The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-07
THE PRETTY TEACHER.
HER PLIGHT REVEALED THE LOVE OF TWO HEARTS,
ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
Arthur Graves, a young fellow OF about
thirty. owned the small estate of Telli8fOrd

Arthur Graves, a young fellow OF abou
thirty, owned the small estate of Tellisfore
in the Midlands, upon which, unlike man.
landlords, he lived regularly and WORKED
hard to improve the condition OF his ten
ants and laborers, for he took the highest
view of his duty, both as landowner and
Christian and faithfully discharged hi
obligations to his dependents He was un
married, and did not at present seem likely
to enter the .'holy estate" since the ex'
treme seriousness of his nature made hin
anything but agreeable to young ladies
and his income was not large enough Il
gill over this defect.
With the young men of his acquaintance
he was. if possible, still less popular. The
earnestness of his character, his exalted
ideas of duty, and his openly avowed dis
approval of anything in the shape of strong
language or risky illusions, all combined te
repsl them; and they set him down as prie
and hypocrite. To do him Justice, he wa,
neither. He was at least as good as he pro
fessed to be-probably bstter. He ever tried
his hardest to carry out his standard Quix-
otically high, perhaps-of what was right
and many poor man on his estate had
good reason to bless the squire's name.
But almost the only man of his own sta
ton who really got ON with the squire
was his brother Marshall. People used to
remark on this as rather a strange circum'
stance, for in character, ideas and interests
no two men could have been more opposed
Yet. although Marshall, a dashing young
cavalry officer, WAS rather frivolous and de-
cidedly ford of pleasure, he was really a
good fellow" and he had the good sense
to admire and like in, his brother those
more serious virtues which he himself pre-
down to Ieliisford on visit and he hap
pened to be staying there for few weeks
at the time when our story opens.
It was Sunday in July, and the brothers
were strolling back from evening service.
Marshall did not often trouble church with
there he generally went once Sunday to
please his brother.
II say, Arthut,'' he remarked carelessly,
as they walked. "Who. was that uncom-
monty pretty young woman who sat OPP
posite us, just under the pulpit"
'Oh, that is our new schoolmistress Miss
Kinglake," was the reply. ''She is a great
q teacher as she is pretty in the face"
by Jove, them" answered Marshall,
'syour children ought to get laundering
good report from the inspector. One sell
dom sees such face as hers. The large,
expressive eyes-the tiny mobile lips--the
on her face, when in reposa-why, shed
make a perfect study for Ophelia!'
II am afraid that, II you were looking at
Miss Kingslake all the while. you did not
pay much attention to the SERVICE" an
swered his brother.
rather unduly," was the reply. hut really
think had a good excuse. A pretty girl
like that right under ones nose is enough
to take any fellows attention off the ser
especially when that prosy old vicar
ct yours is in the pulpit"
Arthur looked grave, and made no an
swer. He dis,iked to hear religious ordi-
nances alluded to in fiippant or jocular
tone. This Marshall observed, and adroitly
started another subject OF conversation,
which they discussed for the rest of the
way home.
Next afternoon the squire, who waa man
ager Of the village school. had TO go and SEQ
with the impending government inspec-
ton, and his brother having nothing bet
ter to do, strolled down with him to the
schoolmistress' house. They found her in
the garden gathering some roses, for tho
days work was now over. Arthur, whose
low him in station. was very shy and en-
barrassed. slurred over the form of intro
ducing his brother with decided awkward
ness, then fastened to state his business as
briefly as possible. When he had done so
he hurried away to see sick child in q
neighboring cottage, leaving Marshall, who
showed no disposition to accompany him
on that errand, to converse with the school
mistress until he should return. The Young
officer addressed himself to her with an
easy, albeit respectful, grace. For he was
essentially ladies' man. handsome, pol
ished, witty and agreeable; and he Ger
tainly did not know what shyness meant.
Moreover, he was far too we'll. bred to make
Miss kinglake's inferior social position an
excuse for the slightest familiarity of tone.
Indeed. he treated her with just the same
Difference as he would have shown to a
duchess: The schoolmistress, her sensi-
tive nodesty thus left unoffended. while
her vanity was decidedly fattered, listened
with bashful pleasure to the handsome
young mans engaging talk. Always an
agreeable companion, he was now laying
himself out to be especially pleasant, and
the admiring glancts which he turned now
and then upon her lovely face betrayed
something more than mere aesthetic appre-
citation.
Certainly the beauty of the girl (she was
no more) 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 what ever prominent charac-
teristics she might have, firmness of nature |
was not among them.
At the end or about ten minutes Arthur
appeared in sight, and Marshall was OBJ
liged reluctantly to take his departure. DO
litely raising his hat to Miss Kinglake as he !
turned away.
II say" he remarked to his brother. in
the course of their walk home, that schools |
mistress is uncommonly refined, not to saw
for her station. Her accent il |
perfect-quite free from that abominsble |
twang or reckless misuse of the aspirate. |
which 80 often ruins pretty girls In her
rank of life."
''She is quite a lady in manner, converse
lion and feelings" replied Arthur. ST un-
that she is the daughter of we'll
born parents, who have fallen in the world. !
But now, Marshall. l want you to come |
and see the new Aeadingroom which am
building for the parish"
Nothing should like to see better,o his |
brother answered-not, We fear, with en- |
tire truth-and in that direction they
turned their steps.
Now the young officer was of an adapta-
BILE. sympathetic nature, and he had
knack of assuming interest even where he
felt none whatever. Hence, while thew /
we're looking over the half finished build |
ing which was expected to counteract the
of the ale house, and afterward. |
ia the course of their evenings CONVERSE
49, A.