The morning call., 1890-12-11
+" NOBLESSE OBLIGE"


y2zAEs. of about so, owned The small estate
INkY of Tellisford, in the Midlands. upon
which. unlike many landlords. he lived regu-
lary and worked hard to improve the con-
dition of his tenants and laborers, for he
took the highest view of his duty, both as
landowner and a Christian, and faithfully
discharged his obligations to his depend
ants. He was unmarried, and did not at
present seem likely to enter the " holy es-
tate" since the extreme seriousness of his
nature made him anything but agreeable to
young ladies. and his income was not large
enough to gid over this defect.
With 1.-The young men of his acquaintance
he was, if possible, still less popular. The
eanestness of his character, his exalted
ideas of duty, and his openly ayowed dlsap-
proval of anything in the shape of strong
language or risky illusions, all combined TO
repel them; and they set him down as prg
and hypocrite. To do him justice, he was
neither. He was at least as good as he pro-
fesSed to be-probably better. de ever tried
his hardest to carry out his standard
! Quixotically high, perhaps-of what was
right; and many poor man on his estate
had good reason TO bless the squlye's name.
But almost the only man oil his own sta
ton who really got on with the squire
was his brother Marshall. People used TO
remark on this a. rather strange clrcum-
stance, for in character, Ideas and interests
no two men could have been more opposed.
Y ct, although Marshal, n dashing young
cavalry officer, was rather frivolous and de-
cidediy fond of pleasure he was really
good fellow, and he had the good sense to
admire and like in his brother those more
serious virtues which he himself pre-emi-
nently lacked. He often nsed to run down
to Tellisford On visit, and he happened to
be staying there for lew weeks AT tile time
when our story opens.
1t was Sunday in July, and the brothers
were strolling back from evening service.
Marshall did not often trouble church with
his presence except when at Ielllsford, but
there he generally went once Sunday to
please his brother
Il say, Arthur" he remarked carelessy,
as they walked. who was that uncom-
monty pretty young woman who sat opp site
US, just under the pulpt?"
Oh, that is our now schoolmlStresS, Miss
Kinglake," was the reply. She is a great
acquisition to the parish, for she is as good
a teacher as she is pretty in the lace"
by Jove, then" answered Marshall,
your children ought to get d laundering
good report from the inspector. One seldom
pressive eyes-the tiny, mobile lps-the
| sad. 'far-away' expression which noticed
on her face, when in repose-w by, she'd
| make perfect study Of Ophelia"
II am afraid that, If you were looking at
/, Miss kinglake all the while, you did not
| pay mucn attention to the services" an
| swered his brother.
Perhaps l did let my thoughts wander
rather unduly," was the reply. But really
| l think had good excuse. A pretty glrl
| like that right under ones nose is enough to
| take any fellows attention off the sermon
especially when that prosy old vicar of yours
| is in the pulpit
| Arthur looked grave. and made no answer.
| He disliked to hear religious ordinances
| alluded to in a fiippant or jocuiar tone
| This Marshall observed, and adrUitly started
| another subject of conversation, which they
discussed for the rest Of the way home.
Next afternoon the squire, who was man
| ager Of the village school, had TO go and see
Miss klDglake on some matters connected
| with the lnip pending government inspection /;
| and his brother, having nothing better to
| do, strolled down with him to the school
| mistress house. They found her in the gar
| den gathering some roses, for the days
work was now over Arthur, whose man
ner toward girls, especially those below him
| in station, was very shy and embarrassed,
| slurred over the form of introducing his
brother with decided awkwardness, then
| FASTENED to state his business as briefly as
| possible. When he had done so he hurried
| away TO see a sick child in a neighboring
| cottage, leaving Marshall, who showed no
| disposition TO accompany him On that er-
| rand, to converse with the sch0olmistress
| till he should return. The young officer
| addressed himself to her with an easy,
| albeit respectful, grace. For he was essen
| TALLY ladies' man, handsome, polished,
| witty and agreeable, and he certainly did
| not know what shyness meant. Moreover, he
| was far too well bred 10 make Miss Kinglake's
| inferior social position an excuse Tor the
| slightest familiarity of tone. Indeed, he
| treated her with just the same Difference as
| he would have shown to a duchess. The
| schoOimlStress, her sensitive modesty thus
left unoffended, while her vanity was decid-
| edly battered, listened with "a bashful pleas
ure to the handsome yonng mans engaging
| talk Always an agreeable companion he
| was now layi ing himself out to be especially
| pleasant, and the admiring ganceS which
he turned now and then upon her lovely
face betrayed something more than mere
aesthetic appreciation.
Certainly the beauty OF the girl-she was
| no mCre-waS undeniable and it was now
| further enhanced by her heightened color
| But there was Quivering uncertainty about
| the delicate under-lip which seemed to show
! that, whatever prominent characteristics
she might have, firmness of nature was not
| among them.
| At the end of about ten minutes Arthur
appeared i'll sight and Marshall was obliged
| reluctantly TO take his departure. politely
raising his hat to Miss Kinglake as lie turned
away.
II say" he remarked to his brother, in the
course of his walk home, that schoolmis-
tress is unconlmonly refined, not to say
| cultured, for her station. Her accent is
perfect-quite Tree from that abominable
twang or reckless misuse of the aspirate
which SO often ruins pretty glrs in her rank
OF life"
"She is quite lady in manner, converse
| ton aud feelings" replied Arthur. Il I'M
| derstand that she is the daughter of we'll
| born parents who have fallen in the world.
| But now. Marshall, l want you to come ana
see the new reading-room which am build
| ing for the parish"
| Nothing l should like to see better" his
4 brother answered. not fear with irn
| truth, and in that direction they turned their
steps.
Now the young officer was of an adapta-
| bic, sympathetic nature, and he had a knack
| none whatever. Hence, while they were
looking over the half-fnished building
| which was expected to cOunteract the temp
tations of the ale house, and afterward, in
| the course Of their evenings conversation,
he threw himself, with the greatest appa-
rent zest, into all his brothers protected
| schemes and plans. Indeed, lie talked so
ieelingly of the obligations of the upper
| classes to the lower, aud the advantages Of
total abstinence and friendly societies, and
| so fortn, that Arthur, who was the simple st
fellow Imaginable, was quite delighted by
| MarshalPs serious turn, and unburdened
| himself to him Of all his cherished hopes
aud aspirations in a way that he had never
| done before. But all Marshalps interest in
these schemes of moral and social reform
among the villagers was, it must be admit
ted, confn ed 10 words; for while his brother
spent the greater part of the day in work
| connected with them, he himself did not
stir finger to help him. In fact he spent
most OF his time out of doors by himself
seeking such amusement as the simple
country side could afford. And often in the
| evenings, when Arthur was busy drafting
plans of making financial calculations Mar
shall would stroll out alone to enjoy ibis
| cigar al fresco.
One would think that this sort of life must
have been frightfully slow to gay, pleas
ure-loying young soldier. Yet Marshall
Graves did not appear to find it so for he
stayed at Iellisford much longer than usual,
and, indeed, did not take his departure un-
til the expiration of his leave Of absence
made it necessary for him to rejoin his regi-
ment
Arthur was sorry to lose him. For al
though Marshall had not overwhelmed him
with his company in the course of his visit.
he had contriyed to brighten up the rather
somber household by his constant, sprighty