pretending TO look
after the music.
Frank FurniSs glOwered from an obscure
corner where he was secured by an ancient
damsel, who was making simply heroic at
tempIs TO faseinate him. Not far off | was
holding a desultOry conversation with Mrs.
Bassett.
''Have YOU noticed how attentive the Duke
is to Fanny?' asked this dear lady, sud-
denly.
! admitted that had noticed it.
Upon my word. | think the dear girl has
made quite an impression"
Doubtless"
''Aad she seems TO ike him, too: was
afraid she was going 10 be foolish, you
know"
Yes"
/ was not paying much attention to the
good lady's remarks. for to speak the truth
my eyes and attention were fixed upon the
eouple at the piano. who were flirting abom-
inably.
MY dear boy, wish you would be more
attentive"