The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-04-28

Balderstone which he asserted required
an immediate answer, and then, Us If
struck with an afterthought, produced
another addressed to Miss Grahame.
The schoolmistress' brow clouded as
she pcruscd the lines addressed to her.
"Lady Scarborough presents her kind
regards to Miss Balderstone and would
be exceedingly obliged If she would call
upon her this afternoon ut three o'clock
to meet Miss Grahame and discuss o
matter Of the deepest consequence"
"Well, my Lady Scarborough" Miss
Balderstone muttered to herself, II did
not think even your chronic impudence
would have carried you as far as that"
and forthwith in little futter of indig-
nation she ran to her desk and penned
the following caustic reply:
"Miss Balderstone presents her kind
regards to Lady Scarborough and she
will be at home at three o'clock this af-
ternoon, when she will be glad to re-
ceive her ladyship and Miss Grahame to
discuss the matter OF consequence al
luded to in"
She had Just got thus far with her let
ter when the door was burst open and
Kate Grahame, wild with grief. flung
herself into the teachers arms.
''Oh, I shall die! shall der she
moaned. "The dearest, kindest, noblest
friend-Miss Balderstone, he is deadr'
The gentle lady soothed the girls
passionate outbreak Of grief, and she
had no hesitation in taking from her
unresisting hand letter which she
read with much surprise and disgust.
"DEAR KATE; You will be shocked TO hear
that my brother, Sir Harry Grahame died Of
Jungle fever on tho 9th of January last at Kist-
mum, q town In the Ghauts mountains The diff
f!culty Of communication prevented the sad
news reaching us at an earlier date. Lady Scar
borough agrees with me that under the circum-
stances you had better delay your preparations
for leaving Miss Baldcrstono for the present
Yours sincerely, HOHoRIA GRAHAME."
"What does it oil mean2" Miss Balder-
stone asked herself. But" she added,
II will soon know" and, not trusting
herself again with q pen, she sent q
verbal message that she would wait on
Lady Scarborough Mt the hour men
toned in her letter, q breach of social
etiquette which caused that grand per-
sonage much righteous Indignation.
When, however, Miss Balderstones
neat brougham drew up at the door of
Scarborough house, the resplcndent hall
porter, on reading her card, confessed
that ser lcd'ship his ut 'omc" and called
footman to summon the groom of the
chambers to conduct her to the blue re-
ception room.
Both of Harry Grahame's sisters were
in mourning-not, of course, in grand
state, but in the embryo modification
of Grape and cashmere.
$50 good Of you to come" " simpered
Honoria-
"For Of course we could not leave the
house to call on you," my lady ex-
planned.
But Miss Dalderstone cut their COM
pliments short by abruptly stating
''that her visit must be brief, as Kate
Grahame was In no condition to be left
in the charge Of servants"
"What!" Lady Scarborough ex-
claimed. "Kate Ill! What in the name
OF goodness is the matter with her?
She seemed TO me to be particularly ro-
bust and healthy"
"You cannot expect q high-strung.
sensitive girl to receive such oom-
munication as yours without being
| prostrated," Miss Balders.one said. In
dignantly.
"Oh," Miss Honoria shifted, II sup.
pose you think she ought to have been
shown more consideration, but You are
not acquainted with all tho particulars
OF my dear brothers sad death"
''Or, that he died without making q
will,~ added her ladyship.
(Which makes all the difference In
her position" continued Honoria-
"All the difference in the world,
echoed her sister.
Though it may make difference IN
her prospects," the schoolmistress said,
| epiritedly, II fail to see how 1t puts her
outside the pale of Christian sympathy.
Her loss has come upon her so sud-
denly"
Really Miss Balderstone," Lady Scar
borough said. severely. II do not think
1t is necessary TO carry the manners OF
the school-room into the parlor. You
are SO accustomed to criticize In your
own household. that I am afraid you
forget that your opinion Of right and
wrong may not have the weight II de-
serves In the outside world. Nay, do
not go. We have much to discuss yet
You sec Kate is fortunate TO have fallen
into your good graces, while ! am
obliged to confess that she has failed TO
awaken the slightest interest In the
hearts of either my sister or myself"
"Besides," pleaded Honoria, ''she Is
| no lxith or kin Of ours. OF course, It Is
all very proper for her TO deplore poor
Harry's death-it would be very un-
grateful OF her II she did notr-but as
for her being treated rs one Of the fam
lily, 1t Is perfectly preposterous TO dream
OF such thing"
"Nor do believe that anything more
need be done for her." chimed In her
ladyship. "She hns q good education. a
good outfit of clothes-and In this mat
ter cannot but feel thankful that the
admirable rules Of your establishment
preclude the wearing OF costly mate
i rials, for what she has will be quite