The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-05-13


SIT Is very remarkable, Mr.. CoIburn-''
Not a bit of tia mere slip Of the
pen; why, I have been guilty OF the
same error hundred times. You see
he was up in the hills, sick"
''He does not say So"
''Ah, my dear lady, you never knew
Harry Grahame. He was the last man
IN the world to worry others with his
afaiction, especially one to whom he
young lady"
There may be something in that"
Miss Balderstone confessed.
And now that we are upon this sub
ject,' Mr.. ColbuFn continued, in a suave
yet determined tone, may I put you
right on one other matter. You spoke
Just now of this young person as Sir
Harry GrahsHe's ADOPTED daughter.
What do you mean by that? The legal
definition Of the phrase would mean
that he had by proper process OF law
acquired parental rights ever her. No
such ceremony ever occurred, therefore
in the eyes1of the law your friend is no
more to him than the veriest stranger"
THAT may be SO, but for nearly
eighteen years he treated her as his
daughter
And if for eighteen years he had
treated her as his wife, would that
make her SOP The silniie is a coarse
one, and beg your pardon, Miss Bald
crstone."
Then, can you explain to me how it
is So quickly and certainly determined
that he left no will, for am sure he
never meant to leave her unProvided
for?''
''I can. He carried with him a viii
properly drawn up leaving all Of his
dispOsab1e property to this young lady,
but he never signed it. On his death
bed he deplored this fact to the surgeon
Of the Ninth regiment, who had been
summoned to attend him, and whose
testimony I have here, and it was
while this gentleman was hurTying to
the house of an English missionary to
secure his services as co-Witness that
he breathed his last"
''Ah, the fatal blunderl But, surely,
Mr.. C0lburn, the spirit, if not the letter,
of this document should be regarded
It seems to me that his sisters treat
ment of the girl
Pardon me. Let as strip the story
Of sentiment. Lady Scarborough and
Miss Grahame may have acted with re-
unnecessarily harshly, as
you and I may think; but let US ex-
anime the matter in their light. They
are neither OF them wealthy. Their
brother is rich. He does not marry.
They naturally expect to inherit his
he, who has no heirs but them, has
taken a perfect stranger and, with ar
bitrary disregard Of their claims, set
her above them. Would not even you.
who are so generous, smart under such
an injustice?''
you argue their cause Well" Miss
Balderstone confessed but it is hard
on the unfortunate girl"
cit is. Believe me, my dear lady, my
morning my wife and I were discussing
d project for furthering her interests. I
had intended communicating with you
to-day, but your OppOrtune arrival obvi-
Rtes that necessity"
II am sure we shall be grateful for
any suggestions the schOOlmistress
said, a little stiGly, for no woman likes
| to be convinced against her will, and
she had been obliged to acknowledge to
herself that her suspicious were utterly
| grOundless.
''Well, it is this: OF course Miss
/ Miss-by the bye, did the young lady
adopt Lady ScarborOugh's suggestion Of
assuming another name?''
''She did not" This very frigidly.
! ''WeIl then, Miss Grahame-of course
| Miss Kate Grahame-under existing cir
| eumstances must turn to profit the
/ many advantages she has enjoyed under
/ your roof and accept a position where
| her talents viii be appreciated"
| Certainly, though there is no need
| of hurry
''Well, oddly enough, an English lady,
/ daughter of an old client of mine, is
married and settled in Canada, and last
1 week my wife received n letter from
/ her asking her to engage and send out
to her a weli-educated young lady to
act in the capacity of companion. The
/ situation would be 4 charming one, and
the salary she offers is five hundred
dollars a year, equivalent to about a
/ hundred guineas."
81 need hardly say that I accept so
tempting an offer" Miss Balderstone
said gratefully, and went away with the
| full belief that Mr.. Co1burn was several
degrees too good for this vale OF tears.
And that astute gentleman forthwith
telegraphed to George Archer, HYDRA
bad, Hindustan; 1.-THE small piece Of
goods under orders for shipment to Can
ada"