The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-10

Miss Christine Atherton. an English
girl whose birth had been OF ordinary
parents, was guest at the seat Of the
Duke OF Breninard Miss Atherton
was in love with the dukes Oldest son
ana helr, the Marquis Of Middleton.
Among the guests at the dukes resi-.
hence, Slapper Grange. was Kansas
girl. Miss Edith Brown. the daughter
Of one who II be had been titled would
have been called the prince OF packers.
Miss Brown was expected to inherit
large fortune. and this was the reason
Tor her being at Snapper Grange for
the Brentnards were not oyerburdened
with ready cash. aud the marquis was
on the lookout for wealthy American
wife.
Now. Miss Brown had no more rev.
srence for a title than for member
ship Of sewing society. She was one
or the kind to see through a 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 himy'
Now, there was n skeleton in the
Brentnard closet The duke, who was
an old man, was a kleptomaniac. He
was not allowed when in the city to
go into the shops without a footman
to follow him and pay for what he
stole. When the old gentleman appro-
priated an article the footman would
step up to the clerk behind the counter
from which Il was taken and say:
Is grace is shopping today. 'Ow
much for the and mirror e took?"
Il see." the clerk would reply. THAT
one Is three and 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 10 shut his father up, but as
kleptomania is not a form OF insanity
that warrants combining a person in
bedlam 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 Athertons room,
took all the jewelry the poor girl had.
carried Il TO the dukes apartment and
slipped II into the pocket Of coat she
found hanging In a closet. Then she
went downstairs 10 breakfast.
After the meal Miss Brown kept Miss
Anterior under observation so that she
might be the first TO meet the English
girl after the discovery Of the loss. Just
before luncheon Miss Atherton came
out Of her room with a 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 finger on her lip to enjoin
caution.
They're gone"
"Hist. The duke7 You know bis
failingg
i've heard Of IT,"
Don't say a word about It. The
marquis would never forgive you"
do you really think it best7"
II do"
"And / must lose the gemsT'
''Never mind that; they win come
back TO you
That night at dinner Miss Anterior
appeared without a particle OF jewel
~. 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 bis father had pur-
Joined it.
"christine,'' be said, "why did you
leave Off your jewels today at dinnerT
"Oh. they're SO insignificant" she
said. compared with what the other
ladies wear"
Miss Brown. for instance"
The lady named had that day APP
peared bedizened 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
ouis noticed that Miss Atherton still
refrained 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.
'grhat's not her reason. Size has too
Fe---------~-----