Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-07-04
AN AMERICAN DUCHESS.

anu ucheN Htt W give HlIu some gin
/ ot--unsweetencd.
He drank to a toast Of ten thousand
year to 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 II on again.
. The best looking business | was ever
mixed up In, he 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 a
relish, as though they were something
sold In tins. And when | saw In
I4loyd's that the young duke had gone
and married Miss Deborah Clancy,
daughter OF the well known rubber
merchant of New Haven, Conn, and
when | saw that the wedding presents
were both numerous and costly, and
the happy pair had left town for the
dukes home near GuilfoM amid a
shower Of rice and old slippers, then |
said TO myself, | said; Go in ana
win, my boy, and play the game off
of your own bat. Don't have no part
neis," | says to myself; don't have no
confederates, but jest go in and have
n good old try" So | dressed myself
up very hastily and went down to
Milford station.
| had Gladstone bag with me, and
! in that bag | had few necessary ar
! ticles that no one can do without.
| don't care how clever you are, you
I can't do without their help. And had
a little money with me, too. That's
another thing you always want to have
about you. Many's the little business
I've known spoiled JUST for the want of
a sovereign or two.
was walking out one afternoon, and
was going down lane pretty close
front Of me was neat girl, in blue
serge, with bonnet box In her hand.
! She was one of the slim waisted sort,
and she carried herself very upright.
/ As ! passed her | caught sight of the
! address, 1t was for the duchess.
/ lifts my hat like this Look
Pardon me. Miss | says, ''bui
might You DE one of the maids al
Heron Dourtg'
well" she says, 81 might"
"Ohw / says. pheasant weather
we're having, aren't WEI"
She said yes II was very pleasant
weather indeed. She said tthis she
+, said in particularly affable way she
was afraid we should have wet before
night.
Been here longr' | inquiries.
No, she hadn't been there long she
said. Only three weeks.
''Come down with the dukes party,
l suppose?"
| Yes, she said, she came down with
the dukes party.
Like the placer
! She said she didn't mind 1t. | asked
! her a 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 a gross for the
servants For one thing, she didn't
believe that they kept a proper look out
at the place. While they were wasting
| their time iii smoking and drinking
and flirting, q burglar could get In at
almost any moment.
"Oh, well, miss, after ALL ! says,
'swe're none of us perfect you know.
| We all have our little 'obbies."
| i put on my best smile and made up
my mind to have dash for it. asked
her whether there was any chance OF
} having a look in and bit OF supper
In the evening. She looked at me
! straight. Then she said
"Say, mister, where do ! come I'M
How much am going to make out q
this little gamer
"Well," | says, III you are going TO
put II that way, suppose I'd better
speak out straight. I'll give you
/ twenty quid now, and I'll give you an
other tv enty after its over"
make 1t thirty sovereigns now and
thirty after" she said, "and It's done
/ started to argue bit, and she
turned on her heel.
! There, stiddy on, my dear" says
Don't lose yonr temper You've go
! good-hearted face. You're not goint
10 be hard on a poor chap, are yot
now? Give me kiss and I'll give yot
twenty-five"
She fired up.
"You don't have no kiss, mister" sh'
says, land II you want me to help yol
You must hand over the coin. Yol
kent do better anyway
4 tell you she fairly surprised me.
assure you. to look at her, you'd thinl
she was as quiet girl as ever wor'
shoes. She kept her eyes-bright
black eyes she hadfxed on my face
and seemed almost to enjoy the corne
she g3t me in.
i turned the matter over quickly Il
my mind. After all, knew | needn'
really trouble about the second pay
Il ment. I should be clear away befor'
she had chance to see whether pu
4 Ii there or not.
Il "All right. miss" says don't 'agl'
and don't bite fellows cad half orr