The National tribune., 1882-07-01

'What is the matter with you to-day
Jeanie?" she asks, presently. You look
so pretty-I could just eat you"
"Oh, you goose" Jean laughs. If you
were not sitting there idle, you wouldn't
talk such nonsense. Idleness is the parent
of mischief"
"Well, but-oh, do think you ought to
be the happiest girl in the world. You have
everything beauty, and riches and"
"'Do you call five hundred year 'riches?'"
Jean asks, carelessly "It is quite enough
for me, but it is not generally considered
riches"
Five hundred year? Why, thought
we heard"
May stops, in open-mouthed astonishment
Heard what ?" Jean asks, putting down
the knitting, and looking at her ipquiringly-
"Why, that you had millions" May gasps.
"How did you hear that? Who could
have told you such falsehood?" Jean
asks this with quick, sudden surprise. No
one answers. There is a dead silence in the
room. She sees everyone looking at her,
with surprised glances.
"May, tell me, is it only your nonsense,
or did anyone really think-Lady Shelton,
what does she mean?"
She turns, with sudden appealing look,
oher hostess. But the latter looks as blankly
amased as anyone else and when she speaks,
it is in an utterly bewildered tone.
MY dear, l thought" she says. "Good
heavens, you don't mean to say that-that
your uncle didn't leave you his money!"
" He left me five hundred pounds year.
He thought that was enough for a woman.
The rest of his fortune he lett to his neph-
ewsn
Jean speaks very steadily and clearly.
The words are fatally distinct. Everybody
hears them. Mrs. Fanshawe and her daugh-
ter exchange swift glances of triumph; and
Miss Harrington puts up her eye-glass de-
iberately, and stares curiously at Jean.
There is nothing for Lady Shelton to do
but TO burst into tears, and waddle out of
the room; which she does promptly. Jean
looks around the silent circle, and says with
quiet dignity:
i am very sorry there has been such a
mistaken impression about me. 1 do not
know how it happened"
Never mind, my love-" says kindly Mrs.
Spencer, taking jeans hand. q am sure we
all love you as much as if you had millions.
& L an sure yow dO," whispers Jean, with a
grateful look, and then follows Lady Shell
ton.
Lady Shelton is bitterly mortified and dis
tressed. She is not a reasonable woman; so
poor Jean finds herself treated as culprit,
and scolded, because of Lady Shelton's mis-
take.
You did not tell me he had not left you
his money, when 1 asked you to come here" :"
she sobs, ttetfully.
"You did not ask me about it, Lady Shell
ton. You wrote to me, kindly and 1 was
grateful. 1 thought you were kind to me
because you had been fond of my father"
Jean says, with quivering lips.
ooh so I was. But then, couldn't you
see that if 1 had known you were poor,
would never have wanted to take you
out of your proper sphere"
I might have seen it, but did not, some
how Jean replies, too bewldered to be
angry.
And since you have been here-a1 this
time-when Lord Ellerby and Sir Walter
Wynne have paid you such devoted atten-
tion-dear me, child ask yourself: Would
such men care to devote themselves to
an insignificant little chit, with-a minis
erable five hundred year," sobs Lady
Shelton, quite overcome with wretchedness
and chagrin.
Jean rises up, very pale and very proud.
You are quite right. l have been blind
and foolish" she says, in cold, restrained
tone. =" 1 am quite out ofmy proper sphere
here I thank you and Sir Peter for your
kindness to ME, and am going away, now"
Lady Shelton begins weak expostulation;
but before she concludes, Jean is gone.
Downstairs, there is much futter and ex-
citement about this astonishing discovery.
"I always felt there was something wrong
exultingly, as the door closes after Jean.
at was all Lady Shelton's folly" says
Miss Harrington. Really, the little thing
behaves very nicely about it,"
"Her head has been quite turned I fear.
Dear me, what pity" vaguely laments Mrs
Barton.
They all have great deal to say about it:
all except Lady Wynne, who preserves
silence.
An hour later, there comes a quick tap on
Jean Wardoms door and when her little
maid opens it, there stands Lady Wynne.
"May come in?" she says. Before Jean
can answer, she is in.
81 hear you are going away, child. am
very sorry for it," And she takes Jeans
hand in both hers, and clasps it firmly.
Jean has been crying, but she is very pale
and calm now. You are very kind, Lady
Wynne," she says, in quiet, controlled sort
of way.
81 was commissioned to bring you note,
my dear, and to take an answer" the old
lady continues. I will sit down, and wait
for it. 1 hope you will not refuse any re-
quest you find there"
With trembling fingers, and sudden scar
let spot on each cheek, Jean opens the note,
and reads as follows:
as it possible you are going away? Pray,
come down to the library. l must speak to