Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-07
THE POOR DUCHESS.

cause ne wanted to ask how long ms hese
lady's Punishment was to last.
Il don't know" was Miss Putnam
reply: Il suppose she won't come Dach
til the Duchess chooses
"The children win miss her eadiy'
moaned the curate.
Guess we must make II up TO tnenh
eaid Claudia, gracious!y; i've promised
Henrietta 10 stand as much In the gap
as possible"
lie gave her a grateful look.
when shall come and give another
object-losson she went on to-no'-
row."
"Oh, no." said the curate, TENOR
rows geography day. Her Ladysnlp al
ways gives a geography lesson on Ihurs-
day"
So Claudia put on another bewitching
/ frock She varied her trinkets ana dld
her best with a geography lessen on
Thursday. which was mainly dfNotei
20 a nattering but inaccurate descrip-
ton OF the United States. on frlday
she wrestled with sums. and. by as
grees she learned the whole school ;ib
tine. She also visited. under marietta's
sons escort, one or two OF h.,'onJd feel
old women. who. he thought abserce.
themselves neglected IN her Il see
Her nance laughed 81 a,d '.of course.
what you're up 10 b,,t It's rather rous"
it's a clever move ike Gibson.
on suscerPoa,u1' call him an ass! asSgu
why DO you sharply; because his
~. I,ufnam, So,
MISS Is a saddler! ,,,,, for Won
faibes splendid opportunity ioI go
make yourself popular IN the palla"'
70 eaid the Duchess. "Of course,
.'hnn Won are mistress here, you VIII
ike TO be popular among the people.
Il suppose l SHALL SAID C'@uuia'
musingly. - ...,,.,,+,
But. in spite Of her incipient popularlN
sbe would not have the marriage hurrlen
an. ebe Voc equally deaf TO the Duke
irnatience and the Duchesss hints.
"There are such heaps Of Things "
do and TO think Of before anytnins 'i
he fixed" she said, vaguely, Wheh H0'
6ance urged the matter upon her.
..NeU get on with the heaps OF thins9'
then" he retorted: "and don't pine a"@s
90 much time at that confounded SIM"
And LADY Henrietta was still IN pan
.shment in South Wales.
Finally. Miss Putnams stay az lons
,ands came 10 rather unsatlside'oiS
nd for she went away to LONDON ieaN
r the wedding-day unilxed' anu en0
1ngings for the new draWihb-rooni '''
hosen. .,.,,, were
,,-, letters for the Duchess-one from the
.,,rste the other from Miss putnam
Sine opened the former first, because sHe
an more curious as TO It's contents
MADAM" It ran. although your Grace
AID not seriously entertain my proposal
for the hand of Lady Henrietta l. zee.
myself In honor bound TO let you kno"
that my eyes have been opened 10 'he
folly and unsuitability Of the marriage
for which / would fain have had your
sanction. ] have written TO Lazy Non
rietta, explaining, as far as l can u.e
foly of our past, and begging her 10
forgive me II she be IN any way O. sur
ferer by our mistake. / am leaving
IonqIands at once. therefore the emhar-
rassment Of any further meeting WI
ne avoided. Yours faithfully, W. Glib
SON."
Fbe Duchess heaved a sigh Of intens.
relief This was Clauda's doing. Claudla
was a rightdown clever girl. Sne hau -, 49,
tainly spent a great deal OF NaluaDle uus
i'm treadng in Henriettas ioolstePsi 40, ~
she had disenchanted Mr.. Gibson ana ny
ed a horrible incubus off the family shout
ders. She was really iar 100 soou lui
that stupid. muddle-headed son or hers'
sfili she 0he Duchess supposed that
,itia was an infinite attraction TO born
democrat so things were, aIter an, hvl
go very uneven Then she took up eau
dia's letter. Dear child, she hhuiHl"ieD'
as she broke the seal , ..,.,.
, NV dear Duchess" she read ana WIN
each succeeding line her dismayed aston
ishment increased; I'm glad came 70
sfsv at Longands before l took the II
revocable step to the altar. l don't want
TO say anything nasty or mean pu.'
! really. | never did care about the Duhe,
J I onlv accepted him because l thought
yoYd made up your mind TO have me
Tor daughter-in. law; l should have made ma
I tnfc ql1 |
I'm Mir Gibson finds too, that he mace
n great mistake in thinking. he cared ior
Henrietta. He explained It al 70 me me
and | am quite satisfied. He and ! are
Going TO be married before Advent.
sban't mind having saddler Tor Q
father-in-law. Yours always Ciauula
/ Putnam $50. .,,.o..- tbe
The Duchess threw the letter across th'
table to her son. Read thal; SCUM S5a,ta
| down" she said; we've got ilsn'le''a
ont OF her scrape most splendidly.
II was really too hard on the pooi
! Duchess.