A Distinguished (!) Stranger.

Evening Star, Issue 8553, 27 June 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Distinguished (!) Stranger.

The ' Clutha Leader' tells a good story of a Mr " Wortley," who has been victimising some people far South to some tune. He allowed it to leak out that he had lost a Email fortune in Auckland while sheepfarming, but that his credit was still good for L 7.000, which would be *t his disposal to invest in a similar speculation. His purpose there was to choose an estate in the district and settle on it. The charm of his conversation and his genial and pleasant ways won the favor of all with whom he came in contact. It further came out that he was Lord Wortley, eldest son of the Earl of Wharncliffe, had been a lieutenant in the navy, and beijg invalided at twenty-four years of age through many and severe wounds, traces of which were shown to various parties, had then gone to college with a view of graduating. However, his evil star still followed hiin, and he., with others of his rank, were rusticated. The owner of Dalvey, however, soon tired of his company, and Lord Wortley left that scene to permanently reside at the leading hotel in the said sequestered vale. While there he was lavish in his hospitality ; received guests and entertained them at dinners, luncheons, and supper parties, all of which were washed down with the most expensive liquors. The guests, needless to say, were highly delighted at being entertained by a real live lord, and swore they had never-met such a boon companion in all their lives. His lordship held afternoon levies, too, at a wellknown local resort, and, like Othello, held his auditors entranced by his moving tales of flood and field. All subjects of conversation cime alike to him. He was specially great on theology, declaring that he had confronted and vanquished in argument various of the colonial bishops and clergy. It was remarked that his lordship at all his entertainments never divested himself of his overcoat. Of course no one ever thought of disputing the iqjvnership of the overcoat in question, and it was'believed to be the bona ride property of the wearer. But the remark caused some une&siness amongst his friendß until the solution—that it was the latest London fashion—was arrived at. Of course there were those sceptical people who said that the state of his nether garments was such as would not permit of the removal of his great coat. It is said, too, that when Lord Wortley made his appearance in at least one of the local places of business, it was the invariable custom of the proprietor to move his hat and hold it in his hand while his lordship did him the honor to remain in hia shop. But Lord Wortley was bent on buying a property, and persuaded the local knight of the hammer to ride out with him to inspect the Fassifern property, which he at once purchased, Brookdale Estate was next inspected, with like satisfactory results to the agent. The former excursion must be a memorable one to the knight of the hammer, taking as it did the greater part of an afternoon in a drenching rain. He was compensated, however, for his lordship was satisfied with the property, and negotiations proceeded so far satisfactorily that it became necessary for the agent to see the owner of the property in question to ascertain hia terms, etc. ; and for this purpose, after sundry telegrama, he took train to Gore. It wa3 Lord Woitley's intention to pay LSCO cash down, the balance at sixty-five days in London. Meanwhile, not only waa his lordship lavish in his hospitality, but came forward with the offer of monetary assistance to the extent of L2OO to a certain local celebrity not the best of marks. This step was a wise one, for it found him a steadfast friend in the manager of the banking institution where the celebrity referred to keep his account. " The man's genuine," said one of them ; " I knew the family well at Home." Meanwhile, too, his lordship was keeping his eye open for a suitable manager for his estate. "Yes, I think you'll suit," he said to one of the applicants; " name your fee." " Well, I think Lib a year and found would be a fair thing," said the man meekly. Then, with a withering look cf indignation, and adjusting his eyeglaß.s, his lordship said : " What! L 75 a year for managing a beautiful estate like that ?" I'll give you L2OO, and say no more about it." The offer was accepted, and the manager begged to be allowed to stand treat for his prospective titled master.

Among the list of his lordship's satellites was the keeper of a livery stable, who maintained a horse for his special use, which he had on trial aB a hunter. No doubt the owner of the horse was glad enough to get it back, although he would have liked better the L2O which his lordship agreed to give for it. A lad had been also engaged at 50a a week to look after his stud and tide his hunters, of which quite a striDg were to arrive the following week. But alas ! his lordship felt indisposed on Saturday evening last, and about nine o'clock he disappeared, no one seemed to know when, where, or how. He vanished, taking with him what appeared to be a large roll of notes; at any rate the luncheons, champagne suppers, etc., are unpaid for. Early in the game he pulled out this roll of notes, intending to pay cash as he went along. "Oh," said the trustful landlord, "you're not goins; away, are you?" "Oh dear no; but I like to pay as I go on," said our titled friend. "Oh, never mind," said the former, "you can pay it all in the bill." "Just as you like," said the latter, and he pnt the huge roll back in his pocket; the huge roll in question being—no one knows what, but sure enough rolled artfully round it was the very note he had got, along with a clean shirt, from a kind friend, who, glad to get rid of him, sent him on his way rejoicing a few days before, Lord Wortley played to win—and win be did.

The last heard of him was that be walked along the railway line to Kelso, but had the misfortune to fall into the Flodden en route. He announced himself at Kelso as Lord Wortley, at present on a visit; and purposing to visit Brooksdale next day, he ordered a buggy and pair to be ready. Next morning he again vanished, having forgotten to liquidate sundry little accounts which he had contracted. Altogether, the incident was a pleasant change in the monotony of up-country life, and though one cannot help feeling sorry for those who, with the jienchant which some country towns people nave for taking strangers under their wing, were so beautifully victimised, those splendid recitations from Shakespeare, Longfellow, etc.,

and the telling descriptions of his fighte with slavers, Bontese pirates, tt hoc genus cmM, will never be forgotten. Tike him to all in all. We ne'er shall look upon his like sgsuir