The Ely miner., 1901-05-17
A BUTLER AND LORD.
BY BLANCHE e. WADE.


the morning meal, Il have an agreeable an
nouncement to make to you, and yet of such
4 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, vainly 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 rumpled mystery of lace and rib
bons.
Never mind, darling Auntie Louise, it.
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 l 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. Listenw 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 magnifi-
cence of which, combined with the stateli-
ness of it's wearer, called forth much ad
IL
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-
sons from laughter, ceased her nonsense,
merely remarking:
Serves you right for saying it was out
of the question to think"
"Oh, my dear, you do take one up so
meant, of course, we could not think of CO.
ing without an escort!'
Most certainly not, solemnly assented
Dulce. Therefore we shall go escorted.
How would Lord Geoffrey Hamilton suit ?"
Now, my dear, no more joking. 1t is a
serious matter"
II know it, auntie, and so l 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 fiance enters upon
the scene in time to save the day All hap
py. Curtain!"
''What's that, Dulce? Fiance! Who?
When?'
''Same Lord Geoffrey aforementioned
nicknamed by frivolous niece Lord
Gruffy,' when she sent him about his own
affairs because of his jealous temper. Yes,
auntie, 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 to
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 a
few weeks"
you never told me, Dulce!"
''Did not want to stir you up till occasion
demanded. Auntie, dear, I'd die if l did
not know 1 was positively sure of Geoffrey
Hamilton! Now for plan: Niece dis
covers aunt's new butler, Middleton, close
ly to resemble in figure, carriage, manner
and tone of voice her own Lord Gruffy.
Persuades aunt to disguise him-at no little
expense (clothes to be returned at end of
eyening)-as the immaculate Lord Hamil-
ton, and to engage him to act as escort on
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 an
equal"
''My dear!" gasped Mrs. Van Horn.
Outrageous! Fancy your sitting out a
dance with my butler! Then, too, some of
the real Lord Hamilton's friends might be
there, and things would be in pretty
state!"
"But that's not at all likely, auntie. He
and [ are strangers in these parts, you
know" and Dulce, seeing that Mrs. Van
Horn did not veto the scheme, coaxed and
Hattered till the poor lady, with perhaps a
remembrance of her own new gown, con-
sented.
Middleton seemed not opposed to adding
a tidy sum to his earnings, and, being a
young man and evidently not above bit of
fun, bound himself to secrecy so far as the
other servants were concerned, and received
udlly luSlIuCIlOu lIOlu IHc
the art of acting the part of a true lord. He
could dance, Dulce informed her aunt,
which was greatly to his advantage, and
then, too, he was so respectable!
But Dulce was in high feather, and in
spite of everything Middleton outdid him
self. Even Mrs. Van Horn marveled, but
she did hope, noting her niece in animated
conversation with him in a nook of the con-
servatory, that dear Dulce would not feel
obliged to do more than her duty by him.
The ride home was embarrassing for both
the aunt and the butler, but Dulce's splits
were unquenchable. Mrs. Van Horn pre-.
served silence unless driven to speech by her
niece, and Middleton answered respectfully
only when addressed.
Once inside the hall, Mrs. Van Horn said:
"Thank you, Middleton; you have done
well. You shall receive your payment in
the morning. You may leave the clothes"
But here Miss Dulce Forester burst out
laughing and threw herself into Middle
toms arms.
II cannot stand it any longer, Geoffrey.
Oh, Gruffy, my own Gruffy, don't you see
] love you to distraction? I'll never, never
again even innocently cause you to be jeal.
Gus, for it's awfully hard on you to turn
butler for the sake of being near me, and
HoI u: