New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-11
BOB.
A STUPID FELLOW.

OlUl1D FELLOW.
Il always a fool said Bob. "But this
time IL is not my fault What earth can the
4 dldn't want his money or the place! What am
l TO do with them now I've got them?"
that Sea aO ySa w get en dSo of s advice ON
ought ~ be grateful for your good luck instead
OF stSrming and clustering like this. Most men
annum and an estate in one of the prettiest
counties in the kingdom"
Pretty dare say. And not a pack of
Bob. I'D like 10 know what / am to do with
myself. DO | look like one Of the landed gen
tryp Have ever behaved like one. l say ?"
No. l cannot accuse you of that. But it will
come 1t will come. Have some common sense,
Bob; You know you are fond of the place"
SEC he rubbed his hand savagcly through
his thick hair and stamped so vindictivey with
70 open and enguIf him. Hang it - he added,
its not that. IL is the girl am thinking Of"
cynthia? Ah h'ml Yes. it's true. there's
pause fell between us, during which Bob's
honest face grew more and more cross. his assaults
on the unoiiending carpet more energetic and
l scritinized him through my spectacles, partly
sorry for. partly amused by. his perplsXity.
am an old fellow: have met and known in
timatsiy every specimen of the genus young
man. but ! have seldom met one of more
sterling metal than my friend Bob Trevanion
,Dtn .e WAS not not a. genius he was not even
been the first 10 inform YOU he had the reputation
OF being rather stupid than otherwise His father
had wished him to 20 into the Church-a scheme
that was soon abandoned. partly on account of
Hobs reluctance to don the cloth. and partly be-
cause his capabilities were pronounced inadequate
question. And young Hopefus father was be
ginning TO despair OF seeing his son settled in
NE, when by a stroke Of prodigious good luck
BOB electrified himself and his family by passing
the Army examination, If only on a second trial
10 he became Guardsman, and was placdly con-
tent to trot along in life "a stupid fellow
lie was really fond Of his profession, but did not
trouble himself TO work more than he was obliged :
and in the Guards that obligation is not heavy
orc. He never came to the fore anywhere, except
on the hur tln2icld. on such old scrws as he could
afford t. hire his father had quite enough to do
70 keen his son in uniforms without providing
him with hunters we'll.
In spite OF this. there never was such popular
fellow rs Eoh, especially with his own sex. He
was rather too rough and clumsy to please the
women though have heard some who knew him
ultimately. declare that ne was worth fifty of
the smart young men of the day.
For myself. don'f mind owning that loved
the boy, Brains and wit are all very fine in their
way. but give me honesty, pluck. generosity, and
o downright good heart. and / know which /
would trust the farthcSt
Rob could not quote correctly from the classics,
but he could stand mp for the weak and oppressed
against any one. always the first to do n
friend n GOOD turn, and was as tender as girl
over anything tHHI Was nciplcsS or SuHcrl0R.
Like all tie Irevanions, he good-looking,
with fresh Saxon type of beauty. bue-eycd fair.
complcXOned: he stood six feet two in his stock
ings, WAS strong MS lion, with big hands and
feet and u voice that positively rang with jolity
. and good temper. Lastly. he had the shaggiest
head of tawny hair that ever man was cursed
withal, always rough. always like a mop; and
TO return TO our muttOns-on the afternoon during
which the preceding conversation took place,
the said mop Was not improved by having been
rubbed and tortured as an aid to reflection, until
il stood out round lis head like nimbuS.
Bob in shocking bad temper. He had
been growing ftfuly for the last twenty-four
hours 1t WAS about time he relieved himself
by letting of steam j called him into the
smoking room and tried TO encourage condolences,
with hope Of clearing the atmosphere of his per-
The cause of his Dl-humor wac this. He had
come into fortune of 5000 year. aud the
prcttiest old house in Cornwall
Lucky dog!" you will say So he ought to
have considered himself, but he refused to do
so; and perhaps the position in which he found
Ills uncle. the late Squire Trcvanon, of Pensil
Grange, had been the head of the 1revanion
family. lie was a qneer-tempcrad man with
crotcicty notions and the most provokingly un,
mcthodica mind possible 70 conceive. lie married
late in life-not very hnppily Some people
said he was caught which is also vJ my own own
tinuaily ragged and irritatcd his quick temper,
and did her best TO make henpecked husband of
man who had never In hs e ofOoS fe1or con N
another After some years child was born.
vords cannot adequately express the eagerness
with which the SQUIRE awaited this event. To
have a son and heir was the hope Of his life.
II never entered his head that Providence might
The child was a girl sqnally female brat
"a her disappointed father called the unfortunate
little mortal when he heard the news But
have made my will. he wrote to me: y have
left everything possess to young BOD ircyanlon.
Pensi Grange shall never pass into the HANDS OF a
Two or three years later MIS-. Trevanion died.
pnt even the desire % have an heir dld not tempt
4be Squire 10 rcassume the bonds Of matrimony.
As veors passed on and little Cynthia grew up
pretty and attractive. she won q place In her
fnthers heart He proud and fond Of her.
and spoiled her so Unfortunately that KIND friends
shook their heads and pcophesicd stormy future
for her Once ] ycnturcd 10 ask the Squire II he
still adhered - his resolution OF leaving the estate
TO his brothers son. Bob.
swcll no." he confessed 1.-THE girl is n good
Girl and appreciates the place as no one else could
DO ] think OF making fresh will: The fact is.
she ought 70 marry Roberts boy. Bob. Pll have
him down here and scc what he is made Of
Rut alas for Cynthia before the Sqire took the
trouble OF altering his will. death upon him.
Tie had always hated business matters. and like
mary eifc-lv men was confident Of rivalling the
wears ~ Methusclah and though Cynthia Ind
hcon taltcd Of and treated as his hercss. nothing
lcfrita had hcen done In the way OF making her
80 il tho eyes 81 the law ,
Thus il WAS that my friend Bob fonnd himself,
r. the are OF twenty-six, master OF Pensil Grange
snj n nice litilc income whilst cghteen-y year old
Cynthia was left absolutely penniless, without a
near relation IA turn TO- except the cousin who
ha1 ons,ea her from her inheritance.
Pohs father was dead and the Squire's crustv
temper had not gained him many friends. l
t~Ncvo Y voc tho onlv onc left and wien found