The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-04-08
DUPED.

VIGIL one uut uluIullAs WHICH nap
pened to be the twenty first anniversary
Of my existence, finding myself the lord
" proprietor Of $1,000, | concluded to
celebrate my freedom by running over
to Paris and astonishing the natives. Fit
ting myself out in a style that would
have made me the envy Of Pawnee
chief, l procured my passport and EN-
barked for Calais There were great
many more persons going over than /
had expected to see. but l consoled my
self with the probability that very few
Of them were destined for Paris and that
not a single one of them was quite as well
dressed as myself.
was pacing the deck Of the steamer
some two hours later when felt a light
tap on my shoulder and heard very
pleasant voice say:
pardon me, my lord, but may | ven
ture TO ask if you are destined for Paris"
Now, was in reality very far from
being a lord, or even the kin of a lord,
but there was something so very agree
able in the title that l felt no special
anxiety to disown it. | turned to the
speaker and beheld a rather handsome,
well dressed young man Of perhaps %,
who smiled and held ont his hand adj
ding;
"rll wager a champagne supper, WIS.,
count, you are at one of your old tricks
again, travelling incognito. Well he
continued, heartily shaking my hand,
'well met, trust, and how are my Lord
and Lady Albyny
Drawing myself up with an air in.
tended to show a noble brpeding.I / said
very stifliy:
''You are mistaken, siI'-Albyn is not
my family name
"a thousand pardons, my lord!" eS-
claimed the other in surprise. Il see my
mistake now; You are notIny old friend,
the viscount, but so like him that better
eyes than mine have been deceived. Par
don me again if seem to trespass upon
your good nature by introducing myself
to your notice as the Hon. Robert Beau
fort, youngest son of Lord Cawdale'
Every happy, sir, TO make your ac-
quaintance," returned |, with a very stiff
bow. But why" pursued, feeling in
ternally more fattered thin l wished to
have appear, and really Dc lighted that
had come in contact with one of Eng
lands proud aristocracy "why do you
address me as if you knew me to be one
of the nobility
Because, my lord your whole man
ner shows to an experienced eye you are
not a commoner."
''You are right" said l. with smile
intended to convey the impression that
his shrewdness had penetrated my dis
guise.
II knew it, my lord" he etriumphantly
exclaimed, "l knew it,
did not caution him against address
ing me according to my supposed rank,
for besides the fact that the fattering
sound was very agreeable TO my ears l
81 counted on its being disclosed to or over
heard by others, and thus being mystic
riously elevated in their estimation.
Long before we had crossed the cham
mel the Hon. Mr.. Beaufort and myself
had become very intimate. He had tray
eled great deal, and of course l was in
luck TO fall in with him on this account.
to say nothing of his being a son of a
lord, He was going TO show me Paris
and French life, and must leave all to
him. He would look at my passport
and also overhaul my trunk and tell me
the exact amount Of duty | should have
to pay. This he did and then Observed
"Oh, matter Of 10 guineas will see
you through all right, my lord! Yours
is a mere trifie-l wish mine was as lit
tle--it will cost me cool 100, but sup
pose you left at home all except absolute
necessaries, as | ought to have done. BY
the way, as we are nearing Calais now,
you may just hand me the amount. and
| will arrange it without giving youi
lordship any trouble whatever. Yet
stayr he Immediately added, with @
vexed expression. "What am thinking
about, talking money affairs to your lord
ship. | understand these things, and III
arrange all. Put your baggage with mine
and we'll make it all right at the end O
the journey
began to think it was going to cos
me something 10 keep up my title.
As we drew near Calais all was excite
ment and hustle on board our steamer
each one anxious 10 look out and ge
possession Of his baggage and otherwis
arrange for getting ashore AT the earlies
possible moment Ar my friend had 81
kindly volunteered to take all troubl
and responsibility off my hands, fel
very easy ana contented and was anus
ing myself with the feet Of little boat
that had gathered around MS when tn
Hon. Mr.. Beaufort came hurrying u'
and drew me apart FROM the others.
81 find he said, Il have not gol
enough 90 pay the duties and get us b
oh ola
for e5OO note.'
Unfortunately" ! replied, Il hav
not more than 80 guineas in my posses
non, the rest Of my funds being In
draft on Delessert 81 Co., Paris"
"How unfortunatel What is to b.
aonef By the bye, win You let me SCI
your draft, my lordF
produced it.
"Stay a minute till speak 10 the can
tain" he said. 81 think can arrang
It."
He hurried away with the draft in hi
band. For the first time felt litd
tuspicion Of some trick and awaited hi
return with some anxiety. He cam
back, however, in about . minutes auO
isked me for my passport, saving D.
thought he could get tAI lugh wiIhou
any trouble. As we had mot yet relche0
he pier, ] handed him that, hut witt
the resolve 20 have IL back before g1iu
ashore.
When some 10 miuutes later hc rt
TUNED with a cheerful smile, and fold
ing up my papers put them In my hand
with the remark that an was right, / WA
50 ashamed Of my late suspicious that
felt myself blush.
The clerk, he said, ''has changed m
note at a fair discount. giving me hal
gold and the rest IN bills ON the Bank 4
France. BY the bye, my lord, suppo-
you take a few. AOu may want 10 as
them before you get your small draI
rashed"
l declined al first but he insisted {
strongly ON my taking aud carryiu
them, even though / thought / might u,
want 10 use them, that al first, feariu
longer refusal would hurt bus feelings,
consented to put them in my pocketbOOl
Under the management Of my frienD
who spoke French as iuently as Lnglisl
everything got on smoothly, and I 500
found myself transferred from Il
steamer 20 a fine hotsl-without, as
had said having any trouble whateye
Our passports meantime had been give
up and sent on to Paris and Temporal
Dnes, as Is the custom, had been ia
nished us in place Of them
viii pass over the remainder Of Il
journey with the simple remark tn
BYery moment more and more endear
me to my agreeable and aristocrat
friend. and tho only regret had was