The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-05-04
AN AMERICAN DUCHESS.

The best-looking business | was ever
mixed up in, he said slowly, was down at
Heron Court, near Guilford. | may be a
bit old fashioned in my TASTE but I've
always been rather partial to duchesses.
He said this with relish, as though they
were something sold in tins. And when |
saw in LIoBi's that the young Duke had
gone to marry Miss Deborah Clancy,
daughter of the well known Rubber mer-
chant of New Haven, Connecticut, and
when | saw that the wedding presents
were numerous and costly, and the happy
pair had left town for the dukes house
near Guiliord amid a shower of rice and
old slippers, then | said to myself, $50 in
and win, my boy, and play the game off of
your own bat. Don't have no partners
says to myself, "don't have no confederates
but just go in and have a good old try
SO dressed myself up very lastly and |
went down to Milford Station.
| had a Gladstone bag with me- and in
that bag | had a few necessary articles that
no one can do without. | don't care how
clever you are, you can't do without their
help. And had little money with me
too. That's another thing that you want
always to have about you. Nany's the
business I've known spoiled just for the
want of a sovereign or two.
| was walking out one afternoon, and
was going down a lane pretty close to the
grounds of IA mansion. In front of me was
neat girl in blue serge, with IA bonnet
box in her hand. She was one of the slim
wasted sort, and she carried herself very
upright. As passed her | caught sight
of the address. 1t was for the duchess.
lifted my hat like this Look!
"Pardon me, miss, | says, "but might
you be one of the maids at Heron Court ?"
"Well," she says, Il might"
''Ohr' says. pheasant weather we're
having, aren't we?'
She said yes it was very pleasant weather
indeed. She said this in a particularly
aifable way. She was afraid we should
have wet before night.
"Been here long 2" | inquired.
No, she hadn't been there long, she said.
Only three weeks.
Game down with the dukes party,
suppose ~
Yes, she said she came down with the
dukes party.
Like the place %
She said she didn't mind it. | asked
her few questions about the people. She
said she could get on all right with the
duke, and she was on awful good terms
with the duchess; but she wouldn't give
dollar gross for the servants. For one
thing, she didn't believe they kept the
proper lookout at the place. While they
were wasting their time in smoking and
drinking and flirting, a burglar could get
in at almost any moment.
''Oh, well, miss, after all, y says, were
none of us perfect, you know. We all
have our little 'obbies."
put on my best style and made up my
mind to have dash for it. | asked her
whether there was any chance of having
a look in and a bit of supper in the even
ing. She looked at me very straight
Then she said thing that knocked me
silly.
Say, mister" she says, "where do |
I 4
this little game 2"
was so astonished that quite blushed.
did really.
"Well,' says, IF you are going to put
it that way suppose | had better speak
ont straight. I'll give you twenty qud
now and I'll give you another twenty after
it's over"
make it thirty sovcreigns now and
thirty after, " she said, 'and it, done"
started to argue bit, and she turned
on her heel.
"Here, stiddy on, my dear" I says.
"Don't lose your temper. You've got a
good-hearted face. You're not going to be
hard on a poor chap, are you now? Give
me kiss and III give you twenty five"
She fired up.
"You don't have no kiss mister" she
says, ''and if you want me to help you, you
must hand over the coin. You kent do
better, anyway"
tell you she fairly surprised me. |
assure you, to look at her, you'd think she
was as quiet girl as ever wore shoes She
kept her eyes-bright, black eyes she had
fixed on my face, and seemed almost to
enjoy the corner she I'd got me in.
turned the matter quickly over in my
mind. After all, knew | needn't really
trouble about the second payment.
should be clear away before she had a
chance to see whether | put it there or
not.
GAN right, miss" says, "dont 'aggle,
nnI dnn'+ bito fallar', haaI balf nrf