The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-05-31
A BUTLER AND LORD.
by BLANCHE Il. WADE.

the morning meal, Il have an agreeable an.
nouncement to make to you, and yet of such
a character that it is sure to fill you with
disappointment; nothing less, in fact, than
an invitation TO the Thorncroft ball There,
there!" gasped she, vanly endeavoring to
extricate herself from the excited girls bear
like hug, that's the third breakfast cap
you've ruined this week with your outland
ish demonstrations! Look at it," and she
removed a rumpled mystery of lace and rib
bons.
Never mind, darling Auntie Louise, it's
all owing to your thoughtlessness in not
wearing helmet instead. Do let me hug
you!"
"And now, most prim and provoking
aunt warbled Dulce, as she buttered a
tempting slice of toast, wherein lies the
disappointment to follow this?" tapping
the crested invitation.
"Dulce, you cannot mean you have not
already discovered that it is entirely out OF
the question to even think"
"Oh, but nothing is easier than to think.
1t is much harder not to, you know" broke
in the incorrigible one. and | love to
think of the sensation my gorgeous rela
tive will make in that stunning new Law.
ender with the rose point lace and her gor.
geous diamonds. All, me! Listen!" And
she punctuated her words with wild flour
ishes of half-buttered toast and the silver
knife as she read from an imaginary paper:
Item from the Social Leader: While
space forbids us to elaborate on all of the
elegant toilettes displayed on this occasion,
mention must be made of one, the magnii
cence of which, combined with the stateli.
ness of its wearer, called forth mucl ad.
miration. AS the beautiful Mrs. Reginald
Van Horn entered the ballroom land here
we may remark she was followed by her
niece, an insignificant creature in pink
loud burst of applause"
"Dulce, Dulce, you will kill me outright
insist"
And Dulce, for once taking pity on her
aunt, who seemed threatened with convul
sions from laughter, ceased her nonsense,
merely remarking:
Serves you right for saying it was out
of the question to think"
ooh, my dear, you do take one up so.
meant, of course, we could not think of go
ing without an escort!"
Most certainly not" solemnly assented
Dulce. Therefore we shall go escorted
How would Lord Godfrey Hamilton suit?
Now, my dear, no more joking. 1t is q
serious matter.
Il know it, auntie, and so I am serious
Attractive aunt and frivolous niece dying
to go to the ball of the season. Benevo
lent uncle unavailable owing to absence in
| Scotland. Niece's old iance enters upon
the scene in time to save the day. All hap
| ply. Curtain"
whats that, Dulce? Fiance! Who'
When"
"Same Lord Godfrey aforementioned,
| nicknamed by frivolous niece Lord
Gruffy, when she sent him about his own
affairs because of his jealous temper. Yes,
aunte, dear, I'll explain decently. Long
before you carried off your poor orphaned
niece to your home, for the purpose of spoil
ing her dreadfully with your petting she
met Sir Gruffy; then she was engaged tc
him for one short week, during which she
innocently-yes, innocently, auntie-per
mitted other young men to speak to her,
arousing unwarranted jealousy in Lord
Gruffy. Lord Gruffy stormed. Cruel
maiden laughed, consenting to separation
forever, inwardly translating forever as q
few weeks
~ GU never told me, Dulce!
"Did not want to stir you up till occasion
demanded Auntie, dear, I'd die if | did
not know | was positively sure of Godfrey
Hamilton! Now for a PLAN Niece dis
covers aunt's new butler, Middleton, close.
ly to resemble in figure, carriage, manner
and tone of voice her own Lord Grufy
Persuades aunt to disguise him-at no little
expense CLOTHES to be returned at end OF
evening)-as the immaculate Lord Hamil.
ton, and to engage him to act as escort OF
the evening of the Thorncroft ball. In re
turn for the difficult task the lord pro tenn
will receive certain round sum, and will
on the night in question, be treated as ar
equal"
MY dear!' gasped Mrs. Van Horn
Outrageous. Fancy your sitting out q
dance with my butler Then, too, some Of
the real Lord Hamilton's friends might be
there, and things would be in a pretty
statel"
"But that's not at all likely, auntie. HI
and l are strangers in these parts, yol
know" and Dulce, seeing that Mrs Var
Horn did not veto the scheme, coat;ed anC
hattered till the poor lady, with perhaps
remembrance of her own new gown, con
scented.
Middleton seemed not opposed to adding
tidy sum to his earnings, and, being
young man and evidently not above a bit o
fun, bound himself to secrecy so far as tn
other servants were concerned, and received
daily instruction from the ladies regarding
the art of acting the part of true lord Ii
could dance, Dulce informed her aunt
which was greatly TO his advantage, anC
then, too, he was so respectable!
But Dulce was in high feather, and il
spite OF everything Middleton outdid him
self Even Mrs. Van Horn marveled, bu
she did hope, noting her niece in animate,
conversation with him in nook of the con
: seTvatory, that dear Dulce would not fee
obliged to do more than her duty by him.
5 The ride home was embarrassing for bot
9 the aunt and the butler but Dulce's Split
were unquenchabe Mrs. Van Horn pre-
served silence unless driven to speech by he
e niece, and Middleton answered respectful
only when addressed.
Once inside the hall, Mrs Van Horn said
"Thank you, Middleton; you have don
: well. You shall receive your payment i
e the morning. You may leave the clothes
But here Miss Dulce Forester burst on
b laughing and threw herself into Middl,
= tons arms.
: II cannot stand it any longer, Geoffrey
Oh, Gruffy, my own Gruffy, don't you sc
n / love you to distraction: I'll never, nevt