The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-14
KNEBWORTh'S LODGE-KEEpER.
For Forty-two Years the Lyttons
Owed Him Two ShiIIings.

l have just heard a story OF Kneb,
worth which j am sure has never been
| in print. 1t was told me by an Ameri-
| can gentleman who had IL from Lady
Lytton while on visit TO that historic
| cal mansion.
AS the visitor enters the grounds he
| may note that the gates are opened by
rosy checked old lady in the neatest
| of black silk dresses and the starchiest
of white caps. Later he will hear that
the office is hers for life, with a wage
of $40 year and the use of the pretty,
ivy-covered brick lodge and quaint old
garden. The place became hers at the
death OF her husband, which occurred
few years ago.
After his separation from Lady Lyt-
ton, the first Lord Lytton did not live
at Krebworth, but placed the estate i'm
the hands OF his agents. a young man
recently married to dairy maid on the
place was one Of the laborers on the es-
tate, as had been his forefathers for
many generations. One day he present.
ed himself at the agents Office and de-
manded two snillings which he de-
clared was his due for work done the
day before, The agent did not recog-
nize the claim and refused TO pay the
money. The man was Very angry and
made a protest. The agent bade him
begone. Every rent day the man reap
peared and demanded his two shillings,
and as regularly, the agent refused
him.
At last, wearied out with his impor-
tunities, the agent ordered him off the
estate, declined 20 employ him again
and forced him 10 quit his little cottage
where his ancestors had lived and died.
lie went TO another parish, but the
agents ill-word had preceded him; he
suffered many things OF many men, but
he would not leave the country, but
every year returned at rent day and
asked fer his IWo>s lllings. The agent
went the way of all agents, and one,
another, a succession of all agents
reigned in his stead. Each grew toknow
first stalwart, then bent, then de-
crepit old man In long smock coat,
who appeared at rent day to claim his
two shillings. In time he was one OF
the features of that occasion. lie be-
gan with the high h-handed demand OF "A
strong young man; toward the end IL
was just a monotonous voice, like a tale
learned by rote
When owen Meredith came TO the
property he was walking I'm the grounds
one day when he saw an old man sit
ting under "a tree, an old man with
something SO hopeless. so detected I'm
his spiritual old countenance that the
poet was moved. 1t was the bafled,
thwarted look Of man who had suf-
fered and been wronged. With the
high-bred courtesy which was pre-em-
inently his. Lord Lytton asked him IL
there was anything that he could DO for
him. explaining that he was the new
lord. You can pay me two shillings."
said the old man; You have owed
them To- me for forty-two years"
An investigation followed. IL poyed
the fact And. as restitution. the long
deferred creditor was installed lodge
keeper for the term Of his natural life
at $50 a year. and the descent Of the
office TO his widow. For several years
he occupied the place with great COM
fort 10 himself and satisfaction To his
employer and when he died was buried
in the village churchyard, where all his
people lay.-lSaltimore sun.