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SPARED BY THE HAWK. The Humble Maiden, the Embryo Duke and the Cunning Aunt,

On Wellington-street, just off the Strand, in London, there lived, about twelve yeara ago, a little elderly widow who carried on a small business left by her husband, and found hnppincss in caring for an only and beautiful gi:l, the daughter of a dead sister. Edilh was stud.) ing- art at the school in Kensington, arid every day she went to and fro unattended. On one of tin so excursions' some little accident made her acquainted with a gentleman who was connected with the Botanical Gardens at Kew, somewhere in Kensington. She was for ever meeting this friend, and finally sho took him home to Wellington street and introduced him to her aunt. " George Church " began to be a great favourite in the little shop. He took Edith and her aunt, to Kew, he filled the house with flowers, and he sent a gardener to fix up a ten-foot roof with a veritable bower of roses. Tender passages were occurring between Edith and George, but Edith was prudent, and aunty was watchful. In the meantime a young man, connected with the mechanical part of Drury Lane Theatre, took lodgings with the aunt. Manager George Conquest was getting up a pantomime, but young Roberts found" time, from the busy scene of preparation, to fall in love with Edith. On the opening night he got two places for his landlady and her beautiful niece, and bade them be in no hurry about getting out, as he would join them and take them home. So the two women &tood on the stairs and watched the occupants ot the boxes as they came out after the performance. All of a suddea the sharp-eyed old lady saw a couple of arifetocratic-looking women, attended by a gentleman, emerge from Box 21 on thegrand tier. There was no mistaking the gentleman. He was? George Church, her niece's admirer. She glanced at Edith. That young lady was watching a party in an opposite direction. Aunty kept her counsel, but she went direct* to Mr Roberts when she got him alone and set him about learning who had occupied Box 21. Roberts learned that the Mai-quis of Blandford, now Duke of Marl borough, had occupied it with his sisters Ladies Curson and Majoriebanks. Lord Blandford, so the directory said, had rooms j in South Audley-strcet, and one morning the little widow went quietly around and I asked tor an audience with the prospective duke. As she expected, " George Church " sauntered into the room, and was rather surprised when he confronted Edith's aunt. She told him how she had discovered his name and rank, and begged him to forbear doing her innocent niece the great wrong of a further deception. To his credit, be ifc related, he treated the woman's appeal with sympathy. "I wouldn't hurt a hair of your girl's head," he said ; "the world is full of fail" women who know me and have nothing to lose. Edith Is* bright and amusing, and her ignorance of my condition in life has made her a charming companion ; but I will see her no more, and I give you my word on it." He kept it. Edith mourned her lost admirer and wondered what had estranged him, but time dulled her interest and she came to think favourably of her aunt's lodger. Five years ago she married him. That the old lost friendship was not quite forgotten she showed when she named a bouncing boy "George." "It was such a lo\ oly name.'' That old aunt had an eye to business, for .she sat down and wrote to her noble friend that Edith was happily married and naming little Roberts' after him. Amid all the divorce cases, with their sentimental complications and legal excitements, that hedged him round, the wicked nobleman scemscl to rejoice in possessing one good woman among his acquaintances, for he sent a congratultory letter with a cheque for .^5OO to his godchild ; and Edith heard foi the iir.^t time that the lost "George Church" could be found in the Duke of Marlborough.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAN18871126.2.38

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
690

SPARED BY THE HAWK. The Humble Maiden, the Embryo Duke and the Cunning Aunt, Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 3

SPARED BY THE HAWK. The Humble Maiden, the Embryo Duke and the Cunning Aunt, Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 3

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