Connecticut western news., 1902-05-15
HIS VOTES AND INTEREST
 By Gerald Fireman
By Gerald Fireman
Copyright, 1902, by the
 8. S. Mcclure G

millions, "I am sensible of the honor conveyed in your offer. but before I answer I must ask certain questions" The duke bowed.
 You know that papa, like most peo- pie who have made money suddenly, is an ultra Tory"
 I've are Tories ourselves" observed the duke.
 "Oh, yes, but faineants in Toryism, according to papa" she retorted, with a deprecatory gesture. You must do something to convince him that you are as intensely anti-Radical as he is himself. How many votes are you en- titled to cast at the coming general electionf"
 The duke produced a betting book
 and hastily made calculation. Well" he said, there is the vote in Daleshire, and in Shropshire, and in Devon on the Rivers Court estate, and in the boroughs of Moreton, Dalehamp- ton and Middleton, and in the London constituencies
 Angela began to look appalled,. How many in all in England?' she interrupted.
 Thirteen. And then in Scotland one in Inverness. The Lowland estates give me one in Lanark, Dumfries, the Lothians"-he caught her look of appeal and finished-"seven in all. Then in Ireland-but all these details
 must tire you. Summing them all up, I have thirty-six votes-no; thirty-sev- en. I forgot that l have one vote in the island of Orkney" Miss Danby sank back in her chair l with a little sigh. The duke stared in
 puzzled manner alternately at her and
 at his betting book. Finally she broke the silence. "Only last night papa was saying that if at the next election any Tory gentleman failed to vote to his utmost capacity he would consider him as .
 traitor to the cause. Duke, you ask
 what you can do to win me. Vote for the cause in every one of the constitu. encies where you possess suffrage" The poor duke stood aghast. But, Miss Danby," he protested,
 "have you considered? I have thirty seven constituencies. Many of the elections happen in these places on the same day. They are often hundreds
 of miles apart It is impossibleT' Miss Danby rose from her chair as she said firmly, "I have answered you"
 The duke had also risen. He looked her full in the eyes. Angela" he said, with the awkward dignity which is characteristic of the St. Giles fam- fly, If I do not vote legally from ev-
 cry one of those constituencies yon shall never see me again." And he took his hat and his depar- ture.
 
 Tt is madness, your grace" expostu- lated MT. Lastwill of Lastwiil & Testa-
 ment.
 "I suppose I can afford to be mad"
 the duke replied coolly.
 'Oh, certainly, your grace. The es-
 ton, and. of course, the prospect of
 your winning the Danby millions''- "I don't care twopence for the Dnn-
 by millions. It is the girl l want" And then, as if ashamed of his show of
 feeling, he went on hurriedly. And now tell me what has been doneT'
 well, your grace, I have had the schedules made out, and 1t Is possible l barely possible-for you to cover the
 ground in time. But it will cost-spe-
 cial trains and ali that-it will cost
 hundreds of pounds''
 "I will risk thousands, but" half to i-l Da
 enough to show me an itinerary for my journey"
 4 touch of a bell brought the head clerk with a series of especially print ed lists. They were the way bills, ex- penses, list of stopping places, relays of horses and similar tables. All the preparations for the carrying out of | the dukes daring experiment had been | made.
 That evening found the duke speed ing northward, and next morning he
 recorded the first vote of his long se- ries. Then a special whirled him into the west county, where he voted be- fore dinner time at no less than three boroughs At every stopping point stood a barouche and four waiting to
 bear him at a gallop to the voting booths. And that was only the first of
 many days.
 Presently the word spread far and wide of the wanderings of the mad
 Duke of Daleshire." Many jeered. but | old Mir. Danby chuckled delightedly. That's a man after my own heart. ] I have done him an injustice, but
 will make amends for it by and by. Perhaps Angela has told him some thing"
 The two weeks of election were drawing to a close, and the crisis of the dukes experiment was at hand. He had voted in thirty-five constituent | cies. Only two remained, but these | elections occurred on the same day, and one was in the north of Scotland
 and the other in the south of Ireland. The duke arrived at his seat of Bal. lenguich castle on the eve of election. Next morning the polls were scarcely | opened when his carriage came dash ing up. The tenants hardly knew him, so much had the strain of the last two
 weeks told upon him. Then the special train whirled him | away on the wild race through Scot
 land and England to distant Liverpool. Never did a special make greater
 speed. With the way clear the wheels
 seemed scarcely to touch the rails One-ten, and Liverpool! But griev-
 ous disappointment met the duke. The
 packet boat for Dublin was delayed an
 hour. He stormed and bribed, but to ! no purpose, and was about to betake
 himself to his hotel in despair when a
 telegram was handed him. It was from
 Dublin and was signed Angela" l Papas steam launch Champion in Liv- | erpool at your disposal. Twenty minutes later saw the duke
 speeding down the Mersey on the
 Champion, fastest of its kind