The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-09-05
"Good heavens!" said Lady Grissell

lish customs; she is quite unsophisti-
cated.'
Poor girl!' said Lady Grissell, kiss
ing him on the forehead. II feel SO |
sorry for her. am prepared to quite
like her"
(Which is about as near thanking
me for putting two thou. in her pocket
as the old lady is likely to get" re-
fected her nephew, as he ran down.
stairs.
Three days later her ladyship was
sitting in the drawing-room when the
butler announced:
Miss Loftiuia McNease."
The manner of Lady Grissen Grey
bank as she rose to greet her visitor
was a marvellous com mbination Of aris-
tocratic hauteur with semi-maternal
condescension; and the very charming
young lady who held out her hand
with a diffident smile and becoming
blush of obvious pleasure upon her
face evidently appreciated it.
You need not call me your lady
ship" suggested Lady Grissell Grey
bank, after a few minutes converse
ton, in which she also had been
most favorably impressed. Lady Girls
sell would be more usual; and l shall
call you"
"Loftinia-Lofty for Short" said her
visitor.
Il am sure we shall get on charm
ingly together" said Lady Grissell
You will let me advise you as to your
choice of clothes. What you have on
! is charming-most costly, l am sure;
but"
Il know it does not quite fit,' said
/ her visitor rather uneasily, trying to
see her back in the glass behind her.
"And a pale blue, if may venture to
say so, would be more becoming to
some one slightly fairer," added her
ladyship. You see l have great ex-
perience in such matters"
1t might have been suggested that
Lady Grissell was unselfish in not
lavishing the results of her expert
ence upon herself; her visitor certain
ly gave rather critical glance toward
ner.
but is there nothing that you would
like to say to me-" said Lady Grissell.
II ought to say at once, by the way,
how pleased am that you do not talk
like an American at all"
1t was an unfortunate suggestion,
for it evidently made Miss Loftinia
McNease nervous, and produced in the
next sentence that she uttered mas
atty that was quite alarming. 1t was
only an inquiry about the time at
which the meals of the household took
place, and it was the only question
that she asked during the whole inter
view; but whether the look of horror
that passed into Lady Grissell's eyes as
she answered froze her blood-which II
was quite calculated to door not, at
that precise moment Miss Loftinia Nc
Nease tainted.
1t was not dead faint; there was
nothing undignifed or unpleasant
about it; it could hardly be said thai
!. her features were invaded by an unbe
coming pallor; but her expressive dark
eyes closed, she held perfumed lace
| handkerchief to her rosy lips, and
/ with a low moan sank back in he,
t chair. One of her ladyship's owl
daughters would not have succumbeC
: to indisposition in more becoming
manner than this unsophisticatet
daughter of Yankee mill-owner; i
really was one of the most winning in
, cidents Of the whole interview, ant
l Lady Grissel Grey back bent over he
with the tenderness of a mother ant
t her own smelling bottle in her hand.
| May I lay down?" she murmure'
1 family.
3 You shall lie upon the sofa," whis
t pered Lady Grissell, slightly accentuat
ing the ''lie."
, But some of your swell friends will
l come in," murmured the graceful be
. ing, dropping in the armchair.
r Il will conduct you to my bedroom
and order the carriage to take yo
:, home," said Lady Grissen. 'My mai
= shall help you upstairs.
IF l may be quiet for a quarter c
/" an hour shall be all right think
s can get there by myself; please don
ring, your ladyship-Lady Grissell."
e So she herself accompanied her VI
r stairs, and with her own hand dre'
e down the blind, while Miss Loftinia,
It spite of the gold-topped smelling-bo
It tie in her hand, apparently fainte
v again, with her head on the 1ace-bo
e dered pillow, and her lad yship returne
l. to the drawing-room to send a messae
d to her coachman.
e Ten minutes later Mr.. Lotus Blacl
acre called, and was duly concerned
y learn Of what had occurred.
4. "She is so charming! 7 am SO sor1
D. for her; she looks delicate" said Lad
r GrisselL
al Does she?" said her nephew. "Wel
it Pm glad you like her, anyhow"
If "She is wonderful" said his aun
"If she did not call my friends swell
v, and if she always talked with as litt
v, accent as she did when she was at h
N ease, should hardly know that 81
~ was not English"
women are SO wonderfully adapt
b. ble," said her nephew.
IN Excuse me-" said his aunt; II to
IS them to bring in any letters tn
came. 1 am expecting an answer to /;
( op1yy irrb