New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
POOR SIR JOHN.
By the author of sMrs. Jeningham's Journal

Il almost wonder you are not afraid OF letting
Maud have SO much 10 do with that curate
what with the choir and the school, ana coming
up here to settle parish matters either VITA you
with her. they really do see good deal OF each
other" :,
Sir Hildebrand Courtney first stared in his
friends face as If he aid not understand Wnel
he was saying and then laughed softly IN his
peculiarly refined, pleasant way.
He was remarkably handsome man OF about
served, we'll dressed. His complexion might be
almost too delicate, and the arrangement OF MS
whiskers too perfect, but his nose was signify
hooked and looked commanding. he was an
aristocrat, every inch of him, from the crown OF
his handsome head wherein the slshty gfiT Zwegi
shaped boots Seated in carved oak chair
cushioned with blue velvet. surrounded by all
the comforts Of an elegantly iuInisheo study sTeii
evidence at once Of money and taste, looking
through the open plate-glass doors oil the WINDOW
on his own exquisite flower gardens, and beyond
them, over his own lovely sweep OF wooded park
lie would have made an admirable picture Of an
admirable thing-a real English gentleman. ,
My. dear Markham, he said, with geenu 1,e
think my. girl could forget herself so lar as to
We'll, no, | don't" replied his friend, little
ashamed of his suggestion; only IL struck me
it might be rather dangerous .,..
Again Sir Hildebrand laughed pleasantly.
While his eyes glanced %it9 do manner Te church
spire stood up white in the sunlight from the
hollow below, and slender column or curling
There he lives" said the Baronet, contentedly,
his cotSg With ms b Sae ansv aa a1 S t h
mistress Of that menage, calculating how many
pounds of tea she may use in o month, and per
haps leaving OIL sugar in II because sugar sugar mas
potatoes for dinner, with the possible addition OF
a pudding on Sunday; and having her dresses
made in the village Ia, ha, hal
Both the gentlemen laughed.
NO." continued Maud's father, thoughtfuly ;
there privileges attached to q high position
and there are penalties also; our daughters can
not marry for love unless we take care that they
love the proper person. / hope TO see Maud o
happy wife one Of these days, but she has been SO
brought up that to marry out OF her own sphere,
TO become a poor mans wife, would to her seem
as great an improbability it does to me.
Yes, you have taken great care OF Maud and
she looks and moves glrLqueen, VINO ouShI
not 70 be degraded to lower place ,,
who ought not and could not, Maud, as
she is is not only the result of what have done
for her, but of what my forefathers have done
time out OF mind for their children. What Maud
and / feel is not a personal thing born In us
and for US, IT is legacy handed down through
line OF ancestors untarnished in name and fame; a
race Of which | believe this nineteenth century
representative may say tina. the men are all sans
Sir Hildebrand spoke calmly, without excite
ment, because he gave utterance TO ideas too
familiar TO his mind to cause excitement when
spoken but there was noble look in his face
and in his bright, dark eyes that marked him as
worthy of the race lie praised: A stamp, so to
speak, set on him from his birth, and In some
degree separating him from the herd OF common
men. 80 ,., A.. e..
Courtneys 10 descend from their estate" replied
No. said Sir Hfdebrand. smiling. Il feel
as secure of Maud as Of myself"
morrow remarked Mr. Markham, q little shyly.
What a difference his cousins death has made
He is an excellent fellow, and all the better,
doubt not, for his early hardShips, since he had
in
all Of a sudden. little paragraph in newspaper,
is drowned out in Australia and he is a
baronet with ten thousand year"
And you think he likes Maud? She is to
be second Princess Dagmar, is she not? First
destined TO Sir John, she marries Sir Arthur,
Il hope SO, only without the pain of the
Prinoess's lot She never was engaged or at
tached to poor John, though this marriage was the
wish of my heart and would no doubt have come
about if he hail lived 10 return home His father
and had planned it, and in these cases if fathers
act judiciOuSly they can generally execute their
ut was curious though, that property and title
should go 10 distant cousin, with whose people
there had been such q bitter quarrel"
Yes; and John took the quarrel up, poor
fellow, and hated them all
IN tell you what Courtney, with all respect
TO the dead, think the present man is the better
Of the two"
~ was fond of poor john replied the Baronet
~ knew him from a child-and he was stesdying
down; there was no real harm in him-but for all
that believe you are right. Markham. I'll give
my Maud with safer feeling to Sir Arthur than
i would have done to Sir John"
The king is dead. Long live the king" re-
piled his friend, laughing.
A light step approached over the lawn. and
Maud entered through the glass doors singing and
smiling. tall, slender girl with a pretty.
bright face; perfect figure, and basket of roses
She was faultlessly dressed. every article, from
the frils TO the shoes, being exactly what they
ought TO be. the very type in their expensive Sim
plictiy OF dress for young lady in the country.
The hat that dangled from her arm being one of
Else's best, though the material was coarse straw
and the trimming only bunch Of wild roses.
Look here, Maud" cried her father laughing.
Markham is afraid you may take fancy TO the
curate'
Maud blushed as girls will blush at such re-
marks. but she laughed gay. unembarrassed
"What a shame" she cried "You must not
laugh at poor Mr.. Brown he is as good as gold"
You would not like to be poor" said Mark
ham; =" What would you do if you were, l
WHO would like it?' replied Maud simply.
and nodding her little aristocratic head. 1t
must be dreadful. ! can't think what people do
at all so debasing to be always considering the
prices of things, and higgling and haggling. How
can any mind stand it?'
1T is all habit replied her father: 1T has
pleased God 10 put people in different ranks, and
when they have all their lives been accustomed
10 sordid calculations ii may not make their minds
as sordid as II seems to us II must do"
We'll, | prefer my own rank laughed Maud,
and think it does! 1t can't be good for the
mind 10 darn stockings and to calculate how many
weeks O caSR OF peer, COMMUNICATIONS many gal
Ions was. it papa fought 10 last. as Mrs. James
did the last time we called on her"
Sir Hildebrand Courtney looked at his lovely
daughter with happy smile. as secure in her
future as in her present and with a profound GER
tainty that she could never too lightly lie mid
the lilies and feed on the roses Of life"
"There is something degrading he said, " fOI
any 20 take upon herself voluntarily, the cares
and drudgery of poverty, for those who are placed
In that position il is diffeTent and if they make
poverty respectable, ] respect them. But fol
those born TO higher things. voluntarily 70 degrade
themselves 10 the meaner side Of life. not only
do not respect. but | despise them. | could not
forgive child of mine who married out Of heI
own rank. She would not only lose my
affection and good opinion. but could not forgive
her"
Maud laughed sauciy.
Don't defend yourself before you are attacked
dear papa" she cried, dropping him little curtsey