The Opelousas courier., 1894-10-27

him, a, d which. he had not presented
70. payment. The other was for four
thousand dollars, and took a holiday,
| and here l am" a
"Oh, that was jolly in him, wasn't
it?" cried the duchess, delightedly.
And I'm sure you deserved it. Here's
my husband, you must tell him all
about it, too"
This was the way the duke was
drawn into it, and a very genial, ear
nest young man he proved to he, who
seemed to indorse everything his wife
did, and sc Endorsed Johnny, whose
glory among his companions grew to
great proportions thereat. lie was
perfectly modest and frank about it,
and although he refused point blank
TO lead up to introductions without an
expressed desire by the duchess, he
still remained popular.
1t was on the eastern voyage that
all this occurred, and such Smooth
seas and serene skies were said to have
been rare on their voyaging around
the world by his grace and his wife.
By the time the Cow and Calf came
into view one glorious morning about
seven o'clock, Johnny and his duchess
were quite pals" as he expressed it,
and a bit of slang being rare from her
grace, it was duly priced by Johnny
as a thing apart and belonging to him.
BY invitation from the captain they
watched the Irish coast peep up into
the water from the bridge, and there
they stood until Fastnet lighthouse
came out on the other side, and then
the duchess said. with a sigh: "Al'
most home againt'
They parted at Liverpool, and there
was given to Johnny a cordial invita-
ton to come and call at Essex house,
the London house of their graces, and
he was left to wonder if he should
ever see them again, but in the excite
ment of landing in London this was
soon forgotten In the delight of say
ing; And SO this is really Piccadilly,
and that green place ahead is Hyde
Park?"
To be twenty-six and in London for
the first time, and on comfortable
terms with your banker, and not too
much writing of your name on your
letter of credit, meant to Johnny what
it would be to any healthy-lninded,
active and well-educated American,
and in d week he felt as though he
could give the younger Dickens many
points for a new guide book to the
English capital.
His duchess had become a lovely
shadowy recollection, when one day,
In one of the catacombs which bisect
the Langham hotel, he almost col
lided with a lady who caused him to
exclaim: The duchess!' The lady
was as much startled as though
Johnny had cried 1.-THE devil!' and he
stammered some apology.
Gracious! How much she looked
like the duchess. I wonder who sho
is" thought Johnny.
"What on earth did that man mean
by shouting about the duchess?!"
thought Miss Nellie Thurston, of Phil
adelphia, as she hurried to her rooms.
'I'm sure he's an Americana guess
I'll tell auntie."
And SO 1t happened that when
Johnny went into the dining-room
that evening, Miss Thurston remarked
to the stout lady who sat beside her,
and who had the dignity of a bishop
at confirmation:
There he is, auntie. That's the
nan who said I was some duchess"
Mrs. Thurston looked at Johnny
much as she was in the habit of look
ing at the hansom-cab drivers while
making up her mind to whom she
would trust herself, and she said,
promptly: Every ordinary looking
young man. His evening clothes are
new, and he is not accustomed to
them
THAT may be true about the
clothes," murmured Nellie, but I
think he is a gentlemanly fellow, and
good-looking, too"
Before there was time for more,
Johnny was led up to the small table
where the ladies sat, and was seated
there because of no elsewhere,
whereupon Johnny looked annoyed
and blushed. Mrs Thurston was in a
rage, and Miss Nellie was highly
amused within, but tranquil without.
II cannot put up with these large
English hotels any longer" said Mrs.
Thurston. pointedly, to Nellie. .sWe
will go tomorrow and make arrange
ments at some exclusive family re-
sort" Her niece took on the color
which left Johnny's cheeks, and faint
~ cries, ''Oh, auntie, what a thing to
say!"
"In try and get a seat somewhere
else, or 60 away altogether, madam"
said Johnny, bravely, humbly. at
was no fault Of mine; the waiter was
to blame"
There was 80 much modification In
the boys tone that Mrs. Thurston for
got the episcopal pose, and let herself
down to kindly level, and put Johnny
at his ease, to her niece's evident sur.
prise.
The next day In one of the rooms of
the national gallery, Johnny came
upon the younger lady. who was in I'M
doubted distreas. He caught her eye;
she gave a faint smile of recognition
and he was beside her.
Can ] do something for you?" he
said, in his frank, pleasant way.
Thank you; / am in rather . mess,''
she answered, gratefully. Il have
lost auntie. / almost always do lose
her in a picture gallery, for l wander
about and she sits down in some or
ner and adores an old master. To-day
it happens she has no purse, and she
will want me-"
There was SO much relief in Mrs.
face when they finally
found her that Johnny felt encour