The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-05-28

y SllRNIF' quite edifying tc
any Ameri n Il
among us all; for how could VIC com.
prehend, in this land of freedom and
equality, how very much beneath nv
Lady Grace the handsome farmers
son was felt to be by her? 1t needs
to be born in old England, or in some
other land where titles are respected.
and pedigrees remembered at every
step, to understand her feeling.
While she talked to him, she pitied
him for his lowly estate. She knew
that he had had advantages that few
farmers sons were allowed He was
IN educated man, and handsome
one. She acknowledged him her
physical equal and mental superior
but, oh how much she felt above him.
just because she was Lady Grace and
he plain Gilbert Acres, yeoman! Yet,
In her motherless babyhood his
mother had nursed her.
She hal not understood that she
was Lady Grace then, and this, her
foster brother, had been her play
mate. But Mt last the widower took
his daughter home, and governess
and host Of toadyIng servants taught
her her Importance. and Gilbert learnt
to know his place; but not before GER.
tain soft emotions taught him the
danger of forgetting it.
Loving her, he stood opposite her
carriage and listened to her, and
"kept his place"
Her aifectation was graceful, her
supercilious face Il pretty one, and
she had won his heart when her six
teen schoolgirl years had not quite
spoiled her.
Twenty-one years belonged to her
now. She was in society, and her
scorn of common people was intense.
1t seemed right enough to Gilbert
that she should show him by her
mighty air the broad chnsm between
them. Gilbert understood it very
we'll and the quiet respect of his
"Good-day, my LADY," proved it.
But when the pony carriage had faded
out of sight, aud when there was no
one near to see or hear, he uttered n
prayer: "Let me be man enough to
crush this love in my bosom. Teach
me to forget her !"
Patty Whimple could have said
Amen to that prayer, had she heard it.
she had always liked Gilbert so. Lady
Grace watched Patty often from her
high-backed pew in church, and
thought what bold creature she was
to try so hard to attract man who
did not even heed her
Gilbert was just the dirt beneath the
feet of my Lady Grace, You know
but lie was far superior to that coun-
try hirt. He had an education and OK
cellent manners.
Patty hated my Lady Grpce for her
naughty ways, and Lady Grace dis
liked Putty for stepping sout of her
place and over-drcssinQ, md not be.
cause of Gilbert. On, mol
AS she drove on rhomeward, past
the farmers well titled fields toward
the mortgaged lands of Lord Cuth-
bert, the Lady Grace said to herself,
what n pity it was that no man in her
set haze Gilbert's beauty and Gilbert's
wit, and Gilberts grace aud goodness
and what a pity It was that he was so
very poorly born
How pleasant it used TO be when !
was little school girl, TO go to the
old farm and talk TO Damo Acres. "
she sighed, "and TO ride the donkey.
What a nice boy Gilbert was, and how
kind TO me I almost wish | were a
farmers daughter, and not a lady.
I'm sure ] wish / were IL little school
girl again
But she was my Lady Ggaco, nud
oh
That evening Lord Happcrcraw came
to dine with them, mud there were
also the Duke of -, and the Hon
Orable Mr.. Spader, and other titled
ladies and gentlemen md the con.
versatiou turned on marriage, and
some one said that Gas lady always
fell or rose TO the social level OF her
husband, a mesalliauce was much
worse for her than for n gentleman :"
and how very true That was, thought
Lpdy Grace.
That night, when the moon had set,
nnd all tho company gone home, Gil.
bert walked under the window OF the
chamber whore she slept, rs Romeo
walked under that Of juliet; but she
knew nothingof it.. Only she dreamed
Of nina strange, wild dream.
She thought that she was in chr.
riago with Lori Hnppcrcraw, aud
that she woro satin anil pearl, and
that tho coachmau and footman were
bedccked with white favors and that
across the road lay some one cast
down, and my lord babe the coach
man drive on and he did so, and then
With horror she leaned over The car.
Eioge side and saw the face Of Gilbert,