The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-13

predeceased him, there had been no
near relatives to follow the late head
Of the house to his last resting place.
Let me see, my cousin George had
a sister, Sybil, who used to live with my
unel s Beaum MAJ mused a a :; 81
II believe she is still at your town
|, house in Piccadilly,' replied Forsyth
with a constraint which the other did
not notice in his self-absorption. But
the next moment it struck Beaumanoir
as odd that the information should have
been SO readily forthcoming, for he
had been unaware that his friend knew
his relatives. "a p
"You have made sybil Hanbury's
| eyes, since your departure for Amer
Iica," was the reply. TT had the pleas
lure Of meeting her first at my uncle 8
in Grosvenor Gardens;-General Sad
groves, you know. I dare say you re-
member him9''
"Oh, yes; I remember the general
well-a shrewd old party with eyes
like gimlets," said Beaumanoir. "But
what's this about Grosvenor Gardens9''
he added quickly. "The sadgroves used
to live in Bruton street,
Grosvenor Gardens, last Christmas
"14O!'' exclaimed the duke. "Why,
that g where the Sherman g are going
to stay. Some friends of mine-who
came over in the same Ship" he went
on to explain rather lamely.-
Forsyth shot an amused glance at his
old crony. eyes, I know that Uncle
Jem was expecting some Americans to
about the charms Of the young lady of
the party for the last fortnight. You
are excited, Charley. Your manner has
struck me as strange since we met at
the hotel. Is it permitted to inquire
if my uncle is entertaining unawares-
a future duchess7' 49,.
To the young Scotsman g surprise, the
duke showed signs for moment of
taking the light-spoken banter amiss.
: thing inarticulate, but pulled himself
together and diverted their talk into
fresh channel, clumsily enough.
"Don't gas about me, old chap he
said. "Tell me of yourself. Is the world
using you better than ;foImerly7" :.
with Aeou tht ths sams he Forsyth replied
| as a third-grade clerk in the foreign
, per annum. Not a. brilliant pros
8 pect. When I am WORKOUT ole
: buffer Of 60 I shall be able to retire or
a pension about equal to my present
4 'tThen look here, Alec; chuck the
: public service and come to me,'' sale
r the duke, eagerly. IT III give you eigh,
9 hundred year to begin with, and rises
b up to two thousand; and you can have
the dower-house at Prior's Tarrant t.
d live in. Call yourself private secretary
n n h bal anything you Ple Plea come N!
|. shaken by-by what I've gone thru
9 I want someone near me who's NOR
9 than mere hireling.'
{, It was Forsyth's turn to flush now
but with pleasure at the offer mad
= to him. He accepted it in few sim
% pie words, and the duke rose and pai
b his score.
o uCome with me to Pattisons','' h
q said. "Then we II 20 to Piccadil1y an
10 take possession.
The business at the lawyers, whic
d consisted Of little more than arrangin
g future meetings, was soon finished an
g the duke and his new secretary took
y fresh cab to the West End. AS the
Re bowled along. Beaumanoir inquire
n. further about his cousin Sybil, whom
IS owing to his absence in India and NOR
ID 1atterly to his estrangement from hi
n relations, he had never met. Forsyt
lie impaired the information that for til
ct last six months, since she "came out,
~ she had virtually ruled the late duke
y. household
rs But she can be little more than
child,' Beaumanoir protested. An,
ce how, I cam keep cousin Of 18 {
at as my housekeeper without setting Mr.
t. Grundy's tongue wagging. The que
r. ton arises what to do with her. OF
ne Pattison tells me she is well provide
xt for, but don t like telling her
en- clear out if it does not occur to h
us to CO.. What sort is she. Alecq
Of HThat's rather a stiff question