Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-04-24
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SVSVSVOVOV0VV
: HIS VOTES
, AND INTEREST
BY Gerald Brennan
Copyright, 1902, by the
G q MoCIuro RI,
Y >. .. mcclure company
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'Duke," remarked Angela Dandy,
with the frank courage of an heiress to
millions, 81 am sensible of the honor
conveyed in your offer. but before /
answer l must ask certain questions"
The duke bowed
you know that papa, like most peo-
pie who have made money suddenly, is
an ultra Tory"
1--WE 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
electiOn?"
The duke produced a betting book
and hastily made a 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-. forgot that l have one vote in
the island of Orkney"
Miss Dandy sank back in her chair
with little sigh. The duke stared in a
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 a
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? l have thirty
seven constituencies. Many of the
elections happen in these places on the
same day. They are often hundreds
Of miles apart. 1t is impossibler'
Miss Dandy rose from her chair as
she said firmly, 81 have answered
you"
her full in the eyes. Angela" he
said, with the awkward dignity which
is characteristic of the st. Giles fam
lily, 'ff I do not vote legally from av-
cry one of those constituencies you
shall never see me again.
And he took his hat and his depar-
ture.
=
"It is madness. your grace" expostu-
lated Mr.. Lastwill of Lastwill & Testa-
ment.
81 suppose 1 can afford to be mad"
the duke replied coolly.
"Oh, certainly, your grace. The es-
tates are in a most fourishing condi-
ton, and. of course, the prospect of
your winning the Dandy Millions
81 don't care twopence for the Dan
by millions. 1t 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 done?"
"Well, your grace, l have had the
schedules made out, and it is possible
barely possible-for you to cover the
ground in time. But it will cost-spe-
cial trains and all that-it will cost
hundreds of pounds"
81 will risk thousands, but" half to
himself, 81 must win the girl. Be good
enough to show me an itinerary for my
Journey"
A 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 Sc
ries. Then 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 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 Mr.. Dandy 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 close, and the crisis of
the dukes experiment was at hand
He had voted in thirty-fve 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 snacial make greater