Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-09-14
A Shrewd
American Girl
By HELOISE BRAYTON
Copyright, 1870 by American Press
Association.

was in love with the dukes oldest son
and heir. the Marquis of Middleton
Among the guests at the dukes resi-
lence. Slapper Grange. was Kansas
girl. Miss Edith Brown. the daughter
of one who if be had been titled would
have been called the prince of packers
Miss Brown WAS expected TO inherit II
large fortune. and this was the reason
for her being at Snapper Grange for
the Brentnards were not Ovprburdened
with ready cash. and the marquis wa:
on the lookout for wealthy American
wife.
Now, Miss Brown had no more rev
erence for a title than for member.
ship Of sewing society. She was one
of the kind to see through milestone.
and it was plain to her that the mar
QuiS wanted her for her money, and
Miss Anterior wanted the marquis for
himself.
$50 long as | don't want him my
self unused Miss Brown, why
shouldn't | help this young English
girl TO get him.
Now, there was a skeleton in the
Brentnard closet. The duke, who was
an Old man, was a kleptomaniac. He
was not allowed when in the city TO
20 into the shops without fOotman
to follow him and pay for what he
stole. When the old gentleman upprO-
priated an article the f0otman would
step up to the clerk behind the counter
from which it was taken and say:
Is grace is shopping today. 'Ow
much for the and mirror q Took
II see" the clerk would reply. THAT
one is three aud six
This would be followed up by other
purchases acquired in the same way
and duly paid for by the footman.
There was nothing upon which the
marquis was so sensitive as this mania
of his father He had made every eff
fort to avoid the disgrace, even to an
attempt to shut his father up, but as
kleptonania is not a form Of insanity
that warrants combining -. person in
bedlan the duke maintained his lib
erty.
One morning Miss Brown remained
in her room when the others were down
to breakfast and. being alone on the
floor, went into Miss Athprton's room,
took all the jewelry the poor girl had
carried it 10 the dukes apartment and
slipped it into the pocket of coat she
found hanging in Il closet. Then she
went downstairs TO brea4;faS
After the meal Miss Brown kept Miss
Anterior under observation so that she
might be the first to meet the English
girl after tho discovery of the loss Just
before luncheon Miss Atherton came
out of her room with terror stricken
look on her face Miss Brown was in
the hall.
My Jewels" exclaimed Miss Ather
ton
what of emp" asked Miss Brown.
putting a finger on her lip to enjoin
caution.
They're gone"
Fist! The duke? Yon know his
failing!"
I've heard Of it,
Don't say a word about it. The
marquis would never forgive you"
DO you really think it best?"
81 do"
And | must lose the gpmST
Never mind that: they will come
back TO Won"
That night at dinner Miss Atherton
appeared without q particle Of jewel
ry. The marquis noticed it, but made
no comment. After dinner he Joined
Miss Anterior on the terrace. He
never noticed the absence Of anything
belonging to any Of his guests with
out dreading lest his father had pur
Joined it,
christine" he said. why did you
leave off your jewels today at dinnerY'
"Oh, they're so insignificant" she
said. compared with what the other
ladies wear"
Miss Brown. for instance"
The lady named had that day ap-
poarcd bedizencd with small fortune
In diamonds.
Hers are very handsome"
'Umph! These Americans don't
know when or where to load up with
stones"
When on future occasions the mar
quis noticed that Miss AthertOn still
refralned from wearing her Jewels he
wondered. Then one day Miss Brown
spoke TO him Of the omission.
''She doesn't wear them" said the
marquis. because she's ashamed OF
them"
Nonsense" replied Miss Brown
That's not her reason. She has too
much kindness in her to hurt your
feelings by giving you the true one"
Good gracious. You don't NEAR
they have been stolen"'
81 do
And the theft
Search your fathers pockets"
The marquis made the search ant
returned the jewels. The incident de
cided him on marrying for love o.
money He proposed to Miss Ather