White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-08-17

nlShIy trained conversation naQ per
haps one fault--it was not, strictly
speaking, conversation at all In its
effect or her hearers it rather re.
sembled the contents OF fluently
conventional letter, read aloud.
The circumstances under which
my niece Isabel has left Lady Lyd
iard's house, Miss Pink proceeded
are SO md escribably painful will
go further will say so deeply humil
iating-that | have forbidden her to
refer to them again in my presence,
or to mention them in the future to
any living creature besides myself.
You are acquainted with those Cir
cumstances, Mr. Troy, and you will
understand my INDICATION when
first learned that my sisters child
had been suspected ftheft. l have
with Lady Lydiard She is not a
countess, | believe? Just so. her hus-
band was only baron. | am not &C
quainted with Lady Lydiard, and !
will not trust myself to say what |
think of her conduct to my niece
Pardon me, madam" Mr.. Troy in
terposed. Before you say any more
about Lady Lydiard. | must really
beg leave to observe"
D;,,1y jNir
Il never form hasty judgment
Lady Lydiard's conduct is beyond the
reach of any defense, no matter how
ingenious it may be. You may not be
aware, sir, that in receiving my niece
under her roof her ladyship was re-
ceiving a gentlewoman by birth as
well as by education. My late lament
ed sister was the daughter Of a
clergyman of the Church of England.
need hardly remind you that, as
such, she was born lady. Under
favoring circumstances, Isabels ma
ternal grandfather might have been
Archbishop of Canterbury, and have
taken precedence of the whole House
of Peers, the princes Of the blood roy
al alone excepted l am not prepared
to say that my niece is equally well
connected on her fathers side My
sister surprised will not add
shocked--us when she married a
chemist. At the same time, chem
list is not tradesman. He is a gen.
tleman at one end of the profession
of medicine, and titled physician is
a gentleman at the other end That
is all. In inviting Isabel to reside with
her, Lady Lydiard, | reepat, was
bound to remember that she was as.
sociating herself with young gentle
woman. She has not remembered
this, which is one insult; and she has
suspected my niece of theft, which
is another"
Miss Pink paused to take breath.
Mr. Troy made a second. attempt to
get hearing.
Mr. Troy made second attempt to
get a hearing.
will you kindly permit me, ma
dam, to say two words?'
MOI" said Miss Pink, asserting the
most immovable obstinacy under the
blandest politeness of manner. "You1
time, Mr.. Troy, is really too valuable.
Not even your trained intellect can
excuse conduct which Is manifestly
| inexcusable on the fact of it, Now
you know my opinion of Lady Lyd-
lard, you will not be surprised to
hear that / decline to trust her lady
ship. She may, or she may not, cause
| the necessary inquiries to be made
for the vindication of my niece's
character. In a matter so serious as
this-I may say, in a duty which
owe to the memories of my sister and
my parents-I will not leave the re.
| sponsibility to Lady Lydiard will
take it on myself. Let me add that
am able to pay the necessary ex-
penses The earlier years of my life,
Mr.. Troy, have been passed in the
tuition of young ladies' | have been
happy in meriting the confidence of
parents, and | have been strict in
observing the golden rules of econ
| omy. On my retirement, | have been
able to invest modest a very mod
est, little fortune in the Funds A
portion of it is at the service of my
niece for the recovery of her good
name; and desire to place the nee
essary investigation, confidentially, in
your hands. You are acquainted with
the case, and the case naturally goes
to you. | could not prevail on my
really could not prevail on myself
to mention 1t to a stranger That Is
the business on which / wished TO
consult you. Please say nothing more
about Lady Lydiard; the subject is
ineXpressibly disagreeable to me. "a ]
will only trespass on your kindness
to tell me if / have succeeded in
making myself understood"
(To be Continued n