Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-12


"And do you mean to say that you
think l have treated her badlyp"
81 do"
"Then, you know nothing about the
case, or you would not say SO. am al
most too provoked with you to offer
You an explanation; but / know what
an honest, good-hearted. stubborn man
you are, and"
Here Miss Balderstone's voice h~,came
. 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
stand woman's tears-just tell me in
two words what has become of the
maid, an If you dunnot want to aid her
yoursen, put it into an honest mans
power to give her a helpin' hand"
~ do not know-but, oh, Mr.. Bar
low, you must-you shall hear what I
have to say"
"Well, marin, If it 'ul1 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.
81 dunnot know what surreptitiously
means, but If it means that Kate Ora
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-"
"An' hadna thee done nothin' to make
her think her biding wi thee wasna
agreeable?"
eve certainly had little trouble,
and perhaps my manner was not rs
cordial as usual"
MAY be bold enough to ask the
cause of the trouble?"
"You may. Mr.. Colburn, the emil
nent 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 lassl Old England was
good enough for her; bless her little
heart, like her ten times better for
settin' her pretty face agen journey to
furrin parts"
But you forget, Mr.. Barlow, that
Kate Grahame had to make her way in
the world, and"
that-an' that's why the sweet maid
left thee"
'Oh, Mr.. Barlow, how can you be so
81 AL T -
like my own sister, and, though l was
angry with her and might have said
some unkind words in my vexation,
never thought"
THAT herd had the spunk to take
thy sneers in earnest. Like a woman,
thee did ma think that a word con cut
as sharp as a whip-thong-but,t tell me,
did thee hear nothin' of the poor lass
since her went away nigh on a twelve
month agone?"
Yes, about a month ago my maid
met her in Kings road, Chelsea, and
she gave her an address in 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, marml Well, that was
hearty o. thee, an more like what I'd q
thought Miss Balderstone ud done.
Well, what did the maid say?"
''She never answered my letter, and
of course after such contemptuous treat
ment l could not"
"Of course thee couldn't! Myl what
heap of dignity goes to the makeup
Of even tho best of women. But, will
thee give me the address, for mayhap-
pen I shamot be so easily angered by
her."
Willingly, Mr.. Barlow, and hope
you will be more successful in restoring
the young lady to proper frame Of
mind than have been. Perhaps, after
what has passed, you may deem it inn
pertinent If I ask after your wife and
daughter"
This was in Miss Balderstone's highest
style of Minervalike dignity.
Thee knowest will not. Wife De-
borah be fair to middlin', an Nellie, my
little Nellie's goin' to be married"
How exultingly the farmer gave this
latter piece of information.
aye" he added, ito be married to
two huuderd an forty acres Of the best
arabic land i the county of Surrey"
Surely" Miss Balderstone said,
smiling through her chagrin, you are
not making sacrifice of your daughters
happiness-you speak so strangely
about her marrying the land?"
mot 1, indeed. Why, there's fine,
young, handsome fellow as belongs 70
the land-Willie Westlake-as her is
goin' to wed of her own dear consent
como next Yule Tide. Precious sight
better than THROWN hersen away on q
frog-eatin' Frenchman, bean't it now,
Miss Balderstone?"
Miss Baldcrstone confessed it was,
and drove away, angry with the farm
or for his plain speech, and yet not al
together satisfied with the part she had
PLAYED in the little drama of Kate Ora