A STRANGE STORY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1109, 3 August 1883, Page 4

A STRANGE STORY.

A story is told at nome which, had it been told a lew months ago, would probably have been claimed as the (vaginal of one of the scenes in “ I ohm the,” wherein the Queen of the Fairies is made to many the sentry at Westminster Palace. A grenadier on guard at Somerset House, London, was recently standing in the gateway, when a lady of mature age, but still uttiaotive and richly diessed, accosted him with handsome eulogies of his martial figure and warm app 'oval of the style in which he protected his Qmen and country in great dynamite crisis. Private Thomas Atkins was natura ly surprised at tins, but bis surprise grew when the lady offered him her hand as a reward for his vai.aut vigilance. The tender was liberally made and took point from the £SO note the fair enthusiast reached foitli. .Before the flittered sentinel could act on this strange proposal, the policemen on doty interposed with a brutal command to move on and not annoy the sentry. Tno lady obeyed with graceful courtesies and wafted kisses at the grenadier till she turned the corner out of sight. Every afternoon this, then unknown, spinster, presented herself, and went through the same form, minus the fifty pound note. She simply entered the gateway, stood opposite the sentry, regarded him with an expression of rapture, addressed him with gestures of ecstaoy, assured him of undying attachment, and then passed away, flinging back sweet kisses from her finger nails. As the sentry is changed ev ry day, the lady’s passion was clearly regimental rather than individual, It has since been found that she is of hi.h fam Jy connection, the sister of a gentleman well-known in society who (lied recently, leaving her a large fortune. She is allowed to pursue her harmless passion, and a crown assembles daily to see the transit of Venus across the march of Mars.