The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-31
DUKE OF MAGUIRE.

Miss Hilda Smart was born with vast
social aspirations, her dream being TO
marry the most high-sounding and ancient
title on the European market and to shine
continually ID the giddy whirl of courts.
Unhappily Hilda's wealth was not COM
mehsurate with her ambition.
Vainy did she and her mother winter In
Rome and spend the spring in London.
Without the golden key the gates of society
remained closed. and Hilda was still ''un-
promoted" when she embarked on the New
York bound Aurania.
At Queenstown dapper little man with
large eyes and small feet came on board.
His staterUOm was opposite the Smarts',
and hearing the groans of Hilda'S mamma,
victim to seasickness, he CALAMITY con-
missioned the stewardess to carry offerings
of eau-de cologne, lavender salts and other
remedies dear TO tourists who go down to
the sea in ships.
BY singular coincidence the dapper
mans seat ar table was next to Hilda's, and
when she thanked him for his kind atten-
Llon he responded languidly il is true, but
very calamity. After supper he carried her
chair TO the upper deck, and by his remarks
Materially added to her enjoyment OF the
rising moon.
Hilda was a fine girl, and had she been
less ambitious would have had numerous
admirers, but she sedulously avoided en-
cOuragng "detrimentals"
The first business naturally was to dis
cover something definite respecting her new
friend.
"The Right Honorable the Duke of Ma
guire" WAS tho stewarfess' statement.
There is no snch title" observed midas
mamma. consulting her ''peerage." without
which she never Travelled. The man must
be an impostor, my dear.
The passengpr-St merely announced
Duke Mcguire which might mean any
thing, for is not Duke Christian name?
and is it not occasionally surname, added
to make the family cognomen more aristo-
cratic?
Very little was to be obtained from the
Duke him self as to his social status; he
gave limiting, heslatng replies 10 all ques-
lions, thereby leading people TO the cODclu-
sion that he was openly and ostensibly
assuming an incognito.
1t was his habit to confess daily TO the
possession of few sixpences. and on one
ocraslOn repeating. for Hilda's benefit, a
conversation lie had had with some celeb
rity, he made the latter address him as
Your Grace" and then st0pred with
studied confusion, as though to proclaim,
Observe | have betrayed myself"
Among the lassengeTs there was not
confidence in the Duke of Mcguire.
Evidently he had travelled and knew the
world, but, as Hida rem arked to her
mother. 1T would be dreadful to encourage
the attentions OF valet, travelling as a
MILFORD"
AS for attentions, he literally Iavished
them on Hilda. He was her servie slave,
ready TO carry her chair. adjust her rug,
and meeky hold her book and parasol,
even while she f1irted with other men !;
indeed, her treatment Of hm was extremely
eapricious. bat it only added fuel to the
fires of his devotion.
The night the pilot came on board, there
being fair wind and good weather, the
mysterious passenger managed To lure
Hilda TO a remote corner of the upper deck.
and there offered her his hand and heart.
darkiy limiting that these valuable gifts
were not unenhanced by wealth and title.
Unfortunately for his offer, cattle-dealer
from Iowa had that afternoon been chaf-
ing Hilda numerically respecting her adj
mirer. Little Micky Mcguire" as he had
unfeelngly denominated "his Grace"
With these taunts still ringing IN her ears,
Hilda gave short and decided mo" to the
Dukes ardent protestations.
You will never see me again. | shall 20
to Australia and back to London" he OBJ
served sadly.
You may go to. the south pole for all
that | care, replied Miss Smart, nonchal.
antly.
The next morning the passengers, clad in
all the glory OF imported toilets, were wait
ing to nave their luggage examined, when
Hida's dearest and most fas hi9nable friend,
Miss Robinson Dulow. came upon the wharf,
eXclaiming: on lovely girl, welcome
home. l have come from Long Branch on
purpose to meet you-ahl there is Mr. Ma
guire." she added ecstatically; Il must
speak To him."
But Mr. Mcguire adroitly lodged round
some bales of merchandise and disappeared.
DO you know him?' asked Hilda In sur
prise.
Know bimi" replied Miss Dulow. "He
is one of onr wealthiest millionaires. Only
son of old Peter Mcguire. who made his
money in early days mining in Nevada"
And is he q Duke?" asked Hilda in awe
struck tones.
Miss Dulow laughed. "WeI, that is his
weakness. Some foreign power-or else
the Pope, he was very charitable TO the
churches-gave old Peter Mcguire the title.
Peter was an American to the backbone,
and forbade his son to use it. Poor Charles.
he Is dying to be your Grace but he breads
becoming a modern Hamlet, and seeing his
fathers ghost"
"Why. Hilda," she interrupted, what IA
the matter. you are as white as sheet ?"
Hilda's mamma was at that moment
iercely resisting the custom officers right
TO evade the sanctity Of her trunks. and
HlIda, in broken accents, told her tale.
Miss DulOw's sympathy was profound.
Did no one on board know him ?" she
asked in aggrieved accents.
H!da shook her head. and murmured
something about End of Julv-few pas
sengers,' and then asked suddenly, Can
do nothing?"
Nothing" replied Miss Dul0w firmly.
"Charles Mcguire is not so clever man as
his father was. but he is no fool He has
always declared he would not be married
for his money, ana he has been awfully run
after. No doubt your GOODNESS charmed
him by its novelty. You poor girl! 1t is
pity ~
Hlda did not reply. She was consider
ing how she could best call back her adj
mirer.
But tie little Duke has kept his word.
He and HIlda have not met again.
M ARIF ENEIYN