Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1896-02-07

inspiration. You Just send Hen ing
:" - girl
t1....a away. She can go to JericnU,
or anywhere else. for month or so,
and when she comes back the engage.
ment will be broken of. 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 married cousin in
South Wales.
The following day, at Lady Hen
riett's customary hour, Miss Putnam
walked INTO the village schoolroom.
She wore 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. 30 did the
school mistress. and SO did Mr.. Glib
son, the curate, who was hearing the
whole school in it's church catechism.
"Good morning." said Miss Put
nam, sweetly. "I am staying at the
Towers. I 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 i'll. This
absence is so un-unfore
"Guess not" said Miss Putnam.
"She isn't ill, she never was better in
her life, but the Duchess thinks a
change will do her a world of good. "
"Her Grace is very cruel" MUIR
mu1ed the curate.
81 beg your pardon?" said Claudia,
blandly.
81 was about to say" resumed the
curate, turning to the expectant chill
drep, "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
superfuous, for if her manner of ad-
ministering instruction was not of q
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, ia
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 banishment was
to last
81 don't know" was Miss Putnam's
reply. ~ 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. T."
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 always gives geography lesson
on Thursday"
So Claudia put on another bewitch'
ing frock, varied her trinkets and die
her best with geography lesson or
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 fance laughed at her.
81 see what you are up to, +" he said
"of course, it's clever move, but it's
rather rough on susceptible ass like
Gibson"
"Why do you call him an ass p
asked Miss Putnam, sharply, "because
his father is a saddler?"
"It's splendid opportunity for you
to make yourself popular in the par
ish. DEAR" said the Duchess. 30
co~rse, when you are mistress here
you will like to be popular among the
people.
81 suppose I SHALL" said Claudia,
musingly.
But in spite of her incipient popu
!arity she would not have the marriag,
hurried on; she was equally deaf te
the Dukes impatience and the Ouch
ess's hints.
"There are such heaps of ta.as > {,
do and to think of before anything
can be fixed," she said vaguely whel
her fanee urged the matter upon her
"Well, get on with the heaps o
things, then," he retorted, "and DON
piffle away SO much time at that con
founded school,"