Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-30
CHAPTER XVII.


Miss BalderStone, I've knowed thee
for wen-nigh fifteen year, an never
thought thee'd ha' turned the little
maid adrift to win her way IN this big
wilderness of a London. WI never a
friend to help her hold her pretty head
above water, an dangers meetin' her at
every step. I tell zee, never thought
thee'd done il. marm-'
The speaker was John Barlow. who
stood by the side OF q low pony car
riage talking to lady, his honest face
aglow with anger.
Good gracious, Mr. Barlow" replied
the lady, quite taken aback by the
yeoman's ungracious reception, for she
was on visit to a friend IN the neigh
borhood and had driven over to make a
call at Willoughby farm. quite uncon-
scious Of the yeoman's sentiments re
garding her conduct 'sWhat do You
mean? Are you speaking Of that un-
fortunate girl. Kate Grahame?"
81 be- was the stolid reply
''And do You mean to say that You
think have treated her badly?-'
II do
ssThen, you know nothing about the
case, or you would not say so. 1 am al
most too provoked with you to offer
you an explanation; but 1 know what
an honest, good-hearted, stubborn man
you are. and
Here Miss Balderstone's voice became
a little tremulous and tears forced
themselves into her eyes, an expression
Of emotion which considerably discom-
posed the tender-hearted farmer.
Dang it all, marm," he said. bluntly,
'doan't begin bellerin', for cannot
<<aIl ma
two words what has become of the
maid, an If you dunnot want to aid her
youSen, put it into an honest mans
power to give her helpin' hand"
II do not knov-but, oh, Mr. Bar
low, You nust-1ou shall hear what L
have to say"
s'WeIl. marin. If II Aull ease thy con-
science to tell thy story, say thy say
wi'Out more ado, an let me gan home
to my dinner"
Miss Balderstone's face flushed with
Indignation
"A year ago she left my house at
Kensington of her own free will-nay,
L might almost say surreptitiously,"
she began.
II dunnot know what srrreptitiously
means, but If it means that Kate Gra-
hame did anythin' to shame her, wun-
not believe it of the lass-so, there
you've got it,
81 mean that she left unknown to
me-"
cam hadna thee done nothin' to make
her think her biding WI thee wasna
agreeable?"
"We certainly had a little trouble,
cordial as usual"
MAY be bold enough to ask the
cause of the trouble?'
''You may. Mr.. Colburn, the emil
Dent solicitor of Lincoln's inn, had
taken great trouble to secure position
for her in Canada. and at the last mo-
ment, she fatty refused TO start or to
give any explanation of her obstinate
conduct
Sensible lassi Old England was
good enough for her; bless her little
heart, like her ten times better for
settin' her pretty face agen a journey to
Turin parts"
But you forget. Mr.. Barlow, that
Kate Grahame had to make her way IN
the world, and
s.Ah, marin, see-thee made her feel
that-an' that's why the sweet maid
left thee
.'Oh, Mr. Barlow, how can you be so
cruel to me? L tell you loved the girl
like my own sister, and. though was
angry with her and might have said
some unkind words in my rexation, I
never thought
''That herd a had the spunk to take
thy sneers in earnest Like woman.
thee did ma think that word can cut
as sharp as a whip-thong-but, tell me,
did thee hear nothin' of the poor lass
since her went away nigh on a twelve
month agone?7
Yes about a month ago my maid
met her in Kings road, Chelsea, and
she gave her an address N the neigh
borhood- She said that the poor child
was looking SO wan and miserable
that
THAT what?-
That got the better of my pride
and wrote to her imploring her TO re-
turn to my roof"
thee did, marin, Well, that was
hearty o. thee, an more like what I'd q
thought Miss Balderstone nd done.
Well, what did the maid say?7
''She never answered my letter, and
Of course after such contemptuous treat
ment could not"
''Of course thee couldn't, Ny. what
heap Of dignity goes to the makeup
OF even the best OF women But VIII
thee give ne the address, for nayhap-
pen 1 shemot be SO easily angered by
her"
Willingly. Mr.. Barlow. and, hope
you win be more successful in restoring
the young lady to a proper frame o.
mind than have been Perhaps, after
what has passed. you may deem 1t in
pertinent If 1 ask after your wife and
daughter
This was IN Miss Balderstone's highest
style of 8Iinervalike dignity
..Thee knovzest viii not Wife De-
borah be fair to niddlin', an Nellie. my
little Neilie's goin' to be married"
How exultingly the farmer gave this
! latter piece of information
Aye he added. Ito be married to
two hunderd an forty acres OF the best
arabic land i the county of Surrey
Surely Miss Balderstone said.
smiling through her chagrin- s.you are
not making a sacrifice of your daughters
happiness-you speak so strangely
about her marrying the laTad2''
TO De coS1INUED-