Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-02-08
: + was really very hard on the poo

u toll and labor she had ungrudging.
~ expended on her unattractlve prog.
eny. Her lot had always been hard
enough ever since she had been duch-
ess; even before her wedding cake had
grown stale she had been coping with
difficulties, brutal difficulties which 1t
required all her strength Of mind to
face, and now, when good share OF
those difficulties were laid to rest with
her husband, the late Duke, In the fam.
lily vault at Longlands; now, when she
had tust managed to retrieve the shat
tered duca1 fortunes by bringing on the
engagement Of her ugly, dissipnted son,
the present Duke. to Claudina Putnam,
thc richest American hciress Of the sea.
. son, now for this blow to fall upon her.
It was really too bad. The only balm to
her anguish was thnt 1t had fallen In
Longlnnds, In the wilds Of Yorkshire.
and that the whole thing might be
hushed up and hustled into oblivion
without anyone being the wiser. She
had gone to Longlands to recruit after
her superhuman expenditure OF energy
during the London season; her only
j
fancee, with whom she was busy plan.
ming alterations and rcnovations for
the new regime.
But the moment was robbed Of oil Its
SAVIOR by the horrible catastrophe; this
what else could she call it?--this driv.
cling idlocy of tho least plain and most
hopeful Of her six ungainly daughters.
Size would have kept the hateful story
tohersclfif she could, but her heart was
too full for silence; besides, Claudia had
her fair share Of Yankee shrcwdness--
she might suggest brilliant solution
Of the problcm-s0, as they sat over a
cup Of tea In her boudoir, the Duchess
opened her new trouble to her future
daughtcr.in.law.
"I'm afraid, Claudia, dear" she be.
gan, "that We are going to have serious
trouble with Henrietta" Claudia was
very fond Of the Duchess, 80 she tried
to look sympathetic, though with Lady
Henrietta, who was wrapped up In par
ish work, who wore impossible clothes.
.and did her hair grotesquely, she had
no sympathy whatever.
"Dear met! she replied. "rm sorry
20 hear II; hope she's not sick"
...Sick" repeated the Duchess. II wish
. she were, or anything half 30 sensible.
Tho fact Is. she has been and got her.
self entanRlcd In q most unbecoming
love affair.""
Miss Putnam opened her blue eyes
very wide, and set down her tenc,ill
with a jerk. "Myw she exclaimed
"and who on earth has been making
love to Hcnrietta?'
The Duchess lowered her voice. MY
DEAR" she said, imprcssivciy, ut Il Mr.
Gibson. the. curata She Vows she vii
marry hlm. tsn'tlt AWFUL"
'Rathcr awful for the curate." thought
Claudia to sherself. Aloud she said
"Havc ever met Mr.. GibsonF"
"Certainly not, my dear; VIC do moi
invi,c him here. He 10 not q gentle
man."
"Then where did Henrietta NEE
him;" s
"Oh. In the cottages and at the school
You see. she likes parish work, and
encourage her; It sets such good OK
ample, and we've always had married
curate before. However. when Mr.
Gibson came never thought Of chaper
oning her. because, you see. he isn't I
gentleman"
"But, I suppose, Henrietta thinks h'
will make her suitable husband?"'
"My dear" cried tho Duchess. ''sh,
can't possibly think 30. Why. Ills fathe
keeps a saddlcr's shop! He hasn't beer
to the university. Oh, It's altogethe
dreadful! And she's as obstinate 40 {
mule about It."
She broke on % tho door opened +
admit a young man In shooting sui,
He was q plain, insignlfcant-l0OkInI
parsonage. with an air Of extreme self
approval.
"rve Just been telling Claudia abou
this stupid affair Of Henrietta" wen
on tho Duchess.
"And what does Claudia think abou
III" asked the plain young man. VIII
was Claudia's accepted lover and VIII
deposited his long limbs on the sof
beside her and tried to bestow furtiv
caress on the hand nearest to him.
II guess I'm pretty well taken by sui
PRISE" said Miss Putnam. drawing lie
hand out Of her lovers reach.
'So'm l." said the Duke. placidly
Vim dashed II can imagine what h
secs in Henrietta. She amt pretty
t'other way about, rather; she's got u
money, and she's years older than h
II. I'm dashed II Id marry q wOma
like Henrietta, oven II was saddlcr'
son. I'm dashed II could oven fet
spoOny ON her."
Miss Putnam looked at him. She wa
going to marry a MAI worry like Henr
eta. and she did MT fcci very spoon
on him; she had aAseatcd him for sur
dry reasons, love hsAaS ~ no means tn
first or foremost.
'He must be an asscully susceptible
chap" went on his grace. ITO lose hI
heart to q girl like Henrietta. And he
so obstinate, too, about 1t; seems as
lie really cared about her. l though
perhaps. 1t was mostly aMbitlon--he
title, and that sort Of thing. you know
and I've offered him all my innuenC
IN the way Of leg-up to prcfermen
but he won't hear Of It. Funny thin
aln't It? Now, II It had been girl lik
you, Claudia"
Duchess" cried Miss Putnam, SUE
denly interruptlng her lover. II have q
Inspiration. You just send IIenrictt
away. She can 60 to Jericho. or AM
where else, for q month or 70, and whe