Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
OBy n Scotch Novelist.)

/ ter expressed IL. 10 take a snuff of caller
! air on the brow OF the hill But healthful
exercise was not his only reason for
being ~ soon abroad. IL occurred to him
/ In the watches OF the night that, as hts
! majesty was an early riser. the house
/ hod. too, would. OF course, be stirring
with the cock, and that some of them
/ might be more readily met with at that
time than later in the morning. Ac-
! cOrdingly. he kept sharp lookout on all
! s'Ges as he stroled through the park
| with a basket OF linen on her head.
going to the town; and three or four
! lumpish country boys that came whist
! ling along the footpath from Datchet,
| In their clod shoes. with white cotton
ste cAings, and the knees OF their new
! velveteen breeches shown In front be-
meath clean smock-frocks the tails Of
/ which, behind. We're tackled up 10 show
/ their Sunday coats.
| Somewhat disappointed. but thinking he
/ was still too early for the inmates Of the
/ palace, Ec prolonged his walk toward the
meadows, and In stepping over a stiie he
saw, close before him, stout and elderly
man, in plain blue coat. with scarlet
/ cuffs and collar, which at first he took for
livery. There was something, however.
In the air Of the wearer which convinced
/ him that he could not be a servant; and
an ivory-headed cane, virled with gold.
which he carried In a sort OF negligent,
| poking manner, led him TO conclude that
he was either an old officer or one of
I the poor Knights OF Windsor-for he had
added TO his learning IN the course Of
the preceding evening a knowledge OF
the existence Of this appen5age 10 the
noble order OF the Garter. "Ths," said
/ the embryo courtier 10 himself, SIS Just
the very thing that have been seeking.
I'll max up 10 this decent earle; for nae
dout he's well acquaint with a. about
the King" and he stepped alertly forward.
But before he had advanced many PAGES
the old gentleman turned round. and see
ing a stranger, stopped; and looking at
| him for two or three seconds. said to
himself, loudly enough, however, TO be
heard
Strange man-don't know him-don't
| know him; and then he paused till our
! hero had come up.
| "Gude day sir" said Wylie. as he APP
! preached; 'ye'er early aft on the Sab
| bath morning; but I'm thinking his
Majesty honest man. sets you a here an
example OF eobriety and early rising"
"Scotchman. eh?" said the old gentle
man; fine morning, fine morning, sir
weather warmer here than with you?
| What part of Scotland do you come from?
How 90 you like Windsor? Come to see
the King, eh?' and loudly he made the
echoes ring with his laughter.
The senator was little at loss which
question to answer first; but, delighted
with the hearty freedom OF the salutation.
jocularly said, IT'S no easy to answer
so many questions all at once; but If
yen no OBJECT to the method l would
say that we guess right. sir. and that l
come from the shire OF Ayr"
"Ahl shire of Agra fine country that
good farming there-no smuggling now
among you, chino excisemen shooting
lords now?-Bad game. bad game. Poor
Lord Eginton had true taste for agri-
culture; the county, l have heard owes
him much. sun improving Nothing like
1.-THE war needs men-corn is our drag
on's tceth-pOtatoes do as well In Ireland,
ch?''
The humor Of this sally tlckled our hero
as well as the author Of 1t. and they
both laughed themselves into greater in
timacv.
"Weu but, sir" said Andrew, las
I'm only a stranger here, / would like
King, just as To what sort of person he
really IS for we can place no sort OF
dependence on newspapers or history
books on matters anent rulers and men OF
government"
What, like Sir Robert Walpole-not be-
lieve MISREPRESENTATION very cautious"
But the Old gentleman added, in a graver
accent. "rhe King not so good a some
say TO him he Is; nor Is he as bad as others
49, .fr PM \ L. n h.s.
tiOusly endeavored 10 do his duty. and the
best men can do no more. be their trusts
high or low"
'"rhat, i believe, we a. in general think;
even the blacknebs never dispute his hon
esty, though they undervalue his talents.
But what 1 wish to know and understand
IS no wi regard to his kingly faculties,
but 10 his familiar ways and behaviour
things In which he is like the generality
OF the world"
"Haw said the stranger, briskly relaps-
ing into his wonted freedom, very par
ticular. very particular, indeed. What rea-
son, friend, have you TO be so particular?
Must have some--people never do so with
out reason"
Surely. sir, it's a very natural curiosity
for a subject 10 inquire what sort OF
man the sovereign Is, whom he has sworn
to honor and obey and TO bear true ale
glance WIN ltId anu nttIN.
True, true. true!' exclaimed the old
gentIeman-"Just remarlS-come on bust
ness to England What businessg'
MY chief business, in truth, sir, at
present here IS 10 see and learn some
thing about the King. / have no other
turn in hand at this time"
Turn, turn cried the stranger, per-
picked. What turn? Would place the
King on your lathe. eh?''
Our hero did not well know what to
make Of his quick and versatile COM
panion: and, while the old gentleman
was laughing at the jocular turn which
he had himself given to the Scotticism,
he said, I'm thinking, friend, yere COM
manded no to speak with strangers anent
his Majesty's conduct: for we blink the
question. as they say in Parliament"
"Parliament!-Been there ?-How do you
like it?-Much cry and little wool among
them, eh?"
''Ye say Gude's truth, sir; and / wish
they would make their speeches as SHORE
and pithy as the Kings. I'm told his
Majesty has very gracious and pleasant
delivery" replied our hero, pawkily; and
the stranger, not needing his DRIFT, sara
with simplicity:
ut was so thought when he was young,
but he is now an old man, and not what
l have known him"
II suppose" replied our hero. that you
have been long In his service?''
Eyes, i am one Of his oldest servants.
Ever since / could help myself" was
the answer. with sly smile, Il may say
| have been his servant"
"And | dinna dout," replied the senator,
chat you have had an easy post
II have certainly obeyed ms WILL"
cried the stranger. in lively. laughing
l...-
added, But what may be my reward.
az least In this world, II is for you and