The Van Buren press., 1895-08-24
THE GREYBANK DIAMONDS,

my dear aunt" said Mr.. Lotus
Blackacre to Lady Grissen Greybanls,
'and II not, why not?" He had re.
Gently answered .interrogatories" 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
ii you will not help mel"
The assistance she required was the
investment of the funds settled upon
her on her marriage by her husband in
the ordinary shares Of a gold mine OF
highly doubtful geographical situation
AS her trustee he had declined to &C
cede to her request, and had suggested
that II a season In London was neces
sity for her daughters she had better
introduce young American lady into
society In their company and let hel
pay the piper. The choice lay between
that and letting 400 Eaton square and
spending the summer at Bournemouth
II could not advertise" sighed hel
ladyship
"Of course not, and If you did yor
would only be answered by the news,
paper people looking for something to
write about. 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 hel
maternal grandfather, which account
ed for her nephew's success in the city
were evidently coming out In her.
Two thousand for the season and a
percentage on marriage into the peer.
age-that is what shall suggest. You
constitute me your agent, of course
shall take no commission-from you,
said Mr.. Blackacre.
"Is she very dreadfulT' said Lady
Grissell.
"Well, she's American" said her
nephew; "that covers multitude oi
sins; and till her father died they lived
quite quietly; high tea, you know, and
cooked it themselves. Since l met
them at Florence I expect she got
quite accustomed to q 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 a 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 Grissell "You might put us il
correspondence, and then we will have
an interviews; are you sure she is no,
very bad2'
"She's an American, my dear aunt
of the plain type, with--well, we'll
call 1t an intonation," said her nephew
1.-THE rest you must really find out fol
yourself"
As the business man OF the family
he found his relatives little irritat
ing. -J ~ o
"What shall you tell her about me%
said his aunt, meekly, as he took up his
hat to leave.
II shall tell her that you combine the
blood of the Oldest families in Eng
land, with the oldest country seat, the
Oldest plate and the most magnificent
diamonds in Bunlxshire. know thai
Will fetch her. By the way, fancy
you might, perhaps, get leave OF the
court OF chancery to sell these dia
monds, and have the proceeds invested
by your trustees; you'd get an income
out Of them"
Never" said Lady Grissell Grey
bank, turning pale at the suggestion
"Noblesse oblige-I should say no
blesse defend If l thought you under
| stood French. or II the commercial
principles of the city would permit
you to appreciate the honor OF youl
family" f
"Well, it's no good getting shirty
nv dear aunt said her nephew
"Simple faith combined with Norman
blood is. all very well as LONG as you
haven't daughters to marry" .
Her ladyship gave a little sob
"Won't she-won't this young woman
interfere with the dear girls pros
peots?' f .Re.
"Of course you'll have to give he'
the refusal II there's q belted earl on
offer, said her nephew. That's wha'
she wants; she will hardly look at me
since explained to her that was no,
the Honorable LOTUS Blackacre, and
even II | was she need not mention II
In introducing me to her friends
"Good heavensl" said Lady drisseil'
"You see, she knew the governor
WINS Lord George, and she had no one
hut her lady's maid to teach her ENG
Ii,sh customs; she is quite unsophisti,
Gated" Ggf stS.A,4 ~ ,.,,.
inc him on the forehead. II feel SC
sorry for her, I am prepared to quite
| like her" fEtt4 Ns
.sWh,ch is about rs near thanking
me for putting two thou. In her pocke'
as the old lady is likely to get, re-
flected her nephew, as he ran down
stairs.
Three DAYS later her ladyship was
sitting in the drawing-room when the
butler announced:
"Miss Loftinia McNease.
The manner Of Lady Grissell Grey
b.nk "a she rose togreet her visitor
was a marvellous combination OF aris,
tnoratic hauteur with semi-maternal
oondescension; and the very charming
o,nr ladv who held out her hand
,s,th = difIident smile and becoming
blush of obvious pleasure upon hel
saoa evidently appreciated 1t.