New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-29
THE POOR DUCHESS.

ungrudgingly expended on her unattractive prog
eny Her lot had always been hard enough
ever since she had been duchess; even before
her wedding -cake had grown stale she had been
coming with difficulties; brutal difficulties which
II REQUIRED all her strength Of mind to face. ana
now when good share of those difficulties were
laid to rest with her husband. the late Duke. In
the family vault at Longlands now, when she
had ,,,st managed TO retrieve the shattered ducal
fortunes by bringing off the engagement OF her
ugly. dissipated son. the present Duke. to Claudia
Putnam. the richest American heiress OF the
season. now for this blow 10 fall upon her. 1t
was really too bad The only balm 10 her anguish
was that II had fallen at Longlands In the wilds
of Yorkshire and that the whole thing might be
hushed up and hustled into oblivion without any
one being the wiser She had gone 10 Long
lands to recruit after her superhuman expendi-
ture Of energy during the London season; her
only guest was Claudia Putnam. her sons f1ancee.
with whom she was busy planning alterations
and renova:ions for the new regime.
But the moment robbed OF all its SAVIOR by
this horrible catastrophe: this-what else could
she call it?-this dwelling idiocy Of the least
plain and most hopeful Of her six ungany daugh-
ters She would have kept the hateful story to
herself II she could but her heart was too full
for silence: besides Claudia had her fair share
OF Yankee shrewdness-she might suggest a
brilliant solution OF the problem-so. as they sat
over cup Of tea In her boudoir. the Duchess
opened her new trouble to her future daug 1ter-
in-law
"rm afraid Claudia, dear" she began, that
we are going to have serious trouble with Hen
rietta" Claudia was very fond Of the Duchess.
so she tried to look sympathetic though with
Lady Henrietta, who was wrapped up In parish
work who wore impossible clothes, and did her
,a,x. CHI laA M cNmD4thV
ever
Dear me-" she replied. i m sorry 10 near IT,
I hope she's not sick.
Sick repeated the Duchess. u wish she
were, or anything half so sensible. The iact Is
she has been and got herself entangled in most
unbecoming love affair.
Miss Putnam opened her blue eyes very WIDE
and set down her tescup with jerk My" she
exclaimed, "and who on earth has been making
love TO Henrietta?
The Duchess lowered her voice: my dear" she
said impressve!y. cit is Mr. Gibson the cura.e'
She vows she will marry him. Isn't it awful?
Rather awful for the curate." thought Ciauula
70 herself aloud she said, Have ever met Mr.
Gibson?' invita- hin,
here He is not gentleman oo. h,r,or
"Oh in cottages and at the school, You see
she likes parish work. and encouraged htr; !,
catS good example, anu We We oiN e' b" tN
a married curate before. however when Mr.
Gibson came ! never thought Of chaperonhg
her because. you see, he isn't gentien,an, an, ,,,.
But suppose. Henrietta thlhks ne Will i"oNe
her a suitab Bile husband?"
INV dear" cried the Duchess. "she can't pos
,,i~ tbins so WHY his father keeps a saddlers
hnD, Un hasn't been to the university On, it's
altogether dreadful! and she's as OBSTINATE de-
mule about IT. s o.. odr,i,
Young man in a shooting suit. He was PLAIN,
jnsignifcant- looking parsonage with an air OF
extreme self-approval .,,
eve lust been telling Claudia about this stupid
affair of Henrietta s." went on the Duchess
And what does Claudia think about II? asked
the plain young man. who was Claudia accep. s
lover and who deposited his long limbs on the
sofa beside her and tried TO bestow furtlVe
caress on the hand nearest TO him.
al guess I'm pretty well taken by surprise,
said Miss Putnam, drawing her hand out OF her
som l." said the Duke placidly. I'm dashed
III can ina CINE what he sees in Henrietta She
amt pretty; t'other way about rather she
got no money. and she's years older than ne is.
I'm dashed If I'd marry woman IKE ne h1 -
even II was a sadd.ers son. I'm dashed IL
could even feel spoony on heT. - .
Miss Putnam looked at him. She was going TO
marry man very IKE heniei,a anu sne t,d
him for sundry reasons. love being by no means
the first or foremost 49,
.He must be an ewfu1ly susceptible chap
Wen; on his Grace ITO lose his heart 10 girl
like Henrietta And he's so obstinate, too, about
It, if ne really cared about ner' nousm,
perhaps, II was mostly ambition-her title ana
fha. sor, Of thing You knoW-and I've oHered
him all my influence in the way OF a iesrup 10
,,rerernent but he won't hear OF II. Funny
thing. Amt IT? Now, If 1t had been girl Ike
you. Claudia ~ aao,. t.,
Duchess, cried Miss Putnam suddenly v IN
inst eend Henrietta away. She can go to Jericho,
or anywhere else for a month or so, and when
che cores back the engagement VIII De oroKeh
off I'll manage it, you bet
She wouldn't answer any questions. she sald
she thought she understood the exact lie OF 'he
al
he- n was left and the next day Lady henrietta
was packed off to married cousin IN South
Wales. yr,.,.o.s custom.
ary hour. Miss Putnam walked into the village
schoolroom She wore a dainty blue cambric
frock which fitted her as no frock in all Henri
a,,o's lifetime had ever fitted her The little
hovs and girls opened their eyes wide to look
ar her. so did the schoolmstress. and so did
Afr Gibson the curate. who was nearing tno
whole school In its Church catechism.
Good morning" said Miss Putnam sweety
I'm STAYING az the nac aO tbs morning She has
gone away for a few weeks, and she would IKE
YOU all to know It.
She looked round the room as she said IT, ana
finally fixed her eyes on the curate's FRANK
~ hooe," ne began. hesitatlngly, that LADY
yyenrietta is not III. This absence Is so un-un
Guess not" said Miss Putnam. she isn't III.
she never was better in her HE; but the Dacness
thinks q change will do her world OF good;
..IIsr Grace Is very cruel murmured the
curate. 49, D., c,,, ,,.,a,,
81 was about TO say, resumed the curate.
turning to the expectant children that as ll LIE,
I.advship IL unable TO come this morning. you VIII
10 J.nrived OF the interesting ob5ect-lesson she
generally gives you I'm sure you VIII all De
very sorry. $50, 49,. ,o.sor I" sa,a
ruaud,a still more blandly. i've promised
fady Henrietta To give 1t TO them for her
The curate had been in the habit OF saying
,orIadv Henrietta's object-lesson-to keep order
Tor her he would have said. had the duchess
questioned him. SO he stayed to Keep ordes 40. or
Claudia which was quite supernuous ior IL het
manner of administering instruction was not OF