The morning times., 1896-01-19

| have come In Lady Henrietta's place tht
| morning. She has gone away for a few
] weeks, and she would like you all to know
! it,"
! She looked round the room as she sale
| it, and finally fixed her eyes on the cur
[ ate's frank, simple face.
Il hope" he began, hesltatingly, "tha
! Lady Henrietta is not i'll. This absence Ii
| so un-unfOrseen.''
Guess not" said Miss Putnam. "shs
isn't i'll, she never was better In her life
but the duchess thinks change will dc
her world OF goud.''
Her grace is very cruel murmured thu
curate.
'Ibeg your pardon" said Claudia, ,blaudIy
II was about to say resumed the cUrate,
turning TO the expectant children, that
as her ladyship is unable to come this morn
Ing, you VIII be deprived 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 Iesson,"
said Claudia, still more blandly. I've prom
lsed Lady Henrietta to give it to them for
her.
The curate had been in the habit of stay
Ing for Lady Henrietta's object lesson
70 keep order for her, he would have said
had the duchess questioned him. So he
stayed TO keep order for Claudia, which was
quite superfluous, for if her manner Of ad-
minlsteriug instruction was not of a 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 spellbnuud.
And when the lesson was over, he had get
into the way OF walking with her adyship
along the school lane and through the park
He escorted Miss Putnam today, because he
wanted to ask how long his iege lady's
! banishmeut was to last.
Il don't know" was Miss Putnam's re-
,aTy- Hao
the Duchess chooses"
The children will miss hersadiy, "moaned
the curate.
Guess we must make itup TO them," said
Claudia, graciously; I've promised Henri
ettato stand as much in the gap US possible"
He gave her grateful look.
When shall l come and give another
object lesson?" she went on. ''Tomor-
row?"
"Oh, no. said the curate, ''tomorrow's
geography day. Her ladyship always gives
a geography lesson on Thursday
SO Claudia put on another bewitching
frock, varied her trinkets, and did her best
with a geography lesson on Thursday, which
was mainly devoted to- a flattering but in
accurate description of TIE United States.
On Friday she wrestled with sums, and by
degrees she learned the whole school routine.
She also visited, under Mr. Gihson's escort,
one or two OF Henrietta's old women.
who he thought, would feel themselves neg
lected in her absence.
Her fiance laughed at her. ''I see what
you're up to-" he said, "or course it's q
tleyer move, but it's rather rough on q
susceptible ass like Gibson
Why do you call him an ass?' asked Miss
Putnam sharply; because his father is q
saddler?"
Its a splendid opportunity for you to
make yourself popular in the parish, dear,
said the duchess. "Of course when you are
mistress here you viii Ike to be popular
among the people
..Isuppose shall. said Claudia, musingly.
But in spite OF her inCpient popularity
she would not have the marriage hurried
on: she was equally deaf 10 the dukes I'M
patience and the duchess hints
There are such heaps or things TO do and
10 think of before anything can be fixed,
she said vaguely. when her tianCe urged the
matter upon her.
We'll, get on with the heaps OF things,
then" he retorted. land don't piffle away
so much time at that coniounded school.
And Lady Henrietta was sun IN banish-
ment IN South Wales.
Finally Miss Putnam's stay at Long!ands
came TO a rather unsatisfactory end, for
she went away TO London leaving the we'd
ding day unfixed and the hangings Tor tue
new drawing room unCEosen-
The day after her departure there were
two letters for the duchess; one from the
curate; the other from Miss Putnam. shs
orened the former first because she feli
more curious as to its contents
Madam it ran, although your grace
did not seriously entertain my proposal for
the hand of Lady Henrietta. feel myself
in honor bound to let you know that my
ewes have been opened to the folly and un-
suitability OF tie marriage for which l
would fain have had your sanction. L
have written 10 Lady Henrietta, explain
ing. as far as | can. tie folly OF our past,
and begging her to forgive me II she be IN
any way a sufferer by our mistake. l am
leaving LOnglauds at once, therefore the
embarrassment OF any further meeting Will
be ayOided-YOuTs faithfully. W. Gibson
The duchess heaved a sigh OF intense
relief. This was. Claudia's doing Claudia
was rIght-down clever girl She mad
certainly spent great deal OF Fdluape
time in treading in Henrietta toots'eps,
hut she had dsenChanted Mr.. Gibson, and
lifted a horrible incubus off the family
shoulders. She was really far too good
for that stupid. muddle-headed son OF hers;
still she. the duchess. supposed that a
title was an infinite attraction TO porn
democrat so things were, after all, not SO
very uneven. Then she took up Claudia's
letter. Dear child, she murmured, as she
broke the seal.
NV dear duchess" she read, and with
each succeeding line her disInayed aston
ishrnent increased: I'm glad l came 10
stay at Longlands before [ took the ire
voCabIe step to the altar don't want 10
say anything nasty or mean' but, really,
never did care about the duke; only ac-
cepted him because I thought you'd made
up YOUR mind to have me for daughter-in-
law: l should have made him perfectly
miserable if / had married him. Mt.
Gibson finds, too, that he made great
mistake in thinking he cared for Henrietta.
He explained 1t all to me. and am quite
satisfied. He and l are going To be mar
ried before Advent. l shan't mind having
a saddIer for father-in-'aw. GourSalways,
CLAUDIA PUTNAM"
The duchess threw the letter across the
table to her son. Read that, SouthdOwn,"
she said: we've got Henrietta out OF her
scrape most splendidly.'
1t really was too hard on the poor duchess.
Her Voice Is for Wnr.