That the poor young woman in the steerage had been
the young Duchess of Hamptonshire was never publicly disclosed.
Hill had no longer any reason for remaining in England, and soon
after left its shores with no intention to return. Previous to his
departure he confided his story to an old friend from his native
town--grandfather of the person who now relates it to you.
A few members, including the Bookworm, seemed to be impressed by the
quiet gentleman's tale; but the member we have called the Spark--
who, by the way, was getting somewhat tinged with the light of other
days, and owned to eight-and-thirty--walked daintily about the room
instead of sitting down by the fire with the majority and said that
for his part he preferred something more lively than the last story-
-something in which such long-separated lovers were ultimately
united. He also liked stories that were more modern in their date
of action than those he had heard to-day.
Members immediately requested him to give them a specimen, to which
the Spark replied that he didn't mind, as far as that went. And
though the Vice-President, the Man of Family, the Colonel, and
others, looked at their watches, and said they must soon retire to
their respective quarters in the hotel adjoining, they all decided
to sit out the Spark's story.
DAME THE TENTH: THE HONOURABLE LAURA
By the Spark
It was a cold and gloomy Christmas Eve.
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