The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-09-05
THE GREYBANk DIAMONDS

Blackacre to Lady Grissell Greybank,
''and if not, why not?' He had re-
Gently answered "interroga tories" in
an action against the firm which he
honored with junior partnership;
hence the form of the question which
her ladyship appeared unable to an
swer.
"Of course" she said, with a sigh,
IF you will not help me..''
The assistance she required was the
investment of the funds settled upon
her on her marriage by her husband in
the ordinary shares of gold mine Of
highly doubtful geographical situation.
As her trustee he had declined to ac-
cede to her request, and had suggested
that if season in London was a neces-
sity for her daughters she had better
introduce young American lady into
society in their company and let her
pay the piper. The choice lay between
that and letting 400 Eaton square and
spending the summer at BournemOuth.
II could not ADVERTISE" sighed her
ladyship.
''Of course not, and if you did you
would only be answered by the news
paper people looking for something to
write about. l have the very girl
Miss Loftinia McNease-I know she
wants something of the sort"
What will she pay?" asked her lady
ship. The commercial instincts of her
maternal grandfather, which account
ed for her nephew's success in the city,
were evidently coming out in her.
1.-Two thousand for the season and a
percentage on marriage into the peer
age-that is what 1 shall suggest. You
constitute me your agent; of course l
shall take no commission-fromy YOU
| said Mr.. BIackacre.
us she very dreadful?' said Lady
| Grissell.
"Well, she's American" said her
| nephew; that covers multitude OF
| sins; and till her father died they lived
quite quietly; high tea, you know, and
cooked it themselves. Since l met
them at Florence l expect she got
quite accustomed to a clean plate for
each entree, and she's really very
nice sort of girl"
| "But is she rich?
| Enormously; old McNease died be-
fore he quite realized what pile he
had made, and for years she has had
no mother"
Isn't there some proverb about
being born lucky as well as rich?" said
Lady Grisseu You might put US il
correspondence, and then we will have
an interview; are you sure she is not
very bad?"
"She's an American, my dear aunt
of the plain type, with,-well, We'll
call it an intonation," said her nephew
THE rest you must really find out fol
yourself
AS the business man of the family
he found his relatives little irritat
ing.
What shall you tell her about me-?
said his aunt, meekly, as he took up hi
hat to leave.
Il shall tell her that you combine tn
blood of the oldest families in Eng
land, with the oldest country seat, tn
oldest plate and the most magniicen
diamonds in Bunkshire. know tina
will fetch her. By the way, l fame.
you might, perhaps, get leave of tn
court of chancery to sell these dia
monds, and have the proceeds investe
by your trustees; you'd get an incom
out of them"
Never" said Lady Grissell Grey
bank, turning pale at the suggestion
"Noblesse oblige-I should say nc
blesse defend. if thought you unde,
stood French. or if the commerce.
principles of the city would permi
you to appreciate the honor of you
family"
"Well, it's no good getting shirtl
my dear aunt" said her nephew
''Simple faith combined with Norma
blood is all very well as long as yo
haven't daughters to marry"
Her ladyship gave little sol
"Won't she-won't this young woma
interfere with the dear girls pro
pects?"
"Of course you'll have to give ht
= the refusal if there's belted earl c
offer" said her nephew. That's wh;
she wants: she will hardly look at II
!, since explained to her that was NJ
the Honorable LOTUS Blackacre, ar
even if l was she need not mention
In introducinr me- to her friends"