Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1895-02-20
AN AMERICAN DUCHESS
And q British Burglar, Portrayed
by a British Scribe.

My friend, the burglar, when aske
him to drink, called the buxom youn
lady behind the bar Flossie dorling
and asked her to give him some gil
Shot-unsweetened.
Don't drown it," he said, when sh
was putting the water in-''don'
drown it. Give it chawnce. 1t Gavin
swim, you know" He leaned acros
the counter and spoke more lovingly t,
the magnificent young person. II sy
sy. Where're you a-going to mex
Sunday. Adler? Eth? Give US one O
sthem violets you've got"
The magnificent lady frowned a.
him with such loftiness that expected
him to die on the spot. But he didn't
He only hnmmed song intended.
Ghink, to have topical reference.
The lady at the bar painted and said
breathlessly land with no stops, what
next she wondered horrid fellow little
2ess noise if you please you're not in a
low music hall now. He responded to
this with some feeling that he wished
TO 'eaven he was.
He drank to toast of ten thousand
a year for all of us, and sat down near
me. Then he took off his soft cap and
silently busted a few crumbs off the
marble table and put it on again.
The best-looking business was ever
mixed up in Che said slowly was down
at Heron Court, near Guildford. may
be bit old-fashioned in my tastes, but
I've always been rather partial to
,duchesses. (He said this with relish,
las though they were some thing sold IN
tins.) And when l saw in Lloyd's that
"6he young duke had gone and married
Miss Deborah Clancy, daughter of the
weli-known rubber merchant of New
Haven. Conn, and when | saw that the
wedding-presents we're both numerous
and costly, and the happy pair had left
town for the dukes house near Guild
ford amid a shower of rice and old slip
pers, then | said to myself, / said: $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 confedera ties, but jest go in and
have good old try" So dressed my
self up very lastly and went down
TO Milford station.
had Gladstone bag with me, and
in that bag had few necessary arti-
Giles that no one can do without. /
don't care how clever you are, you
can't do without their help. And had
a little money with me, too That's
another thing that you want always to
oo
business I've known spoilt just for the
want of a sovereign or two.
was walking out one afternoon,
and | was going down lane pretty
close to the grounds of the mansion.
In front of me was a neat girl in blue
serge, with a bonnet-box in her hand.
She was one of the slim-waisted sort,
and she carried herself very upright
AS passed her l caught sight of the
address. 1t was for the duchess. l
lifts my hat like this. Look!
Pardon me, MISS" I says, 'sbut
ianight you be one of the maids at
Heron Court?"
4'Well," she says, II might"
'sOh" l says. Pleasant weather
we're having, aren't we?"
She said yes it was very pleasant
weather indeed. She said this she
said in particularly affable way) she
was afraid we should have wet before
saight
Been here long?" inquiries.
No, she hadn't been there long, she
-said. Only three weeks.
Come down with che dukes party, |
SUPPOSE"
Yes, she said, she came down with
She dukes party.
Like the placer"
She said she didn't mind it. I asked
her few questions about the people.
She said she could get on all right with
the duke, and she was on awful good
Serms with the duchess, but she
wouldn't give dollar gross for the
servants. For one thing, she didn't be-
ieve they kept a proper lookout at the
place. Whilst they were wasting Gheir
time in smoking and drinking and
-airting, burglar could get in at al
most any moment
Oh, we'll. miss, after ALL" says,
"we're none Of US perfect, you know.
We all have our little 'obbies.''
put on my best smile and made up
my mind to have a dash for it. asked
her whether there was any chance of
having a look in and o bit of supper in
Che evening She looked at me very
straight. Then she said thing that
knocked me silly.
Say, mister" she says, where do |
come in? How much am going to
Eiake out of this little game?"
was SO astonished that quite
.biushed. | did really.
Well" says, ''if you are going to
pat it that way ! suppose I'd better
speak out straight. III give you TWEEN
ty quid now, and I'll give you another
twenty after it's over"
make it thirty sovereigns now and
t!1irty after" she said. land it's done"
started to argue a bit, and she
turned on her heel.
.'Here, Study on, my dear" says.
Don't lose your temper. You've got