Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-29

everybody was always anxious to oblge hi,
Grace journey of some forty miles brought them
TO their destination On the outskirts of the little town
lay the alotments. They were twelve in number, each
comprising half acre OF land. Three cottages stood
facing the alotmens with their backs to the hghroad
One OF these now appertaned to the Duke
He began to dig at Q 30 AN. His allotment had been
good deal neglected, and the ground happened TO be
hard. Presently he found himself afflicted with acute
sensations in the back He began to wonder what men
on alotmens did when they felt tired thought struck
hil-a Renaissance of his wide and curious reading
Observing small girl seated on the railing which bor-
dered the alloments, he approached her.
Child, said he, kindly " be good enough to go to the
nearest public-house and fetch pint of four af"
w eres your money!" said the child.
The Duke had been too realistic; there was no money
in his pocket He returned his abors Che had prom
ised himself to be Independent of Frank for at least
three hours) with a sigh; the little girl laughed scorn-
fully, and then performed somersault The Duke
not quite pleased
By twelve o'clock his back was very bad and his hands
bsered his corduroy trousers were cutting him at the
back Of the knees Also il had begun to rain
have the sensation wildly enough for the -noment.
will return TO the cottage and have lunch, he said
himself, throwing down his spade He had turned up
considerable amount Of earth and had found some veg
tables amongst it; he not very clear what they
He picked UP his coat put and begun nstinctivey
10 feel for cigarette. No case was to be found.
ooh, confound that Frank" said the Duke rneclan-
caIly.
=" Who wouldnt?" munbled the Duke, who was lust
wiping his brow (Which like that of the blacksmith
in the poem) with large and painfully rough pocket
handkerchief"
What"
The voice was very sharp It recalled to the Duke the
necessities of his situation Emerging from behind the
handkerchief he found himself in the presence of tall
stout lady of mperious demeanor. She wore a skirt
consequentialy ample of shiny black and black velvet
mantle embellished with beads apparently Jet
The Dukes instinct rarely failed him. that was what
would have made him such great Of affairs The
parsons wife " he thought to himself without
ments he hesitation Then he cast about for his wsest
"Why aren't you at work." the lady demanded
I do be Of a-workin'" said the Duke "Leastaways
do be of Just 'avin done it" He clung to his be"
with no small confidence.
Where do you come from?"
"Zummerzett,' said he
You talk in a funny way. When did you come
The Duke felt sure that he ought not to say Last
night" Accordingly he replied, "Yuser-een."
The lady looked suspicious. You're seeking employ
ment?"
suddenly-and opportunely-the Duke remembered
be" he said wondering if his face was dirty enough
Church or chape?" she asked, sharply.
CharGh," answered the. Duke And, by happy
Whats your name5" With the question she pro-
dueed little notebook and pencil
Dew he began, thoughtessly He stopped. A
barren invention and mind acute to the danger of hest
tation, combined to land him in Devvle."
Devil? That's very odd name"
My feyther's name afore me-, affirmed the Duke,
who felt that he playing his part rather we'll though
he regretted that different initial consonant had not
occurred to him
The lady surveyed him with long and distrustfu
glance.
The Duke had not taken beer for years-not even in
the morning Nav" he replied with touch of i'll
dignation.
!" I wish was sure of that" she remarked
The Duke, himself regretfully (or, has been
the digging had changed his feelings towards beer)
wondered at her suspicious disposition
well shall You're in my daughters dis
trct She will come and YOU"
'Vurry good. marin" said the Duke,
Are you marrled!
"You live alone, them"
6 S%y 4 i. s 6J DpSf sd rSsdted %I got brother arm
" A pair Of yOu ! think" she remarked rather dis
concertngly, as she turned and marched off.
The Duke returned to his cottage and decided over
pint Of hook and bottle Of setter that he had
out Of the interview with much credit
On his walk through what proved to be exceedingly
pretty country the Duke rneditated, in admiration
mingled with annoyance, on the excellent organization OF
his arrival the instantaneous zeal for his moral welfare,
argued much that good lthe Duke determined to
say few words about 1t in the House of Lords) but,
the other hand, it certainly rendered more difficult
his experiment in the Simple Liic-tO say nothing OF
necessiatng his adventurous excursion into the Somer
She is probably actuated," he concluded, "by
groundess fear that shall resort to the Nonconformst
Seven o'clock found him seated before his brightly
furnished dining table The table of deal but it was
covered with damask decked with silver, and orna-
tte and fell to cheerfuly on Monsieur Alphonses
ons. These sudiously rural in their character
Watteau-like confections Monsieur Alphonse
dreaming of the Petit Iranon
The cottage was not large; the sitting room was in
close proximity 70 the door A sharp rap OF somebody's
knuc<es on the door startled him Just as he was finish
ing his first glass of C1ambern lie in dem-toHeHc
"a dress jacket and black tic 1t should be added that
although daylight persisted outside the blind of the win
dow was carefully drawn down
The knock was repeated rather impatenuy.
SCa11od t,
lated
I'm on my way your Grace Frank answered put
ting his head into the merely waited to put
blanket my dress coat. Monsieur Alphonsc has got
into bed He looks very natural in his official apron,
your Grace
The next moment the Duke baard the door Of the cot
tage open and of the sweetest voices he had