The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-13

"As Out small one, and had 1t been
large she knew Algernon well enough to he
certain that he would not trouble himssIf n
give any advice or opinion on her affairs nm
less specially asked for it. Besides. it would
not De necessary to have long converse-
ZION on such topic 1t was she who ali
her life had been the adviser. if advice
We're necessary. and she still retained the
haoit or the elder sister. II it were not
that what could it bsl
Mrs Clitheroes private opinion of her
brother had always been that he was rather
poor creature. As far as Bath was con-
cerned ne was socially success. The Cor
oyn estate was well kept up, and he held
MS proper place in the county. If he had
married, and married we'll, as he mi hit
nave done, he might have added another
estate to Corbyn, and become one of the
nrst land owners of the county, but he had
never evlnced the smallest inclination to-
ward the marriage This had at one time
been very sore subject with her until. as
time went on, the advantage to her son
fnlllp, should Algernon always remain
single, overpowered the feeling of regret
that the old name of Corbyn, which had
for SO many centuries held its own in that
part OF Somersetshire, should become ex-
tinct.
Why Algernon should remain single was
question over which she had puzzled for
many years. To marry was the natural
thing for man in his position to do: it was
indeed. almost duty. So long as his father
was alive she could understand his remain
ing single, but not afterward. Rumour
mad never even once coupled his name with
that of any lady. He had never shown the
slightest preference for one over another
and his sister had once said. in a moment of
irritation to her husband, Il believe AIger-
non does not marry because he likes himself
80 much that he has no liking to spare for
any one else."
The thought had occasionally crossed her
mind that he might in his younger DAYS.
when away from home have got into some
ENHANCEMENT, have had some love affair
OF which his friends knew nothing. and n
year or two after his fathers death she
would not have been altogether surprised,
had Algernon at any time announced to
her his intention of marrying some stranger
of whom she had never heard. But that
was ten years ago. Algernon was 40 now,
and, as every one agreed, not a marrying
man, and the succession of Corbin Court to
Philip Cl1theroe seemed assured. Sill. as
she sat there, the thought of the possibility
of such an event as his marrying came
afresh into her mind. What she had wished
for fifteen years ago would be intolerable
now.
ut would be nothing short of a cruel
wrong to Philip" she said to herself; but
no, 1T can never be that; Algernon loves his
own way and his own ease too much to risk
putting himself out by marrying, besides
if he had the least fancy for one woman
more than another l must have noticed it,
for l know everyone he does, and he is at
Bath every day. Still, cannot understand
this note; he drops in here two or three
times week. What can he have to saw
that Is so important that he should arrange
for special meeting in this wayl"
However, as the question would be solved
next day, Mrs. Clitheroe at last gave ND
puzzling over it, aud rousing herself began
to dress for dinner
The next afternoon she drove over to
Corbyn Court. Her brother was in what he
called his study, and there for an hour they
were closeted together. Mr.. Corbyn had
much to say, and although it was seldom
that he was inclined to admit that he could
even possibly be wrong, his tone was
apologize, and he concluded his relation. to
which his sister had listened in stern
silerce, with the admission 81 own that I
was weak"
"Weakl Weak is no word for it." Mrs
Clitheroe exclaimed, in tone of bitter in
dlgnation. ~ consider, Algernon, that YOU
have behaved UNANIMOUSLY. l could not
have believed it of you That Corbyn of
Corbyn Court should fall in love with a
schoolmaster's daughter is astounding: That
he should stoop so low as to marry her is
contemplate; that he should so act as to
lead my son to believe that he should be his
heir is infamous"
Algernon Corbyn made no reply to this
passionate outburst. He had. In fact. ex-
pected it when he made his communication:
and indeed it was in no small degree due to
the fact that he knew how it would be re-
ceived by his sister that he had so long
abstained from making it. The leading
traits in his character were feeling of
pride in his family, for the Corbyns of
Corbyn Court had for centuries been mag
mates in that part of Somorsetshire, and a
shrinking from trouble or uupleasantness of
any kind. He was kind and liberal land
lord; not so much because he really inter
ested himself in the welfare of his tenants
as because it was so much ester to say yes.
than no, when a remission of rent was asked
for on the ground of failure of crops or
hardness of times.
He was a fair man; rather above the mid
die hight. His manner was easy and gentle,
but with a sudden touch of haughtlness
that impressed upon those whom he had ad-
dressed that it was Corbyn of Corbyn
Court who was speaking. He was very
popular in the county; open-handed in his
subscriptions to all the local charities and
institutions, and parsonage of the first
consequence in Bath. Had he chosen to
stand in parliament for that city every one
said that it would be walk over for him,
but he had no ambition that way, or indeed
any other way that gave him trouble, and
was seldom seen on the bench of magis-
trates and not very often at the hunt. AS
one of the younger men at the club re-
marked, "Corbyn only needs one thing to
be a capital fellow-he wants to be more of
a man" and although the remark was con-
sidered as an impertinent one when applied
to Corbyn of Corbyn Court, it was gener-
ally felt that it was not far from the mark.
Mrs Clitheroe differed much from her
brother, the sole point of resemblance be-
tween them being their pride in the family.
With him this took passive form; in her
it was dominant and assertive. Her brother
felt that her anger was not unreasonable.
and from long experience be knew that in
such case it was best to take refuge IN
silence, but upon this occasion he was not
allowed to shield himself thus.
what have you to sayF" she went on.
"You must have something to say. sup
pose it is thing you have been thinking
over for yearsW
"Philip is comfortably provided for" he
said.
"Philip will have enough to live on. He
will not be pauper, though the Clithsroe