Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-04-21


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 1adyship 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 die!" she
moaned. 1.-THE dearest, kindest, noblest
friend-Miss Balderstone, he is dead!'
The gentle lady soothed the girls
passionate outbreak Of grief. and she
had no hesitation in taking from her
unresisting hand a letter which she
read with much surprise and disgust.
DEAR KATE; You will be shocked to hear
that my brother, Sir Harry GrahaIne, died OF
jungle fever on the 9th Of January last at Kist-
nun, town in the GhautS mountains The diff
fculty OF communication prevented the sad
news reaching al an earlier date. Lady Scar
borough agrees with me that under the circum-
stances you had better delay your preparations
for leaving Miss BalderStone for the present.
Yours sincerely, HoNoRIA GRAHAME."
What does it all mean?' Miss Bladder
stone asked herself. But she added,
II will soon know" and, not trusting
herself again with pen, she sent
verbal message that she would wait on
Lady Scarborough at the hour men
toned in her letter, a breach of social
etiquette which caused that grand per-
sonage much righteous indignation.
When, however, Miss Balderstone's
neat brougham drew up at the door of
Scarborough house, the Respondent hall
porter, on reading her card, confessed
that Ger led'ship his at 'ome" and called
a footman to summon the groom Of the
chambers to conduct her to the blue re-
ception room.
Both of Harry Grabame's sisters were
in mourning-not,o of course, in grand
state. but in the embryo modification
of Grape and cashmere.
80 good Of you to come" simpered
Honoria.
For of course we could not leave the
house to call on you." my lady ex-
plaiped.
But Miss Balderstone cut their com
plinzents 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 i'll! 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 a high-strung,
sensitive girl to receive such COM
munication as yours without being
FRUSTRATED" Miss BalderS.one said, in
dignantly.
''Oh," Miss Honoria SMITH,. 81 sup
pose you think she ought to have been
shown more consideration, but you are
not acquainted with all the particulars
of my dear brothers sad death"
''Or, that he died without making
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 a difference in
her prospects" the schoolmistress said,
spiritedly, II fail to see how it puts her
out side the pale of Christian sympathy.
| Her loss has come upon her so sud
| denly"
Really Miss Balderstone," Lady Scar
| borough said, severely, 81 do not think
| it is necessary to carry the manners of
~
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 it de-
serves in the outside world. Nay, do
not go. We have much to discuss yet.
| You see Kate is fortunate to have fallen
into your good graces, while I am
obliged to confess that she has failed to
| no SIiohfnSf interest in the
hearts of either my sister or myself"
"Nor do believe that anything more
need be done for her." chimed in her
ladyship ''She has 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
rails. for what she has will be quite
fitted to her new sphere-and with a
few pounds in her pocket. she is better
equipped to start in the world than half
the girls of the middleoclasses who are
left orphans at her age"
"What can she do?'' Miss Balderstone
pleaded, sacrificing her personal indig-
nation to the chance OF securing some
| provision for her favorite pupil.
Brought up as she has been, it will be
doubly hard for her to face the world,
and
"Oh, do not think, Miss Balderstone,
that we ever approved of poor Harry's
wickedness-I can call it by no other
name-in placing the girl in such ri
diculous position"
.'But now the mischief is done, sure
ly-"
1--WE wash our hands of the consc-
quence. Kate must act quite independ-
emily of Us. Let her go out as gov
erness, or even lady's maid. am sure
that the duchess of Ripon at Cowes
last summer had quite an accomplished
girl in her service, and should think
such life much preferable to that of a
preceptress, who in the social scale is
somewhat in the position of Ma
hornets coffin in the cave of Mecca
floating between earth and Heaven
the servants hall and her mistress
| drawing-room."
LADY Scarborough" Miss Balder
stone said, rising as she spoke, IF the
governess of your own children evel
enters the heaven of her mistress
drawing-room am afraid she will be
disappointed with her glimpse OF para
disc"
And having fred this broadside. the
pluclzy little woman took her departure