Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-06-30
take that ground" asked Miss sher-

i w. ~~S '~S 1
The girls were puzzled. How dare
this man within the ancestral home of
one Of the British aristocrats speak 81
disrespectfully Of them? Presently
their guide led them into the gallery
of family portraits.
'That old fellow up there was the
Earl of Habersham and became the
first Duke of Elliston. He got rich by
robbery and was made a duke for stab
bling in the back a man the king wish
ed put out of the way"
The girls looked at each other, aston. |
ished at this frankness with regard to
the present dukes ancestors.
THAT red faced man." continued Mr..
ComynS. was the first dukes brother.
He was Il pirate
"a pirate" exclaimed both the girls
at once.
Certainly. That was once consider
ed a very respectable calling. That
n with scars on his face was a rob
Der. He kept up this place by descend
ing into the valley. looting travellers
and returning with his booty"
"Were all the dukes ancestors bad?'
asked Miss Van Tromp.
Most of them. l know all about
the family. Scarcely a good n in it."
"But the present duke is a fine man.
I am told"
5 II should like to know in what way.
: He sits in the house of lords-a useless
) institution-with his hat down over his
eyes, most of the time asleep. When
he is here he is bored to death. When
1 told him that two American girls
wished to see his castle be proposed
to show you about himself, just to
have something to do. l told him it
was my job and he shouldn't take it
away from me"
There was more wonder in the faces
of the young women, and the last
offer a tip.
1.-The castle is a dilapidated old
place. continued the guide, mot
worth preserving. l think the duke
would like to sell it to some of your
American m%illionaires."
"How could he bear to part with
! that which has descended to him
! through centuries?"
II likes London pretty well. With
the money he could get for this rattle
trap place be could enjoy himself very
we'll in London"
How much would he take for it,"
ooh. a matter of f10O, O0O."
\ 'Please tell him that I'll give him
! that for it,"
1t was now MI. Comyns' turn to
look surprised. He made no reply at
\ first. then said:
' From whom shall 1 tell him the
, offer comes"
y Miss Van Tromp took out a card
wrote her London address Oh it anG
> handed it to Mr.. Comyns. They haC
~ by this time gone the rounds and were
N at the, postern. And now the terrible
question of the tip came UP. Mis-:
Van Tromp decided that she would
Vi give one so large that even should theil
II guide be q gentleman he might no1
- feel insulted. She put five sovereigns
into his hand. He took them unwill
=, ingly and thrust them into his pocket.
-. Two days later an invitation came
from the dowager Duchess of Hal
= lowen to Miss Van Tromp and Mis-!
Sherman to dine with her at her Lon
~ don residence. The invitation closet
with these words. You can then tall
y over the sale of Halloween castle wit
my son. the duke"
Miss Van Tromp. whose income TO
~ n year was more than the price sh
~ had offered for the property. was no
Il at all frightened. At first she though
le' she would adhere to her resolution no
~ to mingle with the English nobilit
D. and decline the invitation. but Mis-
Sherman persuaded her to accep1
no They were to sail for America the mex
I'M week, and Miss Van Tromp was nc
lis averse to dining with a duchess S
ne long as it could be done without tn
le- preliminary presentation at court.
OF On the evening appointed they drov
rls to the dukes home. They We're r,
he ceived by the dowager duchess.
mt pleasant old lady, and after a tim
who should enter the room but M
to Comyns in evening dress. He advan'
'u- ed, smiling. to welcome the guests.
ed "My son." said the duchess.
lie, "a younger son" asked Miss Va
of Tromp.
II "No: I'm Ralph Comyns and Duke
re- Elliston." said the gentleman. ''As
'ed told you. I'm a bored man when
eel Halloween. and l passed a delightf1
hour in showing you my pile. But
:ch shall not hold you to the. offer, an
;le- here" taking FIVE sovereigns from h
er, vest pocket. 'is the fee you gave m
'op I really don't think I should have a
cepted it."
yer There was a twinkle in his eye as I
en- spoke.
to II am ready to give YOU a check f,
nat the CASTLE" said Miss Van Tromp,
ich trife ruf1ed at having been deceived.
lie That's just like you Americans" r
piled the duke, smiling. ."There,s not