The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-02-12

sees in Henrietta. She amt pretty; |
t'other way about, rather; she's got
no money, and she's years older than
he is. Pm dashed if I'd marry a wo-
man like Henrietta, even if ] was a
saddler's son. I'm dashed If / could
even feel spoony on her.
Miss Putnam looked at him. She
was going to marry a man very like
Henrietta, and she did not feel very
spoony on him. She had accepted
him for sundry reasons, love being by
no means the first or foremost.
''He must be an awfully susceptible
chap" went on HIS Grace, "to lose
his heart to girl like Henrietta.
And he's so obstinate, too, about it;
eeems as if he really cared about her.
l thought, perhaps, it was mostly am
bition-her title and that sort of
thing, you know-and I've offered him
all my influence in the way of a leg-up
to preferment, but he won't hear of
it. Funny thing, amt it Now, if it
had been girl like you, Claudia"
Duchess" cried Miss Putnam, sud
denly interruptiug her lover, 81 have
an inspiration. You just send Hen
rietta away. She can go to Jericho,
or anywhere else, for a month or 80,
and when she comes back the engage
ment will be broken off. I'll manage
it,"
She wouldn't answer any questions.
She said she thought she understood
the exact lay of the land. They might
leave it all to her. So to her it was
left, and the next day Lady Henrietta
was packed off to a married cousin in
South Wales.
The following day, at Lady Hen
riett's customary hour, Miss Putnam
walked INTO the village schoolroom.
She wore a dainty blue cambria frock,
which fitted her as no frock in Hen
rietta's lifetime had ever fitted her.
The little boys and girls opened their
eyes wide to look at her, so did the
school mistress, and so did Mr.. Glib
son, the curate, who was hearing the
whole school in its church catechism.
"Good morning." said Miss Put.
nam, sweetly. 81 am staying at the
Towers have come in Lady Henri
etta's place this morning. She has
gone away for few weeks, and she
would like you all to know it.
She looked around the room as she
said it, and finally fixed her eyes on
the curate's frank, simple face.
81 hope" he began hesitatingly,
"that Lady Henrietta is not ill. This
absence is so un-unforeseen."
"Guess not" said Miss Putnam.
''She isn't i'll, she never was better in
her life, but the Duchess thinks a
change will do her world of good. p"
"Her Grace is very cruel" MUIR
muIed the curate.
81 beg your pardon?" said Claudia,
blandly.
81 was about to say" resumed the
curate, turning to the expectant chill
dreD, "that as her Ladyship is unable
to come this morning, you will be de-
prived of the interesting object-lesson
she generally gives you. I'm sure you
will all be very sorry"
"Oh, they shan't miss their object.
lesson" said Claudia, still more
blandly. "I've promised Lady Hen.
rietta to give it to them for her
The curate had been in the habit OF
staying for Lady Henrietta's object
lesson-to keep order for her, he
would have said had the Duchess
questioned him. So he stayed to keep
order for Claudia, which was quite
superAuous, for if her manner of ad-
ministering instruction was not of a
nature to keep the attention of rest
less children, there were her fascinat-
ing gown and her pretty trinkets, not
to speak of the charm of her face, to
hold her audience spellbound. And
when the lesson was over he had got
into the way of walking with her Lady
| ship along the school lane and through
the park. He escorted Miss Putnam
to-day, because he wanted to ask how
long his liege Lady's Punishment was
to last.
81 don't know" was Miss Putnam's s
reply. "I suppose she won't come
back till the Duchess chooses.
"The children will miss her sadly,
moaned the curate.
"Guess she must make it up to
them, " said Claudia, graciously; "I've
promised Henrietta to stand as much
in the gap as possible. "
He gave her a grateful look.
"'Wnen shall come and give an
other object-lesson? she went on
Tomorrow"
"Oh, no." said the curate; "to
morrow's geography day. Her lady
ship slways gives a geography lesson
on Thursday"
So Claudia put on another bewitch
ing frock, varied her trinkets and die
her best with a geography lesson OF
Thursday. On Friday she wrestled
with sums, and by degrees she learned
the whole school routine. She also
visited, under Mr.. Gibson's escort,
one or two of Henrietta's old women,
who, he thought, would feel them
selves neglected in her absence.
Her fiance laughed at her.
81 see what you are up to, " he said
"of course, it's a clever move, but it's
rather rough on a susceptible ass like
Gibson"
"Why do you call him an ass?''
asked Miss Putnam, sharply, "becausa
his father is a saddler?"
'It's a splendid opportunity for you
to make yourself popular in the par
isb, DEAR" said the Duchess. so
course, when you are mistress here
you will like to be popular among the
people"
81 suppose I shall, said Claudia,