The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-16
JoNEs's JoUST wlTHDUKH.
pY mxDN NORMAN.

never was. any, engagement between us and you have no cIaiFn on me Mothers heart is set on my marriage to the Duke and he is very fine gentleman. And, George, you know never could endure . prosy commonplace, life. I can't help it if I am romantic and like castles and ycoats-cf-arms and family portraits and ancestral. traditions and liverled ser- wants and all that sort of thing
 The. girl began the speech with sort of gentle defiance, but ended in a ianely apolcgetic tone. s;1. gits The face of the young man, which was nuahedS from, his passionate retnonstrance grew pale while she spoke and the fire died from his eyes, which looked, steadily into hers. ss, fs,- sis
 ' '.But you do not love him aud you do love me- he said. 7 A5,.t .s-.s
 ...Ycu presume. too much,'' she replied. fiusiaing now in her turn. '.Sir Charles is a noblenaan beth by name and nature and admire snd respect him. Of course have been fond of you, George. but you have no right to assume that love you.'' s,S ~ <, =, ;. .. -s.....
 7 A slight smile trsmbled on the lips of tho young man. .fS
 ..There are some occasions and some words you seem to have forgotten he said . For 4nstanee.' one moonlight even ing at Laiss Geneva-1'
 ''Now: George, don't be mean" she inc terruppted. sharply "Of course, have been fond of you. and I am fond Of, you. but a girl don't have to marry the first young man sw1io makes love 10 hsr-Seven if she has liked him and let him say fool ish things to her.' Now do be sensible and don't spoil our good friendship. If 1t were only the good old days of chfvalry -, knkw Ias3r fe.& could go in and settle it between you. but I am So dreadfsiiiy weak and mamma is so strong. and her head Is set on this match that simply cannot oppose her."
 A strange light leaped into the young mans eyes. If it were. in the good old days and I rode up in afmor on a white charger. fought your duke to defeat and picked you up 1nders your mothers nose and despite your father,s protests md rode away. would you be happy with me?" ''oh.9 that would be beautitui."i she ex- claimed. clapings her hands. But what's the use of talking about it: We live in prosaic times and men are as weak and apiritless as women It must be dread full for a man like Sir Charles. with all the heroic blood of his race, to moon about ina dress suit like ordinary men," She ended with sigh. T*
 'f guess Sir Charles can bear up under it, replied the young man driiy. pro vIding he can find somebody to pay for his dress suit and champagne"
 That's right. be horrid if you want to and drag everything and everybody down to 6 the level of business and finance,' shS' fetorted. ''I don't believe you would fight for your ladylove if the good old days of ci,lvalry were still here You'd rather sit In your old ofiice and make money-so theref'
 ''The day of chivairy are always here, ," he replied slowly, land men always have fought for women and always will. The only difference is in the weapons. Good night
 He turned abruptly to leave her.
 ''Now. don't be ugly and horrid about it. will you?'' she said. sir Charles is to po here next week to spend a fortnight. Mamma Is preparing to announce the en- gagement Don't make 1t harder for me-
 Depend upon me-, he replied. smiling broadly. '= t~ In due time appeared Charles Arthur Fttzmorris. twenty-first duke of Battle borough viscount of Chiselhurst. baron of something or other and baronet. The papers never did get his title in twice alike. With him was a great array Of boKes and bags and trunks. servants and paraphernalia. the details of which only travelling nobility knows. George Jones was duly introduced to his rival and greatly puzzled Beatrice Derwent by the cordescending frinedilness Of his manner. He seemed almost to pity the Foreigner and acted more like the successful suitor that the rejected. Is was at a reception at the Derwents and as he made his adieux he whispered to Beatrice:
 "I have arranged that ioust with the duke" 't .,-.,. r., ,.
 And she looked at him aghast and re- piled earnestly:
 George! Don't you dare make a scandal
 All the next day she puzzled as to what Georges mysterious remark po-tended. A few days later shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening she was summoned in haste to the reception hall and found George Jones.
 sThere's somebody at the Milwaukee depot who wants to see you on 6 very inn portant natter he exclaimed, breath iessiy. '-rhe train goes at o'clock and she did not have time to come here to see you. and asked me to come and get you. There's a. carriage waiting at the door. Just throw on your cloak and come on. There's just time" ''Goodness gracious! what is 1t all about?'' she gasped. "Who Is it?'' Y don't know what 1t is about" hs replied mysteriousIy. "but I suspect and know you win be sorry if you don't go. As to who it is. promised net to tell you, but 1t Is a good friend of yours. Come on. there's barely time., SheEwants ten or IS minutes to talk to you
 But 1t is so.funnw,' said the girl. ,''IWeil, suit yourselR,'' replied Jones. stiffenlng with dignity. "It's nothing to me. I'm sure I've done my duty,", and he buttoned his coat. tc,- s- t
 Curiosity shons in the girl's eyes.
 'WiH 1t take longT' she asked, fires oIutely. We haven't dined yet"
 ''The carriage can be back here before 7;s0." he replied.
 ''WelI, it's a lark anyway, she said. and picking up cloak and hat followed Jones to the carriage .
 As they entered. her brother. who stood on the steps, shouted: -,c as
 Hello, Betty. where going?'
 '"To the depot" replied Beatrice Back in an hour" F. ?" pulled lip his hovses. already started.
 ''what did she sayr' Beatrice heard 'HrH be back in an hour" the driver re- piled. t
 minutes before seven, the carriage hay ing been delayed at several corners. Jones was worrying and puIling his watch re- peatediy. They hurried to the awaiting train and as they entered the Pullman. Jones shouted to the porter:
 What time do you start?" .t 2,
 Beatrice did not catch the answer, but Jones repeated 1t.
 Seven fifteen. Oh. we are all right. Al. IA