Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-02-08
THE . POOR . DUCHESS.

whole school In its church catchism.
od.morning," said Miss Putnam,
sweetly, "I'm staying at the Towers.
! have come In Lady Henrietta's place
this morning. She has gone away for
a few weeks, and she would IKE you
all to know It."
She looked round the room a. she
said II, and finally nxei her eyes on
the curate's frank, simple face.
II hope" he began, heaitatlngly, "that
Lady Henrietta ID not Ill. This absence
Is 50 un-unforesecn."
"Guess not" said Miss Putnam. "She
Isn't III, she never was better In her
life; but the Duchess thinks a change
will do her world of good"
"Iler grace Is very cruel" murmuretl
the curate.
II beg your pardonY' said Claudia,
blandly.
II was about 10 say" resumed the
citrate, turning to the cxpectant chill.
drcn, "thnt as her ladysliip Is unable
to come this morning you will be dc.
prlved Of the interesting object lesson
she generally gives you. I'm sure you
Will all De very sorry"
ooh, they shan't miss their object les
son." said Claudia. still more blandly.
"Fvc promised Lady Henrietta to give
It to them for her"
The curate Ind been in the habit Of
staying for Lady Hcnrletta's object les.
son--tO keep order for her, he would
have said, had tho Duchess questioned
him. So lie stayed to keep order for
Claudia. which was quite supcrtluous,
for II her manner Of administering In.
structlOn was not Of nature to keep
the attention Of restless children, there
were her fascinating gown and her
pretty trinkets, not to speak of the
charm Of her face, to hold her audience
spellbound. Aud when the lesson was
over he had got into the way Of walking
with her ladyshlp aiong the school lane
and through the park. He escorted Miss
Putnam to-day, because he wanted to
ask how long Ills liegc lady's Danish.
mcnt was to last.
~ don't know" was Miss Putnnm's
reply: II suppose she won't como back
I'LL the Duchess chooses"
"Thc children will miss her sadly"
moancd tho curate.
"Gucss we must make It up to them. 81
said Claudia graclously: "1've promised
Henrietta to stand as much In tho gap
as possible"
He gave her q grateful look.
"When shall como and give another
object lesson" sho went on; "to.mor.
roww
"Oh, no." said tho curate; "to.mor.
rows geography day. Her ladyship
always gives . geography lesson on
Thursday"
So Claudia put on another bcwitchina
ffock. -vuried'her tt1ukets:' and did hei
best with geography lesson on Thurs
day. which was mainly devoted to q
natterlng but Inaccurate description oil
the United States. On Friday she wrcs
tied with sums. and by degrees she
learned the whole school routine. She
also visited. under Mr.. Glbson's escort
ono or two Of Henrictta's old women
who, hc thought, would feel themselves
neglected In her absence.
Her Gancc laughed at her. II see VIVA
You're up to-" he said; "of course. III
a clever move. but It's rnther rough OF
susceptible AS like Gibson"
"Why do you call him an ASST" askei
Miss Putnam. sharly: because bill
father II a saddlcr?"
"lt's q splendid opportunity for 70,
. to make yourself popular In the parish
dear" said the Duchess. "Of course
when you are mistress hero you vii
! like to DO popular among tho people,"
II suppose SHALL" said Claudia
musingly.
, But In spite Of her incipient popular
lty she would not have tho marriag
, hurried on; she was equally deaf to tn
!. Dukes tmpatlcncc and the Duchess
hinr
/. '.y.sere are such heaps Of things to d
I and to think of before anything can b
fxcd," she said. vaguely. when he
: fance urged the matter upon her.
swell, get on with the heap Of things
, then, lie retortcd. ''and don't tribe ava,
, 30 much time ut that confounde'
= school,"
And Lady Henrietta was still In ban
}. lshmcnt In South Wales.
, Finally. Miss Putnam's stay at Long
lands came to a rather unsatisfactor
end. for she went away to London leay
. Ing the wedding day unflxcd aud til
:: hangings Of the new drawing.rO0m IN
n chosen.
Q The day after her departure ther
n We're two letters for tho Duchess-0n
= from the curatc. the other from Mis-
4 Putnam. She opened the former frs
because she felt more curious rs tO Il
+. contents.
|. "Madam." It ran. although you
' grace did not seriously entertain m
|. proposal for the hand Of Henrietta.
q feel myself In honor bound to let 20
know that my. eyes have been opcne
Q to the folly and unsuitability OF til
. marriage for which would fain hav
= had your sanction. l have written
4 Lady Henrietta, explaining. as far as
!. can, the folly OF our past. and begin
y her to forgive me II she be IN any way
: sufferer by our mistake. ] am leavin
Q L0nglands at once. therefore tho en-
|, barrassment of any further meetin
viii be avoided. Yours, faithfully "
Q Gibson"
Tho Duchess heaved sigh Of intens
!. relief. This was Claudia's doing. Cla,
n Ola was right down clever girl. Sll
o had certainly spent great deal of val,
= able time In treading in Henrietta
q Footsteps, but she had dissnchantc