Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-08-19
MyLord dno His
Daughter
By CONSTANCE TYLER
Copyright. 1896. by T. G. Mcclure


not only the proprietor of Hopes bank,
the owner OF three or four factories
and the recognized business head OF
the town, but he was president of three
or four societies and charities and OF
high standing as church member.
Whatever Mr.. Thomas Hope said or
did was always the correct thing. lie
and his wife could have existed with
out Chelmsford. but had they departed
for other climes that town would have
died socially
II happened that Mr. Hope had to
make trip to Paris In financial in
terests. lie spoke to no one on his way
over. Several strangers dropped re-
marks TO which he could have replied
consistently. but he held himself aloof
with true British reserve. When Brit
ish reserve has money behind II. II Is a
stone wall Mr. Hope might have re-
piled to an earl or Il lord had such a
parsonage addressed him and had he
been certain that there was no imposi-
ton. The banker shuddered as he look
cd over the common travellers.
Mr.. Hope was not impressed with
Paris. He had been there before. 1t
was his duty to Impress Paris instead.
and when he departed. after stay Of
three or four days. he felt sure that he
had done so and was very compliment
over II. This self complacency serv-
NJ ~. "A In tom IN MI
reserve. That Is. he deigned to show
himself among his fellow passengers
on the boat instead of locking himself
up In his stateroom. but at the same
time he let II be- seen that his dignity
was not TO be trifled with.
Suddenly something happened TO the
great man. good looking young wo-
man approached him and. addressing
him as my lord" asked the privilege
Of speech. Never before In his life had
he been addressed by young woman
"a strange young woman. His dignity
would have received fatal shock had
she not used the prefix. His battered
vanity Offset the shock. His wife had
several times ayerred that he looked
like an earl. and now here was living
proof that she was right. He put up
his eyeglass and gave the young wo-
man critical glance and indicated
by a cold bow that she might proceed.
She had IA story TO tell. She was an
English governess who had passed the
last three years In Partisan family.
As she had great property expccta-
tons the family wanted her to marry
one OF the sons Because she would
not-because she had said that as an
English girl she would not marry an
enemy OF her countryside had been
charged with purloining certain articles
Of jewelry and driven from the house.
The incensed family might even seek
her arrest.
II was pathetic story with many
embellishments. and Mr.. Hopes heart
was touched-hls British heart. II
wasn't touched because the young wo-
man was good looking. but because
she had continually addressed him a.
my lord" and had appealed to him as
the British lion itself She wanted his
protection while landing That French
family might have set the minions OF
law at work and she might be arrested
and hailed back to Paris and thrust
into a dungeon for years without trial.
Under the protection of My lord"
what officer of the law would dare look
twice at her; II they looked many
times Il would mean war between the
two countries.
Thomas Hope listened. was battered.
and his iron bound dignity became as
putty. For the first time In twenty
years he had some human feeling about
him. He came out of his shell and dis
covered that there were joints in his
backbone. Had that young woman
made the mistake of appealing 10 him
as "Mr." or even as ''vlscount'' her
petition would have been ignored. but
that little trick OF MY lord" worked
like a miracle. She should land under
his protection. and II interfercd with
grim war and all Its horrors would
burst ON the country within two hours.
Thanking him over and over again aud
with tears In her eyes as she repeated
her thanks, the young woman returned
TO her stateroom and made some tri-
ding changes In her attire. Shortly aft
erwari the boat reached Its dock on
the English side OF the channel
Mr.. Hope was ready TO rise to the
occasion, and the girl walked ashore
leaning on his arm. He had cane In
Ne other hand. his monocle In his eye.
and he walked erect He was the Brit
ish empire.
While the baggage was being inspect
ed there was delay that is. others
were delayed. As for Mr.. Hope and
the young woman hanging on his arm.
they walked up to customs inspector.
A card was produced and thrust into
his hand. along with a Bank OF Eng
land note. and there was no inspection
OF the woman's four trunks. II never
occurred TO my lord that girl flying
from enemies would hardly have four
great trunks along with her. lie saw
them loaded into van which was sus-
piciously convenient AMI was about to
hand his protegee into cab and re-
sumo his interrtipted dignity when they