DUKE UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 The Glenn Negley Collection 
 of Utopian Literature 
 
JifA^ ^ 
 
A NEW 
 
 ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 "BIRCH ARNOLD," 
 
 Author of " Until the Daybreak." 
 
 BARTLETT PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
 New York : 30 and 32 West Thirteenth St. 
 Detroit, Mich.: 44 West Larned St. 
 
 1891. 
 
COPYRIGHT BY AUTHOR. 
 
 Electrotyped and printed by 
 
 THE publishers' PRINTING COMPANY 
 
 30 & 32 WEST 13TH STREET 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
C^^' 
 
 " Talk about questions of the day. There is but one 
 question and that is the Gospel. It can and will correct 
 everything that needs correction. , . . My only hope for 
 the world is in bringing the human mind into contact with 
 Divine Revelation. 
 
 "Wm. E. Gladstone," 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " Write ye for art," the critics cry, 
 " And give your best endeavor. 
 That down the aisles of length'ning time 
 Your fame may speed forever! " 
 
 "Write ye for truth," my heart replies, 
 "And prove that generous giving, 
 May help some blinded eyes to find 
 The noblest way of living." 
 
 The simple story, plainly told. 
 May bear its own conviction. 
 
 And words alive with buoyant hope 
 May supersede their diction. 
 
 Give me the horny-handed clasp 
 Of some good honest neighbor. 
 
 Who finds within the words I speak 
 A strength for earnest labor. 
 
 Give me the lifted, grateful smile 
 Of some poor fainting woman, 
 
 Who knows that I regard her soul 
 As somethino; dear and human. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Give me the fervent, heartfelt prayer 
 
 Of just the toiling masses; 
 To be remembered with their love 
 
 Your boasted art surpasses. 
 
 And this be mine, whate'er the fault 
 
 Of manner, not of matter, 
 Along the rocky ways of life 
 
 Some living truths to scatter. 
 
 Birch Arnold. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Mr. Murchison was dead. The villagers an- 
 nounced the fact to each other with bated breath as 
 they gazed with reverent awe at the crape on the door. 
 
 " Poor man," they sighed, vaguely sympathetic ; " it's 
 well enough with him now, but there's the children." 
 
 *'Ay, there's the children," more than one respond- 
 ed feelingly. 
 
 Mr. Murchison had been the rector of the small 
 parish of Barnley, distant perhaps a hundred miles 
 
 from the city of C , the great commercial center of 
 
 the West, and having attended faithfully to his duties 
 for a series of years, had been stricken at last with the 
 dread pangs of consumption. Two years of painful 
 waiting had passed away, and now the release had 
 come. Devout, patient, and faithful, who could doubt 
 that it was well with him ? 
 
 " God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," trem- 
 blingly spoke the clergyman who had been summoned 
 to conduct the burial service. " Surely He will so 
 influence the hearts of His people that these bereft 
 ones, these fatherless and motherless children, shall not 
 
8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 suffer from contact with the cold and bitter side of 
 Hfe." 
 
 Comforting words truly,; words that fell, as rain 
 falls on parched fields, upon the benumbed senses of 
 those who wept for their dead ; w^ords that touched 
 the hearts of the little band of parishioners, and made 
 each one wonder for the time being what he could do 
 for them ; words that resulted in offerings of flowers 
 and fruit for one week and — so soon do good impulses 
 die — in comment and unsought advice for another. 
 
 It was a well-known fact that aside from his library 
 and household belongings Mr. Murchison had left 
 nothing. A student and a biblist of rare discernment, 
 he was happiest when deep in abstruse research, and 
 many a dollar of his meagre salary had gone for vol- 
 umes whose undoubted antiquity might help him to 
 the completion of some vexed problem. Sometimes, 
 looking up from his treatise or his sermon, he would 
 glance at Margaret, his eldest daughter and careful 
 housekeeper for the last five lonely years of his life, 
 and think painfully of the time, the dread sometime, 
 that was sure to leave his darlings unprotected. He 
 wished, good man, that he miight have money; not 
 that he coveted the dross of earth, but that it might 
 be the Lord's will to shield his loved ones from con- 
 tact with bleak and bitter poverty. Many a prayer 
 Avas rounded with that earnest supplication, to which 
 he supplemented, always in complete resignation, " Thy 
 will, not mine, be done." But he never saw the 
 earthly realization of his hopes. He always grew 
 poorer; his clothing just a trifle shabbier, the table a 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 9 
 
 little plainer, and Margaret daily more and more put 
 to her wit's ends in the difficult problem of making 
 something out of nothing. But who shall say the 
 faith of a life-time met with no recompense ? Who can 
 declare, with certainty, the blinded eyes saw not after- 
 ward with clearer vision that he had left each of his 
 darlings God's highest riches, a brave human intelli- 
 gence ? 
 
 Margaret Murchison, the eldest of the three chil- 
 dren, was too strongly built, physically and mentally, 
 to be beautiful. It is indisputably true that where 
 nature puts strength she also puts hard lines, and every 
 feature of Margaret's face bespoke the positive nature; 
 quick to comprehend and fearless to execute. Yet 
 hers was by no means a masculine or an ugly face. 
 Though strongly m.arked, there was still an indefinable 
 attraction in the warm depths of her blue eyes and 
 the smile of her mobile and sympathetic mouth. She 
 was, withal, strangely wholesome to look upon ; one 
 of those rare beings, as it came afterward to be said 
 of her, whose faces rest you as calm waters and green 
 fields rest eyes that are blinded with the dust and tur- 
 moil of the city's streets. In figure she was tall, with 
 that breadth of shoulder and hip which indicates en- 
 durance, free and graceful in her movements, apt in 
 her utterances, and unusually keen in her intuitions. 
 At the time of her father's death she Vv^as twenty-four 
 years of age, thoughtful even beyond her years. Hers 
 had been a hard school. Poverty prematurely sharpens 
 wits and generates ambition, and ever since her earliest 
 recollection she had witnessed the daily pinchings and 
 
lO A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 privations of stern necessity. Questioning often with 
 wondering eyes and grave thought, she had early 
 learned to strive against this oppressor of her house- 
 hold ; but the best of effort had only kept the lean 
 wolf of hunger from the door. The father, wedded to 
 abstruse speculation and erudite research, had not that 
 talent for money-getting which is expected of the 
 "working parsons " of country villages; and though 
 the mother had been possessed of uncommon tact, 
 meagreness in every detail of Margaret's physical 
 growth had always confronted her. Not so intellect- 
 ually, however. The bond of sympathy between 
 parents and children had always been strong, and in 
 the communion of thought the barren home life was 
 lifted into realms of peace and plenty. Nobody re- 
 membered how Margaret learned to read. The faculty 
 seemed to come with her growth, like her teeth, and 
 almost as soon as she had mastered the rudiments of 
 reading, her father delighted to feed the grave little 
 head with as m.uch of the mental pabulum upon which 
 he feasted as the infantile brain could digest. Her 
 capacity proved something like that of the sponge, 
 growing receptive in proportion as it was fed, and 
 when at eighteen she was vouchsafed a year of school 
 life at a church institution, she astonished both faculty 
 and pupils by disclosing such an odd mixture of 
 knowledge as no other pupil had ever brought to the 
 school. Latin and Greek were far more familiar to 
 her than fractions, and the geography of the Holy 
 Land an open page beside the study of her own state 
 and its form of government. Her aptitude for Ian- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. II 
 
 guage was wonderful, and her ability for philosophical 
 reasoning much beyond her years. She achieved mar- 
 vels of learning in the one short year, only at its ex- 
 piration to be called away by the sad announcement 
 of her mother's mortal sickness. She reached home 
 in time to comfort the anxious heart with the promise 
 to keep always a home for the loved ones left behind. 
 For five years she had faithfully fulfilled this promise, 
 and now death had come again to take her last and 
 only support. In the moment of her bereavement she 
 did not realize how largely she had been not only self- 
 dependent, but had been the mainstay of the little 
 household. Love makes even the strongest natures 
 yield to its silken leading-strings, and the tie between 
 father and daughter had been no common one. But 
 it was she who had been the prop that upheld the 
 fabric of his life in these weary later years. It was 
 on her brave heart he had leaned more and more ; but 
 she had no thought of what she had given. She had 
 received, ah! who shall count the memories and 
 pledges that loyal love has in its keeping ? 
 
 But the prosaic side of life confronted Margaret one 
 morning a week after she had laid her dead away, and 
 roused her from the apathy of grief that follows even 
 the wildest tempest of tears. 
 
 " Not even time to mourn," she said wearily. 
 "Death comes; but life goes on, and it must beefed 
 and comforted. I must work to drive the cobwebs 
 from my brain and this strange inertia from my limbs. 
 Something to do, some duty that must not be evaded, 
 will heal and strengthen anew." 
 
12 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 These reflections had been induced by a visit Mar- 
 garet had just received from one of the vestrymen of 
 the church at Barnley, who had called with words of 
 condolence and inquiry. He desired to know, if it 
 was not impertinent, what course Miss Murchison had 
 decided upon relative to her future and her family. 
 
 '' I have made no decision as yet," answered Mar- 
 garet wearily; "I have been too absorbed in other 
 things. Why do you ask, Mr. Dempster?" 
 
 " Well — ahem ! — my wife and I had a talk about 
 your — your prospects, and we thought that if — if — 
 that is, we would like to help you, seein' as you're one 
 of our pastor's family." 
 
 "You are very kind," said Margaret gently. 
 
 '' Well, you see," began Mr. Dempster hurriedly, 
 " we've always kind o' liked your folks, and my wife 
 and I was sayin' that seein' as you'd be pretty likely 
 to have a hard time, we'd like to help you out a bit. 
 Now, there's Elsie: she's young, you know, and real 
 bright and smart, and we thought maybe you'd be 
 willin' we should take her and bring her up. She'd 
 have a fust-rate home, you know." 
 
 " Mr. Dempster," said Margaret, ignoring the half- 
 boastful tone in which the last assertion had been 
 made, " do you think I could give away one of these 
 children over vv^hom I've watched for five years, and 
 whom I promised never to leave as long as they needed 
 a home ? No, sir. My life has been hard, as you say ; 
 it may be harder yet ; but as long as I have life and 
 health I shall keep my promise. Besides, you forget 
 that Elsie has not yet finished school." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 3 
 
 '' I know ; but they was a-talkin' it over in the vestry 
 last evenin', and they said they didn't see as you could 
 afford to keep the children in school any more, as 
 your father's salary is, of course, discontinued. You 
 see, it takes money for clothes and incidentals." 
 
 " I am fully aware of that fact, but I have strong 
 hands and a stout heart ; because we are poor and cast 
 down now, I see no reason why we should always be 
 so. Do you, Mr. Dempster?" 
 
 '* No, no, of course not," hastily asented Mr. Demp- 
 ster. 
 
 " Is it the opinion of the vestry that Elsie and 
 Gilbert need no further education ? " 
 
 " Oh, no. They was only a-sayin', as they was talkin' 
 about ways and means, that if you couldn't take care 
 of 'em we — that's Mr. Dodd and me — would take 'em 
 off your hands." 
 
 " I've no doubt that you meant kindly ; but I intend 
 to teach them to take care of themselves, and there 
 is no care equal to that. The parish of Barnley has 
 been very kind ; but I assure you, sir, there is no hap- 
 piness like being independent, and that, with God's 
 help, I mean to teach my brother and sister to be." 
 
 "Then you mean to say you refuse our offers of 
 help, Miss Murchison ? " said Mr. Dempster, bristling a 
 little. 
 
 " Not at all. Indeed, I shall be glad of any assist- 
 ance you can give me in the way of work. You know 
 before my father's health failed I used to make your 
 wife's dresses. I'm a little out of practice now, but 
 I think I could soon get back the old deftness." 
 
14 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 "Why — yes — but Mrs. Dempster sends to C 
 
 now for her work. She says she gets better styles, 
 and takin' all things into consideration, it don't cost 
 such a dreadful sight more." 
 
 Margaret smiled involuntarily. She knew how the 
 Dempsters, from greatest to least, counted the cost 
 of everything, and she knew the offer to take Elsie — 
 dear, sunny-hearted Elsie — off her hands had not been 
 so much a question of philanthropy as gain. Could 
 she so have disposed her heart as to give Elsie away, 
 the bare thought of the drudgery which would have 
 been her portion as maidof-all-work in that household 
 would have been sufficient to deter her. 
 
 "Well, I must be goin','' said Mr. Dempster as 
 Margaret rem.ained silent. " You know they've hired 
 a new parson and he will be here this week," he added 
 from the doorway. 
 
 " So soon ! " exclaimed Margaret with a start. " And 
 — and — you will want the parsonage right away ? " 
 
 " Well, there ain't no particular hurry, I suppose ; 
 but the folks thought it best to give you a week's 
 notice to quit," and having delivered this parting shot, 
 Mr. Dempster said " good-day " hastily and walked 
 out of the gate. 
 
 So soon! so soon! to leave the dear home that 
 spoke so tenderly of those who had gone away! To 
 leave the cozy corner where stood her mother's arm- 
 chair, as it had stood for years, often bringing its 
 memories of the sweet face and gentle hands which 
 had presided over the hearthstone so long ago. To 
 leave the sacred room where stood her father's desk, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I 5 
 
 from which not a paper had been removed since the 
 nerveless hand had dropped the pen in the midst of a 
 sentence of his last sermon ; the room where stood his 
 well-filled book-cases and his shabby furniture, and 
 go — where— oh, where ? asked Margaret's heart in 
 utter anguish. She grew suddenly weak with the rush 
 of memory and regret, and slipped down upon the 
 floor in an abandon of grief. 
 
 The outer door swept open and a young girl, enter- 
 ing hastily, cried sharply as she knelt beside the pros- 
 trate form : '' O Meg ! dear, brave Meg ! what has 
 happened ? " 
 
 " Nothing, Elsie dear. I have only been bewildered 
 of late, and had forgotten that this is no longer home." 
 
 '' Must we leave soon ? " 
 
 "Within a week." 
 
 " It is sudden ; but I knew it must come sooner or 
 later. I am not sorry, either, Meg; for we will go out 
 into the world to work for each other and make a 
 new home." 
 
 Meg shook her head. *' You are brave, Elsie, with 
 the ignorance of youth. You do not know what gulfs 
 lie between your hope and its accomplishment. While 
 I " 
 
 ''You, Meg," interrupted Elsie, ''are wearied with 
 the weight of your burdens, and I must take them off 
 your shoulders and rest you good and long." 
 
 "Oh, confident youth! What a sweet comfort this 
 little rose is to me," and Margaret took the bright 
 face between her hands and kissed it fondly. It was 
 a rose indeed that Margaret raised to her lips. Bril- 
 
l6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 liant with the rich coloring of the brunette, lit up by 
 a pair of dark velvety eyes, a full, red-lipped, delicately- 
 curved mouth, and framed in a mass of black, lustrous, 
 curling hair, Elsie's face was undeniably beautiful. 
 Somewhat petite in form, she was the embodiment of 
 grace in every movement. Naturally hopeful and 
 sweet-tempered, she had been all her life a source of 
 comfort to Margaret. If she felt that she had greater 
 patience, she found encouragement in Elsie's greater 
 hopefulness. If she felt in herself greater power to 
 conquer adverse circumstances, she relied equally upon 
 Elsie's faculty of throwing the best light upon every- 
 thing, and taking trouble as little to heart as possible. 
 Unlike, yet like. Margaret's strength was born of 
 conviction and experience, and duty, her imperial mis- 
 tress, held her firmly to her course. Elsie's courage 
 and cheerfulness were as inherent a part of herself as 
 her ripp-ling black hair or her daintily-fashioned foot, 
 and love was the governing impulse of her life. She 
 would do for love's sake what no amount of cogent 
 reasoning could convince her ought to be done for 
 duty's. She "hated the name of duty," she had been 
 heard to declare with an imperious stamp of her little 
 foot. 
 
 " If one was good, because love prompted her to do 
 all these nice things for other people, wasn't that 
 enough ? And as for ' doing good to those who de- 
 spitefully use you,' she believed the Lord wasn't very 
 angry if you only just didn't do them any harm ! 
 And she felt sure that He would forgive her if she 
 couldnt and zvo2ildnt like the Dempsters." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. If 
 
 All this had happened long ago, and now it came 
 back to them as Meg told Elsie of Mr. Dempster's offer. 
 
 '' The old — gentleman ! " exclaimed Elsie as Mar- 
 garet glanced up apprehensively. '' I was only going 
 to say ' heathen,' anyway," she added mischievously. 
 " Do you think it is my duty, Meg, to accept the offer, 
 and learn under their guidance to be a meek and quiet 
 Christian ? " 
 
 '' My poor Elsie, you will never be a meek Chris- 
 tian, I am sure. Let us hope Mr. Dempster meant 
 well, and so forget all about it." 
 
 ''With all my heart, since I am not going to him. 
 So long as my dear old Meg commands I obey. He 
 needn't have troubled himself about the school, for I 
 don't intend to go back." 
 
 '' Indeed you must. I shall write to Dr. Ely to-day 
 and ask a place for you and Gilbert. You know what 
 our prospects are, dear, that it must be head and hands 
 for each of us, and it behooves us to put as much into 
 our heads as time and circumstance will allow." 
 
 " And you, dear ? " asked Elsie wistfully. 
 
 " I shall find something for my hands to do. They 
 are good strong hands, and they must put bread into 
 that little mouth." 
 
 "What can your hands find to do here ? There is 
 nothing better than sewing or dish-washing. You are 
 fitted for better work." 
 
 " I hope I am ; but it does not follow that I must 
 refuse to do what I can find to do, because I cannot 
 find what I want. If nothing better offers I shall even 
 try the dish-washing." 
 
1 8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 *' O Meg! I couldn't bear to see you so lowered." 
 
 " You misuse the word, Elsie. I should feel that I 
 lowered myself more in refusing the work at hand, in 
 the vain hope of finding something pleasing and gen- 
 teel. Dear little girl, your solemn old Meg wants to 
 disclose to you the prosaic rule by which she means 
 to measure her life. It will seem dry and hard to you 
 in your youth and bloom ; but you must learn some 
 time, and if the bitter tonic is taken early nothing 
 seems quite so bitter afterward. Shall I tell you ? " 
 
 *'Y-yes," answered Elsie hesitatingly, ''only — 
 only " 
 
 " I know. You dislike even to be told that life is 
 uncompromising. Well, then, we'll say no more about 
 it. I see I cannot learn for you." 
 
 " It is not that," exclaimed Elsie. " I am only just 
 beginning to see how you had to forego your youth 
 and bloom to learn for all of us. Tell me all about it, 
 and teach me to be your helper. I am such a lover 
 of pleasure, I never can be strong like you. Tell me 
 how you learned it, Meg." 
 
 " I did not learn to be less than happy. I only 
 learned to do ^vell what lay nearest me, and in that 
 there is happiness. There is the whole dread secret. 
 Rosebud, and if you want me to be epigrammatic and 
 terse here is the formula : Aim high ; mind is the 
 greatest of God's forces. Be honest ; a clean con- 
 science is the best bed-fellow at night. Do cheerfully 
 what lies nearest you ; fortune surprises the faithful." 
 
 '' Diogenes in petticoats!" exclaimed Elsie, all her 
 cheerfulness returning. " Make a dictionary, Meg, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 9 
 
 on the plan that A stands for Apple, and Gilbert and 
 I will not need to go to school." 
 
 *' No, I've tried philosophy enough on you ; you 
 laugh at it." 
 
 ** Not for worlds! Trust me, Meg, to learn it all 
 somewhere on the road to threescore and ten. It is a 
 ' sair ' lesson for one of my temperament ; but if it 
 * maun be ' it ' maun be.' " 
 
 '* I hope your prosy Meg may live long enough to 
 see you safely conning it ; for I feel as if I were born to 
 keep your wings from singeing." 
 
 " What a heroine you are, Margaret Murchison ! 
 I am fain to fall at your feet and worship you." 
 
 " That Avould be foolish. Wait to see at least how I 
 bear the burden and heat of the day. You may have 
 to reverse your opinion." 
 
 "Never! Even if you sit with idle hands the rest 
 of your days. But to go back to our muttons. What 
 are we to do ? " 
 
 " Write to Dr. Ely," answered Meg, rising to her 
 feet. '* Bring me my writing-desk, Elsie." 
 
 ^' On one condition," said Elsie, placing a hand on 
 either side of Meg's face and looking pleadingly up 
 into her eyes : '' write please for Gilbert. Let me stay 
 with you." 
 
 " No, Elsie. Education will be worth everything to 
 you. You cannot be successful without it." 
 
 *' Then teach me yourself. Dr. Ely said you had a 
 wonderful mind." 
 
 " Good friable soil for seed ; nothing more. I have 
 but a handful of knowledge and that would soon 
 
20 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 be exhausted. I cannot consent to your leaving 
 school." 
 
 " I'll not /eaz'e — I'll never go back," said stubborn 
 Elsie. " Don't look so reproachful! This much I am 
 decided upon : while you drudge I drudge, so that's 
 said, and I isn't a-gwine to unsaid it, nuther," she added 
 roguishly, imitating the negro dialect and attitude. 
 
 ''Obstinate little girl! I perceive I must bring my 
 desk myself." 
 
 " No, no, Meg," and Elsie sprang to the door. 
 '' Only promise! " 
 
 *' It is your good I seek, child." 
 
 " I know it; but let m.e be unselfish this once. It 
 may be my only chance of redemption." 
 
 ''You shall have your way," said Margaret with 
 eyes suffused with tears. 
 
 " Dear, good Meg," exclaimed impulsive Elsie, 
 throwing her arms round her sister's neck. " We'll 
 cling together. You shall be the oak to hold me up, 
 and I'll be the ivy to keep you warm— and green! " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 21 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 " Meg, I've an idea! " exclaimed Elsie several morn- 
 ings later, as Margaret returned from an unsuccessful 
 search for a house, as well as work at the hands of 
 Mrs. Dempster and several other ladies of the parish. 
 
 ''I'm glad to hear it. Ideas are good things to 
 have," said Margaret, wearily dropping into a chair. 
 
 "Of course you haven't found work, or anything 
 else but advice, have you ? Well, this is my idea : let 
 us go away from Barnley." 
 
 "O Elsie!" 
 
 " I know it's hard ; but we'll starve on advice. It's 
 cheaper than beefsteak, of course; but it is somewhat 
 weakening after one has breakfasted, dined, and 
 supped on it. Let's go away and dig for a living. See 
 what I found this morning," and Elsie drew from her 
 pocket a newspaper clipping of late date, and read 
 aloud an advertisement : 
 
 ''For Rent: A small house at Idlewild, with three 
 acres of ground well supplied with small fruits. Only 
 thirty minutes' ride on dummy to city market. Rent 
 cheap, or will sell at reasonable price. Call at Harris 
 & Smith's, cor. Vine and Tenth Sts., C ." 
 
 " Meg, let's go and see it." 
 
 "Why, Elsie, child, how is it possible?" 
 
22 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 ''This way. Maybe I'm visionary, but I've an idea 
 that we can make enough money out of the place to 
 pay the rent and keep us. See here : ' only thirty 
 minutes' ride on dummy to city market.' Now, three 
 acres of ground, if good for anything, ought to raise 
 potatoes." 
 
 '' Admitted. Go on with your proposition." 
 
 " Potatoes zui//i salt constitute a very fair living for 
 a hungry man ; witJioiit salt they keep starve to death 
 away — ergo, let's plant potatoes! To be serious — 
 I've thought of this. It is now February, and we'll 
 need to make haste. We've raised our own potatoes 
 in the parsonage garden for years, and good ones, too. 
 Why not raise double the quantity somewhere else 
 and sell the surplus ? The small fruits advertised may 
 be worth cultivating, too. You are a splendid amateur 
 gardener — everybody says so ; and there's Gilbert — to 
 be sure, only a boy ; but a boy is good for some things 
 sometimes — and I consider myself capable of being 
 taught. Now, I've sketched the outlines of Eutopia, 
 and you must fill in the shading." 
 
 '' Outlines are easily drawn ; the skill lies in the 
 filling in." 
 
 " Therefore I left it for you. I feel as if we might 
 dig our living out of the soil easier than out of the 
 oftentimes ungracious favor of humanity. Suppose 
 we look this place up to-morrow ? " 
 
 " I cannot see miy way clear yet. Where is all the 
 money to come from to start us in this venture ? It 
 takes money for spades, you know." 
 
 *' I realize it. Can't we sell something ? " 
 
A NKW ARISTOCRACY. 23 
 
 '' What -our old clothes ? " 
 
 " To the rag-man perhaps. Seriously, have we 
 nothing of value we can spare ? " 
 
 " I can think of nothing." 
 
 '' I can. O Meg, the hardest part of my suggestion 
 is yet to come. Dr. Ely said when I named some of 
 the books in poor father's library that they were of 
 undoubted value, as many were out of print. He 
 spoke especially of the two Caxton copies, Plantin's 
 * Biblia Polyglotta,' and Sparks' ' Life of Washing- 
 ton.* Dear Meg, the question is : Shall we keep our 
 treasures and starve, or in letting them go find a chance 
 of outgrowing our poverty ? T am tired of this grind- 
 ing life that takes the color out of your cheeks and 
 puts wrinkles where dimples ought to be. Much as I 
 love the dear old books, I love hope for you and for 
 all of us better. O Meg! it is no sacrilege to say 
 that if our father could speak to us he would tell us 
 to sell them. The heritage is precious ; how precious 
 to us few can guess. But, my sweet sister, your hopes 
 and happiness are dearer to him, I know. Don't sob 
 so, Meg; you will break my heart. Forgive me for 
 suggesting it. It really seems best." 
 
 " I know it. Rosebud," said Margaret after a long 
 silence. " I must think about it. I cannot decide 
 yet." 
 
 As Margaret spoke she raised Elsie's tearful face 
 and kissed it tenderly. It was more difificult for Mar- 
 garet to give up the books than Elsie had dreamed. 
 They were not to her, as to Margaret, the great mine 
 of wealth from which she had drawn the intellectual 
 
24 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 riches that were already hers, and from which she had 
 hoped to glean a far greater abundance. Dear as they 
 were for the associations' sake, many of them having 
 been successively her grandfather's and father's, and 
 hallowed as they were by the thought of the dear eyes 
 which had once delighted in their pages, this relinquish- 
 ment of her ambitions seemed the most cruel hurt of 
 all. She knew that Elsie's suggestion was practicable ; 
 that it opened a way out of their present difficulties; 
 but it was the slipping of the cable that bound her to 
 the old life which, despite its hardships, had seemed so 
 idyllic in its visions and mental attainments. If she 
 gave up her books, what could she hope for beyond 
 the barren drudgery of mere existence ? With her 
 books she could revel in an ideal world v.here the hard 
 facts of her daily struggles could not intrude. They 
 were indeed a heaven of remembrance and a heaven 
 of hope to her. Where, oh, where else could she find 
 the oasis of rest, the one little gleam of personal hap- 
 piness which she had hoped might be allowed her ? 
 And yet duty, even from the mouth of Elsie, whom 
 she had hitherto regarded as a mere child, said all too 
 plainly that the cherished books must go. There 
 seemed to be no other solution of the vexed question 
 of subsistence. It was a very pale face that Margaret 
 raised to Elsie's anxious glance several moments later; 
 but it Avas determined and calm. 
 
 *' You are right, Elsie; you excel me in practicability 
 even now. I will write at once to Dr. Ely." 
 
 " Meg, I was cruel to you." 
 
 ''As facts are sometimes cruel. Now let us cata- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 25 
 
 logLie the books, that Dr. Ely may judge of them. 
 Not another tear, Rosebud, but forward." 
 
 A reassuring smile and a fond kiss calmed the rising 
 storm of regret in Elsie's heart. With protean quick- 
 ness the smile so natural to her face came back, and 
 hastily mounting the small step-ladder, she took down 
 the books and gave title, name of author, and date of 
 issue to Margaret to jot down. There w^ere perhaps 
 some eight hundred books, of which only a small por- 
 tion would in these days of reprints possess an un- 
 usual interest for the bibliophilist. Among the latter 
 were : Smellie's '' Philosophy ; " Plantin's " Biblia Poly- 
 glotta " in eight folio volumes, published in the sixteenth 
 century; Dunton's ''Life and Errors," 1659-1733; Cax- 
 ton's books, mostly translations from the French; 
 Nicholl's " Literary Anecdotes ; " Sotheby's " Handwrit- 
 ing of Melancthon and Luther;" Davy's "System of 
 Divinity," twenty-six volumes ; Dolby's "Shakespearean 
 Dictionary ; " Ainsworth's " Historical Novels ; " Hone's 
 " Early Life and Conversion ; " Timperly's " Encyclo- 
 pedia of Literary Anecdote ;" " The Bay Psalm Book ; " 
 Adelung's "Historical Sketch of Sanscrit Literature," 
 translated by Talboys ; Krummacher's " Elisha." Aside 
 from these somewhat rare books, the library took a wide 
 range in history, poetry, fiction, and travels. Margaret 
 could scarcely repress the desire to cry out once more 
 against the sacrilege. Here was information for a life- 
 time; here forgetfulness of the past, elysium for the 
 future! Why must this grief be superadded to all she 
 had borne ? But with heroic effort she choked back the 
 tears and went calmly on with her work. By the time 
 
26 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 she had finished the list and written a letter to Dr. 
 
 Ely, of the Episcopal school at A , she had put 
 
 aside regret and was once more ready to look facts 
 squarely in the face. " The first step that costs " had 
 been taken, and never afterward to Margaret did any 
 sorrow seem like the wrench of this one. It was with 
 alacrity, amounting almost to cheerfulness, that she 
 went about her task of packing the household goods, 
 and though sometimes tears Vvould for a moment dkn 
 her eyes and tender memories paralyze her hands, yet 
 the serene conviction that her decision had been wisely 
 taken seemed to hover like a nimbus of light above 
 the sadness of the slowly-moving hours. 
 
 One morning as Margaret, with her brown locks 
 shrouded in a wide-frilled sweeping- cap, her dress hid- 
 den by a high-necked calico apron of nondescript make, 
 stood upon a step-ladder, engaged in removing the 
 dimity curtains from the sitting-room windows, a per- 
 emptory knock at the open door behind her caused 
 her to turn so suddenly that the ladder tipped and 
 threw her, with unexpected suddenness, into the arms 
 of a dignified gentleman who stood upon the threshold. 
 Quickly disengaging herself, she exclaimed with a 
 laugh : 
 
 ''My greeting is unusually fervent. Dr. Ely; but 
 you perceive that circumstances " 
 
 ''Were too many for you," he interrupted, as Mar- 
 garet paused for breath. " I hope you were not 
 hurt ? " 
 
 " Not in the least ; but a trifle confused. Will you 
 walk in and be seated ? I did not look for a personal 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 2/ 
 
 answer to my letter, otherwise I should have deferred 
 my packing." 
 
 *' I decided to come only at the last moment, and so 
 could not write you. I am not at all sorry that I sur- 
 prised you ; in fact, [ found it rather pleasant." 
 
 Margaret glanced up apprehensively, a new wonder 
 growing in her eyes, which the doctor was quick to 
 note and interpret. " I felt that it would be much 
 easier to adjust the prices of the books and come to a 
 satisfactory arrangement of matters through a per- 
 sonal interview. Therefore I am here." 
 
 "And quite w^elcome ; but you must pardon the in- 
 coherent state of things." 
 
 "With all my heart, so long as you remain rational. 
 And now I wish you would tell me what you propose 
 doing." 
 
 " I ? Working for a living." 
 
 "At what?" 
 
 " Anything I can find. Just now Elsie has me under 
 control. She is bent on making a market gardener of 
 me. Please look at this advertisement. We have 
 already made appointment to visit the place, and if 
 satisfactory and the books are disposed of, to take 
 immediate possession. What do you think of the 
 plan ? " 
 
 " H-m. It might be good, but how about the chil- 
 dren's education ? " 
 
 " That was what worried me greatly at first ; but 
 both of them say so long as I work for a living they 
 shall help too. We have decided to give an hour each 
 evening, after it is too dark to work, to a little home 
 
28 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 culture. After all, it is the practical application of 
 knowledge that makes one educated." 
 
 *' Quite true, Miss Margaret," answered the doctor 
 as he gravely regarded her. " Give me a few more 
 details of your plan, and let me see how practicable 
 it is." 
 
 As Margaret proceeded with an animated recital of 
 the schemes which she and Elsie had lain awake nights 
 to concoct. Dr. Ely sat so intently watching her that 
 she flushed and grew uneasy under his scrutiny. He, 
 however, was not aware of it ; for his mind was borne 
 in upon itself, and he was tracing step by step the 
 years of his life that had brought him to this present 
 moment. He was a dignified man nearing the fo'rties, 
 with a grave manner that was often thought austere, 
 but which was only the outward covering of a nature 
 too keenly sympathetic and appreciative to risk the 
 disapproval of an obtuse world. Like all delicate and 
 sensitive things in nature, he wrapped himself in a 
 husk, and only those who penetrated the outward cov- 
 ering knew how beautiful was the inner temple of his 
 soul, how genial its warmth, and how playful the fancy 
 that tended the altar of his imaginings. His sudden 
 encounter with Margaret this morning had brought to 
 the surface a slight hint of its existence, but the quick 
 wonder of her eyes had sent it again into hiding. He 
 had been for some ten years the president of the school 
 
 at A , and stood entirely alone in the world. For 
 
 twenty years he had cherished the memory of a fair 
 girl wife who had been companion and helpmeet but 
 three short months, when death claimed her. In her 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 29 
 
 grave he had thought to bury love, and live henceforth 
 a soHtary worker, with no dreams to entice again be- 
 yond the prosaic outHnes of his daily duties. But 
 Margaret Murchison's year at the school had affected 
 him strangely. He had watched the girl's develop- 
 ment with uncommon interest; had been touched 
 more than once by the clearness and unusual candor 
 of her nature, and grew to have a profound admiration 
 for the strength and purpose which upheld her. When 
 she had been so suddenly called home by her mother's 
 death, he had missed her more than he liked to own 
 even to himself. Despite the disparity in their years, 
 he felt that hers was a nature to draw from its ob- 
 scurity all that was highest of attainment in his own. 
 He was but too conscious that, struggle as he might, 
 he somehow fell short of his desires. His most earnest 
 efforts seemed to fall half-heartedly upon those around 
 him. The fault must be his ; the long loneliness of his 
 life — with neither father, mother, sister, brother, wife, 
 to share a single aspiration or make vivid a single 
 heart-glow — had unwittingly isolated him from man- 
 kind. When the light of this love fully dawned upon 
 him, his soul felt the glow of a new purpose, and it 
 became to him the symbol of a wider sympathy and 
 charity, because of which Divinity long ago found need 
 to send a sign to all mankind. His school was not 
 slow to feel the change, and when the time became 
 ripe for him to speak, he felt that he was no longer 
 offering Margaret, in all her freshness, the remnant of 
 a heart and life, but the first fruits of a living soul. 
 He hastened to Barnley, strong in his purpose to lift 
 
30 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 her at once from the toil and privation of poverty. 
 He had watched her career as best he could, in the 
 occasional letters received from her father, who never 
 failed to comment upon her strength and growth of 
 character, and his love had grown with the subtileness 
 of fancy until he had never stopped to consider the 
 effect it might hav^e upon Margaret. Surely to be 
 sheltered and loved — ah! how he would prove his love 
 to her — ought to be reason enough for any woman so 
 bereft and friendless. So he had reasoned until he 
 caught the apprehensive glance of Margaret's eyes, and 
 then he knew that his dream had not been hers, and 
 that love with her would not be made at once answer- 
 able even to the most passionate appeals. All these 
 musings ran swiftly through his mind, the while his 
 intent glance remained upon Margaret's face, uncon- 
 sciously drinking in its variable play of expression. 
 At last she ceased her recital, and said in a slightly 
 constrained voice: "I think I have told you all our 
 plans for the present. Dr. Ely." 
 
 But the intent eyes never left her face as the doctor 
 asked wistfully: ''Are you sure you've strength for so 
 much ? " 
 
 " I have faith that it will be given me." 
 
 "Yes, yes, it will," he replied fervently, as he roused 
 himself with an effort. " And now let us take a look 
 at the books." 
 
 He followed Margaret into the study and stood long 
 in silent contemplation before the shelves. He was 
 evidently making a careful computation of the value 
 of the books. " How much money will you need for 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 3 1 
 
 this undertaking ? " he asked, suddenly turning to 
 Margaret. 
 
 " I have very little idea. I can scarcely tell until we 
 have seen the place." 
 
 *'Ah, yes, I had forgotten. Of course you are not 
 sure of anything as yet. When did you say you had 
 appointed an interview with the agent ? " 
 
 " We had expected to go this afternoon, if we had 
 a satisfactory letter from you in time. If not, the in- 
 terview was to be postponed until to-morrow." 
 
 *' And you have not had that satisfactory letter yet. 
 Well, you shall have it noAv. The books are even 
 more valuable than I thought. They number, I think 
 you said, some eight hundred volumes. Now, I wish 
 to propose a plan of my own. Suppose I advance you 
 the sum of four hundred dollars on the books to begin 
 with, allowing you to select such as in your home cul- 
 ture club you will doubtless need, and reserve the 
 balance — I will not place an exact price on them now 
 — to be drawn upon in case of further demand for 
 money. Then, when you have made your fortune, you 
 are to have the books back at the price I paid for them." 
 
 The doctor waited some time for Margaret's answer ; 
 but she stood with head slightly averted and was silent. 
 At last he could wait no longer, but bending forward, 
 glanced down at her face. Tears stood on the long 
 lashes and trembled on her cheeks. ** Margaret," he 
 cried sharply, " what have I said that is wrong ? " 
 
 " Nothing ! " she exclaimed, suddenly extending both 
 hands to him. '' Your goodness is so unexpected that 
 I am not strone enough for it." 
 
32 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 He caught her hands in his own as he said impul- 
 sively: " Listen, Margaret. It is not goodness — it is 
 rather pure selfishness. I came here this morning in- 
 tent on offering you not the worth of the books, but 
 something I was foolish enough to fancy of more value 
 — myself. No, don't start; but hear me out. Man- 
 like, I fancied that I had but to speak and you would 
 let me take you away from all the toil and privation ; 
 but now I know you " 
 
 Margaret gently drevv^ her hands away, and inter- 
 rupted him: ''I never dreamed of such a thing. It is 
 impossible." 
 
 *' If I loved you, Margaret, had loved you for years 
 — don't look so incredulous — ever, since you were a 
 school-girl, and had waited patiently until the time 
 was right, hoping that my love might win its response 
 even as the flowers respond to the warmth and light 
 of the sun — if I offered all this and a life-long devo- 
 tion, would it then be impossible ? " 
 
 Margaret glanced up wonderingly, appealingly, into 
 the eager face above her. 
 
 "It is all so strange, so confusing; but I cannot — 
 it would indeed be impossible ; for — forgive me, I do 
 not want to hurt you — I do not love you, Dr. Ely, 
 and I " 
 
 " Say no more," he said gently, " I knew it even be- 
 fore I spoke; but I am glad you understand me. I 
 have been a lonely man all my life, and you can per- 
 haps imagine how, even old as I am, I find delight in 
 the companionship of one Avho is quick to understand 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 33 
 
 and appreciate all that interests me. I love you, dear 
 child, with the one love of my life ; but I shall never 
 again obtrude it upon you. I must, however, claim 
 one favor. I am willing to sink all that I had hoped 
 to the calm basis of friendship; do not deny me that. 
 Let me help you, even as I had meant to before I spoke, 
 and I promise faithfully never to claim anything more 
 at your hands than the just consideration of one friend 
 for another. You stand alone and inexperienced — put 
 aside what has passed and let my age and experience 
 help you." 
 
 Margaret, watching him as he spoke, could not fail 
 to be touched by the sincerity and unselfishness of his 
 words. P'or reply she placed her hand in his and said 
 softly, " I will." 
 
 " One word more. If the time ever comes — mind, I 
 do not expect it, I do not even beg it—but if the time 
 does come when your heart can respond fully to the 
 love that shall be yours as long as life lasts, you have 
 only to say ' come,' and I will obey you though it be 
 to the uttermost parts of the earth. May I ask this 
 too?" 
 
 '' It is not much to promise," said Margaret gently, 
 " but it may be too much to hope for. I have never 
 had time for anything but immediate duties, and I am 
 afraid I shall never find time for anything else. I have 
 always felt that I belonged to these children. If, how- 
 ever—and I can discern but the faintest hope— if such a 
 time should come, you may be sure that the word will 
 not be uttered half-heartedly." 
 3 
 
34 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 A blush stole up to Margaret's cheek as she spoke, 
 making her whole face glow and soften with an un- 
 wonted beauty that the doctor's observant eyes did 
 not fail to note. They were suspiciously misty as he 
 raised her hand to his lips and said fervently: 
 
 ''Amen. Now let's to business." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " Oh, I think it is delightful," exclaimed Elsie as 
 she, Margaret, and Dr. Ely stopped in the late glow 
 of the afternoon sun before the gate of the place at 
 Idlewild. '' Such a charming tangle of briers to get 
 scratched on while hunting for very stray berries." 
 
 ^' There is something to be done here before one 
 could hope for returns," assented the doctor. " But let 
 us explore the house, and see whether it is possible to 
 exist in it." 
 
 The house, by courtesy a cottage, had four rooms, 
 so called. Elsie suggested boxes as a better name, 
 but found consolation in the fact that four rooms for 
 three people left a breathing-room that each could 
 occupy in turn. The rooms were black with smoke 
 and slippery with filth, and even Margaret felt some- 
 thing very like despair as she exclaimed piteously : 
 ''The muscle and soap it will take to cleanse it." 
 
 " Is it habitable otherwise ?" asked the doctor as he 
 rattled windows, examined hinges and locks, and poked 
 into chimneys and cupboards. '' Fairly good. White- 
 wash, paint, soap, and muscle, and you won't know it, 
 Miss Margaret. Now let us see what the garden is 
 like. Wants underdraining badly. Soil clayey and 
 cold, but admirably situated for outlet of drain. A 
 
3^ A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 few muck-heaps and this garden will blossom like the 
 rose." 
 
 " But you frighten me," exclaimed Margaret aghast, 
 " I haven't the slightest idea how to drain it, and I am 
 sure it will cost more than we can afford." 
 
 " We are only examining possibilities. ' Small fruits,' 
 a dozen ragged currant bushes, some straggling straw- 
 berry vines, grapes that have run riot, and a ' delight- 
 ful tangle,' as Elsie says, of raspberry bushes. Com- 
 mon, too — no, Gregg if I am not mistaken. Ah ! that is 
 better. ' Three acres of land ' — not more than two 
 and one-half that can yield anything. Now, Miss 
 Margaret, if you and Elsie are ready we'll interview 
 the agent." 
 
 " The place will not pay for the outlay upon it, I am 
 afraid," said Margaret despondently, as they went out 
 of the gate. 
 
 " Not this season, certainly; but we can tell better 
 when we have seen the agent and found out what we 
 can do with him." 
 
 " Well, if you had not insisted on coming with us I 
 should have turned back in dismay. Somehow, Avhen 
 I can see a Avay through I am ready enough to act ; 
 but I become frightened when the wall is »o high I 
 cannot see over." 
 
 " That is natural enough. Very few women have 
 the courage to scale precipices; but those who under- 
 take the problem of self-support must encounter all of 
 a man's difficulties. We are a chivalrous people here in 
 America, but that chivalry usually consists in giving 
 a woman a fair field and no quarter. If you seek to 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 37 
 
 be one with us in opportunities, you must be one with 
 us in conditions." 
 
 '' If I might always be sure of such fair considera- 
 tion I shall not complain. A woman, however, cannot 
 insure her own incompetency against the greed of those 
 who are chivalrous enough to take advantage of it. She 
 must always be more or less a victim." 
 
 " So long as she remains incompetent. Experience, 
 however, is the great moulder in her case as well as 
 that of her brother. She demonstrates her capacity 
 in proportion as she learns the same hard lessons. 
 One of the first of these lessons is not to ask any more 
 of the world because of her sex. When womicn cease 
 clamoring for a man's rights and a woman's pre-emi- 
 nence at one and the same time, then will the dogged 
 opposition of those to whom she appeals be less notice- 
 able." 
 
 ''Yet it is quite natural for the weak to ask a little 
 extra standing-room of their more fortunate brothers." 
 
 " It is one thing to ask by virtue of a common 
 sympathy, and another to demand as a right. Man- 
 kind is a good deal like the pig that Paddy tried to 
 drive to market. 'Shure if ye iver git 'im there, ye 
 must head 'im t'other way.' It might be well to try 
 the scheme on the agent of this place." 
 
 As Margaret glanced up and caught the humorous 
 twinkle of the doctor's eyes, she said quietly: '' I leave 
 the settlement of the matter in your hands, while I 
 watch your effort in getting the pig to market. I shall 
 have need to learn all I can." 
 
 Mr. Smith, of the real estate firm of Harris & Smith, 
 
38 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 was a portly, self-satisfied man, who regarded the ap- 
 plicants for the little place at Idlewild with a some- 
 what lofty stare over the rim of his gold eye-glasses. 
 It was quite evident from his manner that so small a 
 transaction as this was not considered worth any extra 
 amount of civility. But the pompous manner neither 
 abashed nor diverted Dr. Ely from his purpose. With 
 a man's decision and firmness he stated his wishes, met 
 objections, overcame difficulties, and obtained satis- 
 factory results, with such facility that Margaret felt 
 herself well-nigh overwhelmed in the dismal swamp 
 of her own incapacity. 
 
 When the contract for the specific performance of 
 each had been duly drawn and signed, and Dr. Ely, 
 Margaret, and Elsie had once more regained the side- 
 walk, the doctor asked : " Well, Miss Margaret, did I 
 get my pig to market ? " 
 
 "As I should never have dared to do." 
 
 " I knew it," and the doctor's face grew suddenly 
 grave. " It is a big undertaking for a slender untried 
 woman." 
 
 " No," said Margaret gently, " not when I have such 
 an adviser." 
 
 " Well, I intend to see you safely settled before I 
 leave. There is a great deal in getting started right." 
 
 " I haven't a demur to make — not even an expostu- 
 lation as to the trouble you are making yourself. The 
 time to assert my independence will be when I am 
 monarch of all I survey." 
 
 ''You'll have nothing to do now for three years to 
 come but develop your skill as a gardener. I fancy 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 39 
 
 you will not find altogether easy work or satisfactory 
 returns." 
 
 '' I do not expect to. I have my apprenticeship yet 
 to learn ; but it seems to promise more than any other 
 available thing. Besides, I shall count even mistakes 
 as so much marketable goods in the future, if I am 
 only wise enough to profit by them." 
 
 " He is wise indeed who always succeeds in doing it." 
 
 The doctor at once set himself to supervising the 
 laying in of the drain, the painting and papering of 
 the little house, and the trimming and pruning of the 
 tangle of vines and bushes in the garden. With the 
 aid of Gilbert, a bright lad of sixteen, the untidy place 
 soon came to assume an air of neatness and thrift 
 which at once impressed Mr. Smith with the idea that 
 his tenants were people on whom it might be worth 
 while to expend a little civility. 
 
 It was the first of March, raw, cold, and inhospi- 
 table, when, with their household belongings, the little 
 party was set down at the door of the new home. It 
 was late in the afternoon and all were cold, tired, and 
 somewhat dispirited. Even the doctor's equanimity 
 was beginning to give way before the settled obstinacy 
 of a refractory stove-pipe, when a brisk knock at the 
 door of the sitting-room interrupted operations for a 
 moment. Margaret opened the door, to be greeted 
 with the cheery voice of a little black-eyed woman 
 who stepped in without waiting for an invitation. 
 " Good-efening to you all," she cried. '' I am Lizzette 
 Minaud. I lif ze next door, and I haf prepared ze 
 souper for you. Do not say ' Non ! ' I take it so 
 
40 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 amiss. You look so blue, so tired, so ready to cry, 
 pauvre child," and she laid her hand warmly upon 
 Margaret's arm as she spoke. 
 
 *' You are very kind, but " and Margaret glanced 
 
 apprehensively at the doctor. 
 
 ** Oh, your — your — ze gentilhomme will go, I am 
 sure. I haf known how ze tired comes in mofing, and 
 you sail work so mooch ze better when you haf supped. 
 I keep you only so long as you sail need ze rest and 
 refreshment." 
 
 " A thousand thanks," said the doctor heartily. " To 
 be sure we will go. Gilbert, you and I can have a 
 good deal more patience with this unruly stove-pipe 
 after we have partaken of this lady's supper, eh ? " 
 
 '^ I can't answer for you, sir, but I know I am hungry 
 as a wolf." 
 
 " So mooch ze better. Hunger ees ze sauce piquante 
 to black bread." 
 
 " Did you ever feed a boy ? " interposed Elsie, glanc- 
 ing roguishly at Gilbert. " If not, I warn you before- 
 hand.«" 
 
 " Non, non. I do not need ze Avarning. Lizzette 
 Minaud's table ees nefer empty." 
 
 *' We are taxing your kindness, I fear," said Mar- 
 garet, as they prepared for the visit. 
 
 " Non, eet ees ze plaisir. I — I like your face," and 
 the impulsive little woman again grasped Margaret's 
 hand. *' We must be friends, and friends take no 
 thought of ze trouble of serving each ozair." 
 
 "You have given the true meaning of friendship," 
 replied Margaret earnestly. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 4I 
 
 Lizzette MInaud's house was a '' box " indeed, not 
 even as large as the one which seemed so small to 
 Margaret and Elsie ; but it was a marvel of neatness 
 and taste. The oak floor of the salon, as in grandiose 
 style Lizzette designated her sitting-room, was like a 
 mirror in its capacity to reflect objects, and nearly as 
 dangerous to walk upon. Here and there bright- 
 colored rugs, knit by the expert fingers of the mistress, 
 lay before couch, stove, and tables. The walls were 
 a delicate cream tint, with dado and frieze composed 
 of crimson, brown, and golden maple leaves delicately 
 veined and shaded, each one the particular work of 
 Lizzette. In response to the delighted exclamation of 
 her visitors, she explained in perfect frankness that 
 having little money and some skill, she had determined 
 to decorate her home^bought with the savings of 
 years — in as tasteful a design as she could achieve. 
 She was rewarded with gratifying success, for the 
 grouping of the leaves was so artistic and the color- 
 ing so perfect that nature seemed to be rivalled in the 
 reproduction. 
 
 "You are an artist!" enthusiastically exclaimed 
 Margaret. 
 
 " Non, non — only a Frenchwom.an and a cook," she 
 answered with a characteristic shrug. " I haf all my 
 life been cook for ze great families. In France first, 
 in America many year since. I marry twelve year 
 since, and my husband he go away when my Antoine 
 but two year old. He ees here in zis room, and he 
 will be so charmed to meet you." As she finished 
 speaking, she turned toward a little alcove and pre- 
 
42 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 sented to view, what at first seemed a little child 
 propped up on a couch. A second look, and it was at 
 once discovered that the child was a hunch-backed lad 
 of some ten years, with dwarfed and misshapen limbs 
 that refused to support him. With that appealing 
 gaze so often noted in the suffering and unfortunate, 
 his dark eyes looked out from beneath a brow broad, 
 smooth, and white. Rings of jet-black curls, a straight, 
 delicate nose, and a mouth with lips thin and bloodless 
 and downward curved, completed the cast of his fea- 
 tures. But it would be impossible to reproduce in 
 words the innate beauty of the smile that lit up his 
 face or the sublimity of spirit which looked out of the 
 dark eyes. Impulsive Elsie was on her knees beside 
 him in a moment, 
 
 ''You dear angel!" she exclaimed, picking up one 
 of the thin, white hands and kissing it. " I shall love 
 you, I know." 
 
 " Everybody does. Everybody is so good," said the 
 lad simply. " You are good to come. I wanted to 
 see you." 
 
 '' Eet ees true," said Lizzette, *' he would not rest 
 until I had tried to make ze welcome. He ees some- 
 times lonesome when I go about ze work, but he ees 
 always patient and always so kind. He ees un grand 
 scholair, too. See, he read zis," and Lizzette held up 
 in triumph a well-thumbed copy of Shakespeare. '* It 
 is ze Anglais. He learn so fast, and he read Santine 
 et Racine tres bien. I go to school to mon enfant 
 soon," and the little mother patted the boy's pale 
 cheek in an effusion of pride and fondness. The lad 
 glanced up lovingly and said quickly: 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 43 
 
 " Non, non. Ma mere has quicker eyes and more 
 wisdom than Antoine. Is the supper ready ? I am 
 very hungry and want my wheel chair." 
 
 The mother turned to get it, but Gilbert was before 
 her, and gently lifting the lad into it, he started it to- 
 ward the little kitchen where stood the supper-table. 
 
 " Ma mere is a famous cook," said the lad with a 
 bright smile. '' She makes appetite when it has for- 
 gotten to grow." 
 
 '' So he say," said Lizzette with a shrug. " I only 
 follow ze way of my art." 
 
 The doctor, who had long been silent, glanced up as 
 they seated themselves at the table, and asked : " Do 
 you indeed think cookery an art ? " 
 
 " Oui, oui, sir. Ze grand art, sir. Ze grain of ze 
 man ees as ze food he eat ; if it be coarse, he coarse too. 
 Strong, may be, but not ze fine gentilhomme who 
 eferywhere see ze leetle beauties of life, and so rest 
 you wiz ze gracefulness of his way." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right, madam," said the doctor 
 gravely, " although I confess I had never looked at it 
 in that light." 
 
 " Eet ees like ze art of ozair sings. Ze leetle touch 
 zat makes ze picture, and as Antoine say, ze poetry of 
 Shakespeare. Will it please you to speak ze grace ? " 
 
 Lizzette's supper-table was a sight to tempt less 
 weary and hungry wayfarers than our dispirited 
 quartette. It was simplicity itself, the principal dish 
 being a salad so crisp in its delicate ravigote of finely- 
 flavored herbs that Elsie declared it " a mortgage on 
 the summer, since it had stolen all its sweetest flavors." 
 
44 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Lobster rissoles, a mushroom omelette, with cold 
 bread, a soupgon of preserved plums, black coffee, and 
 tea served from the depths of a Japanese cosey, com- 
 pleted the menu. 
 
 " The salad. Miss Elsie, ees made of ze weeds of ze 
 wayside," said Lizzette. " Vous Anglais despise ze 
 sings ze French live by. I make zis salad of ze herb 
 you call dandelion ; I find it growing eferywhere. I 
 mix it wiz ze cressom — you call it Vv^ater-cress — grow- 
 ing by ze brooks, toss it up wiz ze ravigote of tar- 
 ragon, chervil et bumet, and behold you have, as you 
 say, ' ze summer in mortgage to ze winter.* 
 
 " Count me a pupil to the economy of these versatile 
 French," exclaimed Elsie rapturously. '^ I know now 
 what I was born for. Madam Minaud shall make an 
 artist of me. I am positively inspired with ambition." 
 
 *' Or Madam Minaud's supper," observed Gilbert. 
 
 " We Americans long ago accepted the gospel of 
 plain 'boiled and fried,' and your dispensation is only 
 just beginning to be felt among those who have lived 
 abroad. It is certainly a much-needed lesson," said 
 the doctor as he complacently accepted Lizzette's 
 offer of a second omelette. 
 
 " Ze French nevaire trow away like ze Anglais. 
 Zey save ze leetle sings, and so zey grow reech where 
 ze Anglais— il a de quoi vivre mais bien maigrement." 
 
 " Our lines have fallen in pleasant places," cried 
 Elsie enthusiastically. ''Antoine shall teach me French, 
 and Madam Minaud shall bestow upon me the art of 
 converting wayside weeds into m.eat and drink for the 
 fleshly tabernacle." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 45 
 
 *' You are making the bargain all for yourself, Elsie. 
 What compensation do you propose in return?" asked 
 Margaret with an amused glance at the girl's flushed 
 cheeks and sparkling eyes. 
 
 " Compensation ? " exclaimed Antoine quickly 
 " Everything ! herself, love — ah, we shall be more than 
 paid. I shall have the companion I have longed for, 
 and ma mere will see the rose come back to my cheeks 
 and be glad. Is ij: not so ? " and the child's hand 
 sought Elsie's as it rested on the back of his chair. 
 
 "Yes, yes," said Elsie eagerly. ''You shall have all 
 the comfort I can give you, dear child." 
 
 As she spoke she pushed back the jetty curls and 
 left the warm touch of her lips upon the lad's white 
 forehead. In an instant the thin arms were around 
 her neck, and he cried excitedly: " I love you so, and I 
 shall never be unhappy again." 
 
 Grave Dr. Ely turned away from this scene with 
 quivering lip, and his voice was not altogether steady 
 as he said : " Well, Gilbert, that stove-pipe does not look 
 half so formidable as it did before Madam Minaud's 
 delicious supper." 
 
 " Indeed, no, sir. I feel like a Hercules." 
 
 " All right. Let us see how soon we can slay the 
 giant disorder. In view of the circumstances, madam 
 will excuse a hasty departure." 
 
 " Certainment. Work ees master in our leetle world." 
 
 "Work and love, ma mere," exclaimed Antoine. 
 
 " Antoine is right," said Margaret. " These are the 
 soul and body of existence; to toil is the Divine com- 
 mand — to love the Divine purpose." 
 
46 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 '* We must perforce obey the command," exclaimed 
 Elsie, patting Antoine's cheek. " The purpose we will 
 leave to its own solution." 
 
 *' I've already solved it," answered Antoine with a 
 ripple of laughter that brought a happy light to 
 Lizzette's eyes as she answered the ''good-nights " of 
 the little party. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 47 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 It did not take long to settle the little four-roomed 
 house, for Dr. Ely proved himself an every-day worker. 
 The week that had passed since he had left his 
 school had been full of business. The purpose which 
 he saw in Margaret and Elsie had awakened a new 
 interest in his life, and to see that their feet were 
 firmly fixed in the way they had marked out for them- 
 selves seemed to him the task, as well as the pleasure, 
 of an elder brother. Looking upon life as the vast 
 field from which should spring all that is highest of 
 development and achievement in humanity, he was 
 touched with the hope of being a factor in the ambi- 
 tious purposes of these inexperienced and well-nigh 
 friendless girls. He believed fully in allowing to each 
 individual soul the opportunities for measuring its own 
 power, and while a certain sense of loss came upon 
 him when he realized that the expectation of taking 
 Margaret into his own life could not be fulfilled, he 
 felt ennobled and strengthened by the desire to be one 
 with her in her efforts of self-advancement. " Not 
 now, not now; but some time, perhaps,'' he said to his 
 heart, and during his week of early and late work not 
 one word or look of his had disturbed the serenity of 
 Margaret's mind. He had been solely and simply the 
 elder brother on whose experience and friendly aid she 
 
4o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 could rely. Now, however, the little home was in 
 order; the tiny sitting-room with its painted and 
 polished floor, its bright rugs, its gayly-cushioned 
 Boston rockers, its hassocks that served the double 
 duty of seats and boot-boxes, and last, but not least, 
 its revolving book-case with the few of the well-known 
 volumes which Margaret had selected from her father's 
 library and which Dr. Ely had supplemented with 
 some contributions of his own. These were princi- 
 pally works on art and the intellect, by Ruskin, Ham- 
 merton, and others, and a few books of poetry by 
 Dante Rossetti, Keats, Tennyson, and a superb edition 
 de luxe of "Aurora Leigh." They were all seated in 
 this room surveying its finishing touches the evening 
 previous to Dr. Ely's departure for A . 
 
 " Well, it is pleasant," he exclaimed. '' I shall carry 
 its memory with me when I go, and in imagination 
 behold you seated every evening around the open 
 stove, feasting on the contents of this handy little 
 book-case. I shall remember how white the curtains 
 are, how dainty the table scarfs and the head-rests of 
 the chairs, and how really fine those oleographs and 
 photogravures on the wall appear in the glow of the 
 fire-light, and I shall fancy you are all taking on flesh 
 and good spirits under the inspiration of Elsie's cook- 
 ing." 
 
 ''You are very kind not to insinuate one word about 
 dyspepsia," answered Elsie demurely. " But I am 
 really enthusiastic over my promised lessons in that 
 grand art, as madam so grandiloquently calls it. You 
 know some people are born great, and I really feel 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 49 
 
 that I am destined to achieve my highest expression in 
 an apostleship to the pots and pans of the kitchen. 
 Like the starvelHng poet of the story-books, I shall 
 doubtless astonish the world when the flame of my 
 soul has burst into a dish fit to set before a king. 
 
 "You are somewhat mixed as to metaphor," ex- 
 claimed Margaret with a laugh. 
 
 " Well, I hope to mix more than metaphors by-and- 
 by. But tell me, Dr. Ely, are you conscious of either 
 . an aching void or an aching fulness, whichever dyspep- 
 sia happens to be, since you sat under my dispensa- 
 tion ? " 
 
 " I haven't had such an appetite in years. I don't 
 in the least question your genius for cookery, and 
 when you have learned to make something out of 
 nothing with a ravishing French name and taste, you 
 can count on achieving a world-wide fame." 
 
 *' Fame ? a bauble! I look only to the expression of 
 my art," and Elsie rolled up her eyes and shrugged 
 her shapely shoulders with an abandon of French 
 mannerism that was as startling as it was amusing. 
 Som.ething in Margaret's apprehensive glance caught 
 the doctor's quick eye. What wonderful fire and keen- 
 ness lay in the little girl's mobile face. Ah, well, Mar- 
 garet was right ; there was work for her here. With 
 an abruptness that seemed almost harsh he spoke : 
 
 " He 'jests at scars that never felt a wound.' Art, 
 Miss Elsie, in its entirety is deep, and high, and long, 
 and men have sought it, and with palsied finger on the 
 pulse of time have died unanswered." 
 
 The laughing eyes of Elsie grew suddenly grave. 
 
50 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Dear me, one can't be enthusiastic nowadays with- 
 out finding a wet blanket thrown over her at the first 
 step. Nevertheless I don't intend to wear cap and 
 spectacles until long after my humble divinity has 
 crowned me mistress. My ambition is such a simple 
 one — just to tickle the palates of my little world. Now, 
 doctor, don't discourage m.e." 
 
 " Not for the world. Epicurus, if he were here, 
 would doubtless pronounce a benediction on your am- 
 bition, and I am not sure that your purpose does not 
 already deserve a laurel leaf, for it has been more than 
 once reiterated that the crying need of the day is good 
 cookery." 
 
 " Thanks. I am glad that my mission has the sup- 
 port of the public mind, or palate. Either will do, I 
 suppose. But how is it Vv-ith you, Meg ? I haven't 
 heard you declare as yet for any reform." 
 
 *' I am not so sure of my mission as you are of yours, 
 nor so confident of being born to greatness." 
 
 '^That's bad. One surely ought to believe in her- 
 self if she expects to get on. Perhaps the doctor can 
 help your indecision." 
 
 There was a mischievous twinkle in Elsie's eyes that 
 was not lost on the doctor, but with the utmost grav- 
 ity he replied: ''Well, yes, I think I can. It will be 
 a mission worth while to learn the problem of self-sup- 
 port and self-education under adverse circumstances. 
 It will need something more than enthusiasm." 
 
 A patience and a finesse of which I am not sure I 
 am master. I am only mutely feeling my way now. 
 Indeed, the doctor has lifted so much responsibility 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 5 1 
 
 from my shoulders in this new venture that I hardly 
 know what I can do." 
 
 ** You will know when the opportunity comes to act. 
 Just now you needed the little friendly direction I am 
 very glad I was able to offer. There are times when 
 even the strongest are not wholly self-reliant." 
 
 Tears stood in Margaret's eyes as she answered : 
 " How^ unblessed is he who can make no claim on loyal 
 friendship. May I always prove myself worthy of it." 
 
 " We'll not question that now, nor in the future," 
 said the doctor, a glow of light in his eyes that watch- 
 ing Elsie did not fail to note. " Now, tell me your 
 plan for making use of this mine," he added, touch- 
 ing the book-case at his right hand. 
 
 " I've been thinking we must get at the nuggets 
 with as little delay as possible, for we haven't time to 
 bore through worthless drifts of scoria, even though 
 at the bottom may be a mine of wealth. We must 
 make practical and immediate use of what we learn." 
 
 '' True," interposed the doctor as Margaret looked 
 up interrogatively. " I am deeply interested." 
 
 ''This, then, is what I've been thinking: every 
 thought of other minds from which we can draw sus- 
 tenance must be drained of its nutriment before we 
 seek another, and that thought must be made to bear 
 relatively upon our own. In other words, it must 
 father a new growth in our own minds, for in that way 
 only can education have any practical bearing upon 
 life and action." 
 
 " Excellent ! " exclaimed the doctor warmly. '' Go 
 on, please.** 
 
52 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Margaret's cheek flushed as she compHed. ."It is 
 my purpose, then, in this home symposium to bring no 
 thought that we cannot healthfully digest. Occult re- 
 search is only for the man of leisure. This is the first 
 principle that shall govern our intellectual feast. The 
 second shall be the democracy of our purpose, or, in 
 other words, the hand-to-hand start we shall make in 
 our race for knowledge. No one shall be debarred be- 
 cause he has not learned the alphabet of reason ; we 
 will give him the chance to learn it. The third re- 
 quirement will be only good moral character," and 
 Margaret finished with a laugh. 
 
 " Regardless of social position, remember, doctor," 
 exclaimed Elsie. " In short, Margaret has sketched 
 the outlines of a new aristocracy, wherein moral worth 
 and purpose count first, with brain and healthy diges- 
 tion a good second, and where wealth doesn't stand 
 any show at all." 
 
 " You forget that is the goal toward which the first 
 two tend," said Margaret eagerly. ''An aristocracy 
 founded on those principles could not be an insecure 
 one — could it, doctor ? " 
 
 '' It is admirable as a dream, and as a dream im- 
 practicable, I fear." 
 
 • " By no means," said Elsie as she noticed the shadow 
 that crossed Margaret's face at the doctor's words. 
 *' You forget that it concerns only three people. We 
 shall reform the world chiefly by beginning to reform 
 ourselves. Nothing could so suit our Eutopian ideas 
 as to call it 'A New Aristocracy.' " 
 
 ''An aristocracy of potato diggers! " exclaimed Gil- 
 bert, looking up from his book. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 53 
 
 " Exactly. We have a right to a kingdom of our 
 own within these walls. Our fame and our pride need 
 not go beyond them." 
 
 '' Safe enough on that score," said Gilbert ironically. . 
 
 "Well," said the doctor merrily, "I shall count my- 
 self one of the aristocrats even when miles away." 
 
 " But I haven't told you all my plan yet," said Mar- 
 garet. " It concerns this very potato-digging that to 
 Gilbert seems so incongruous with our high purposes. 
 On the principle that everything we have is the prod- 
 uct of the earth, there is nothing out of proportion 
 in even potato diggers striving for the highest develop- 
 ment, and as our impressions all come to us from our 
 contact with every-day things, we shall find an aston- 
 ishing philosophy grow out of potato-digging if we look 
 for it. In my endeavors to carry out the behests un- 
 derlying the propagation of plants, I expect to find 
 questions that will lead me into as yet unexplored 
 paths, and I shall endeavor to treasure up these ques- 
 tions and their answers if they can be found. I shall 
 exact the same process of reasoning from all the mem- 
 bers of our circle, and shall expect every evening to 
 be regaled by Elsie with a philosophical monologue 
 on the amount of nutriment there is in an ecj'G: or the 
 exhilaration to be derived from the dish-pan." 
 
 '' Then you will be disappointed. My ideas are not 
 perennial; but if I chance to evolve some flavor that 
 a Frenchman would doubtless call ' heavenly,' you may 
 look for a harangue." 
 
 ''A practical school of philosophy it seem.s to 
 shadow forth ; but the proof of the pudding is in the 
 eating, you know/' said the doctor with a smile. 
 
54 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " I don't underrate the difficulties in the way; but I 
 think we three ought to be able to do something with 
 ourselves on that basis," said Margaret. 
 
 " Certainly," replied the doctor. "And I shall en- 
 deavor to remodel my own work from the same stand- 
 point. I have been a dreamer and an enthusiast, and 
 it has remained for an untried girl to show the prac- 
 tical application of my dreams. I shall go home a 
 wiser man." 
 
 '' You frighten me, doctor, with the seriousness of 
 that statement. It is all untried as yet," exclaimed 
 Margaret in evident distress. 
 
 "True; but I can see its first steps. After these the 
 way may open wider and clearer. It is certainly worth 
 trying." 
 
 With this indorsement Margaret felt satisfied, and 
 there was color in her cheeks and brilliancy in her eyes 
 as she and the doctor talked long and animatedly 
 until late in the evening. Gilbert had stolen away to 
 bed and Elsie was deep in a novel of Antoine's. 
 
 " I shall have to shake myself well together when I 
 get home," said the doctor, when they discovered the 
 lateness of the hour. " I've been living a new life and 
 the old one will seem strancrc" 
 
 o 
 
 It was hard for Margaret to acknowledge even to 
 herself after the doctor's departure that she felt lonely 
 and uneas}/; but somehow she missed the careful fore- 
 thought that had been as new as it had been unex- 
 pected. It was a strange experience in her barren 
 life, and scold herself as she might, she could not find 
 it unpleasant. But for the oresent she would not, she 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 55 
 
 might not indulge in dreams. A work that might 
 stretch into years lay before her. That done — well, 
 how strong is faith ? A new beauty, however, stole 
 into her face; its somewhat stern lines relaxed, and 
 tender, almost pathetic, little curves grew about the 
 corners of the firmly-set lips. It was quite apparent 
 to those who knew her that the calm reliance of her 
 nature had been disturbed by something strange and 
 sweet, yet not even Elsie guessed its full meaning. 
 
56 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 It was the middle of April. Already in sheltered 
 corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the 
 walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots. 
 The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional 
 breezes came up from the Southland laden with the 
 balm and spice of the new-born earth. Hooded in 
 their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow 
 heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping 
 fringes. The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and 
 the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling un- 
 heard in the soft air. The robins were hilarious in 
 the intoxication of hope, and Elsie and Antoine were 
 endeavoring to rival them in the ever-recurring joy and 
 promise of the spring. They were in the garden at 
 Idlewild ; Antoine in his wheel chair, and Elsie pre- 
 tending to wield a trowel around the roots of a few 
 straggling rose bushes. She was an indifferent worker, 
 however, for every now and then Antoine v/ould catch 
 the bursting refrain of some over-joyous robin, and 
 throwing back his handsome head, would imitate it so 
 closely as to call forth rapturous applause from Elsie 
 and a chorus of answers from neighboring trees. 
 Presently Elsie began to purse her red lips in a wild 
 attempt to rival Antoine and the birds. Each at- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 5/ 
 
 tempt was followed by gay bursts of laughter such as 
 can issue only from the lips of children and the ut- 
 terly care-free. 
 
 " It is no use," said Elsie after awhile. *' I never 
 can be a bird." 
 
 " Then you can't fly away from me," said Antoine 
 gravely, laying a thin hand upon Elsie's cotton-gloved 
 ones. 
 
 " Would it grieve you if I should ? " 
 
 " It has been heaven since you came," said the lad 
 simply. 
 
 '' I don't believe you know what heaven is, if a mad- 
 cap girl like me can make it for you." 
 
 *' I've read somewhere that ' heaven lies in a woman's 
 eyes ; ' but I suppose that was meant for full-grown 
 men, not for little chaps like me. It is heaven all the 
 same to find a companion — one who can laugh before I 
 do. Ma mere always laughs a/te7\" 
 
 "' Did you laugh a great deal before I came ? " 
 
 " No, I only laughed when ma mere was looking. I 
 had to do it to keep the tears out of her voice. Oh, 
 I've been so lonely, ahvays thinking, thinking, and I 
 wanted not to think." 
 
 '•' Dear child, don't let us begin now. At least we'll 
 put sad thoughts away. Have you found your blos- 
 som for the home circle to-night ? " 
 
 *' Not yet. Miss Margaret said it must grow from 
 the soil of our daily life, and nothing seems to grow 
 in my soil." 
 
 " Listen, Antoine. You say I make heaven for you 
 because I can bring you laugliter. Has not that 
 
58 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 thought grown in the barren soil you complain of ? 
 Now make a blossom out of the root and stalk." 
 
 " I am too dull. You will not let me enter the cir- 
 cle if I show you how little I can make a thought. I 
 only live when I forget myself and everything around 
 me in somebody else. I am such a useless lad." 
 
 *' No, no, you must not allow yourself to think such 
 things. See what a comfort you are to your mother; 
 and how I delight in that odd little head of yours. 
 I neglect my work to talk to you, and shall have Mar- 
 garet scolding presently," answered Elsie, picking up 
 her trowel and giving one or two energetic digs at 
 the sod about a rose bush. 
 
 " Miss Margaret never scolds, I am sure," said An- 
 toine emphatically. " But oh, if I could run and leap 
 and work! " The words ended in a half-sob. 
 
 " We all have our appointed tasks, Antoine," said 
 Elsie softly. " Some are made to do and some are 
 made to bear." 
 
 " Mine always to bear! " exclaim.ed the lad bitterly. 
 " Never to be a man with a man's hopes and ambi- 
 tions. Just a little dried-up mummy " 
 
 ^' There, there ! " interrupted Elsie, taking the flushed 
 face between her hands and kissing it. '' Not very 
 much of a mummy with such a vehement tongue as 
 that. Dear child, let us put the inevitable away. 
 Heavy as the cross is, love lightens it, and love 
 will always be yours. No one can look at you with- 
 out loving you." 
 
 " For what ? " asked the lad eagerly. '' For my mis- 
 fortune, or what other reason ? " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 59 
 
 " For the spirit in those dark eyes and the atmos- 
 phere of lov^c that radiates from you. The spirit is 
 greater than the body, and life need not be useless to 
 you nor you to life." 
 
 " And is there more to hope for than the pity that 
 says * poor child ' when it looks at me ? " 
 
 Breathlessly Antoine asked the question, and as 
 breathlessly seemed to hang on Elsie's words: '' Men 
 crippled like you, Antoine, have made the world pause 
 to wonder at their powers, and hail in reverent ac- 
 claim the genius that is immeasurably above mere 
 physical perfection." 
 
 '* But I haven't any genius," said Antoine with a dis- 
 appointed sigh. " I have only one intense longing." 
 
 " For Vv'hat ? Tell me." 
 
 ''You will laugh at me." 
 
 " Not for the world." 
 
 '' Well, then," and Antoine's pale face flushed with 
 the energy of desire, " for music. To pour out my 
 soul in wordless utterances like the birds; to rise, to 
 float on waves of song, away above everybody." 
 
 The little thin hands were clasped together in an 
 ecstasy of feeling, and the bent body was restlessly 
 swaying back and forth among the cushions. 
 
 " Have you ever tried ? " asked Elsie simply. 
 
 " No ; ma mere doesn't even know it. She says I 
 whistle like a bird, and that is all she knows. She is 
 too poor to buy me anything to make music with." 
 
 " What would you like ? " 
 
 '' I think I could play the violin best, for that 
 doesn't need anything but arms to bring out the ex- 
 
6o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 pression. Ah, what joy it would be to make some- 
 thing talk for me, to me, I knozv, Elsie, I could teach 
 it to say the things in here that are so dumb now be- 
 cause they have no way to speak," and the restless 
 hands clutched his breast as he spoke. 
 
 ''Wait a moment," exclaimed Elsie, jumping up 
 quickly and running into the house. She was back in 
 less than a moment with an old violin case in her 
 hand. 
 
 "Ah! " she exclaimed, seeing the light of eager ex- 
 pectancy spring into Antoine's eyes. "' Don't be too 
 sure of anything. I found this in the rubbish when 
 we moved. I don't think it was poor father's. I never 
 heard him play it. By the way, I believe it was left at 
 our house by some stranger. Indeed, Antoine, we 
 never had any gayety in our home. It was only just 
 the serenity of well-performed duty, unless I whirled 
 into a storm for a change. But now, Antoine, if this 
 fiddle can sing, we'll have a little gayety, won't we ? " 
 
 '' Oh, won't we!" echoed Antoine, as Elsie busied 
 herself with removing the sack in which the violin had 
 been carefully tied. Alas! the violin had but one 
 string, and not a shadow of any other to be found in 
 sack or case. 
 
 ''Well, it's evidently whole," said Elsie, thumping 
 the back, " and strings can be bought. Take the bow, 
 Antoine, and wake the echoes with one string. We'll 
 make a noise, at any rate." 
 
 Antoine took the old violin and examined it care- 
 fully, thumping the one bass string with the gravity 
 of discovery. Once or twice he adjusted it under his 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 6 1 
 
 chin, and made a motion as if to draw the bow across 
 the string. Suddenly he stopped. 
 
 *' No," he said decidedly, " until there is a voice I 
 cannot speak, and even then, Elsie, how do I know I 
 shall not fail ? I know I shall with you watching me. 
 Some time when the strings are on the violin and I am 
 all alone, and I feel the song bird here in my breast, I 
 will try. Something tells me I shall succeed — that it 
 is my life, my hope ; but I do not know, after all," and 
 over the dark eyes stole the cloud of despair that so 
 often makes the bravest genius fearful of its own 
 weakness. 
 
 " We will make it hope for you because we will 
 work for it, dear," answered Elsie. " Even genius is 
 nothing without work." 
 
 Antoine did not answer, and Elsie, noticing the 
 cloud still hovering over the lad's face, pushed his 
 chair to the other end of the garden, where Margaret, 
 Lizzette, and Gilbert were busied over cold frames and 
 garden beds. Looking over the low paling that sep- 
 arated Margaret's garden from that of Lizzette, they 
 could already see the tender green of early vegeta- 
 bles showing through the glass plates of the hot beds. 
 Lizzete eyed them approvingly. 
 
 *' Next year you sail rival me," she said, laying a 
 brown hand on Margaret's shoulder. '' But nefer fear 
 — zere ees room for bof in zis world. We nezair of 
 us grow reech, c'est vrai ; but we lif and zat ees some- 
 sing. Ah, Gilbeart, you lose von goot foot zere. Now 
 put it zis way and see your frame couvair so mooch 
 more ground. Eet ees ze inch saved zat makes ze foot 
 
62 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 gained in ze market garden. See! Can you find von 
 inch to spare in zat leetle space of mine ? Eet all yields, 
 and yet Lizzette Minaud ees une tres pauvre femme." 
 
 " Poverty is a relative term, you know. Enough 
 to eat, to wear, and to grow on are all that any one 
 needs. It is in the enough, however, that lies the 
 division of opinion," said Margaret as she helped Gil- 
 bert adjust the frame to Lizzette's satisfaction. 
 
 "Zat ees true; but as ze world look at us vv'e haf 
 very leetle." 
 
 ''But if we have contentment therewith, we have 
 everything," answered Margaret. At this juncture 
 Elsie, who had wheeled Antoine into the path beside 
 her sister, broke out impetuously: 
 
 " Margaret Murchison, do you mean to say that you 
 are perfectly contented ? I don't believe one word of 
 it. You are not contented, for if 3/ou were you wouldn't 
 be striving with might and main to earn the vrhere- 
 withal to make a gentleman of Gilbert and a lady of 
 me. You'd let us remain clodhoppers to the end of 
 our days. It is all nonsense to preach contentment 
 when your actions give the lie to your words." 
 
 Margaret glanced up quickly at the vehement asser- 
 tion. 
 
 " There is a difference betv/een the contentment 
 that has only stagnation in it, and that which is satis- 
 fied to grow under the conditions which environ it 
 until the time ripens for wider growth and leafage. 
 If I am contented it is because I am willing to v\^ork 
 step by step and inch by inch as the way unfolds. 
 There is only disaster in trying to reach the height at 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 63 
 
 a single bound. Order is subverted and reason im- 
 peded in such attempts." 
 
 '' My wise sister, put on my harness and teach me 
 to trot soberly by your side. I do so want to jump 
 the gates for a wild run, and forget harness, duty, and 
 all the unpleasant things of life. Antoine and I have 
 been trying to be birds this morning." 
 
 '' You didn't succeed, I conclude." 
 
 "Well, no; at least I didn't. Wings v/ill never grow 
 for me, but Antoine is going to rival the birds some 
 day. See here! I found this among the rubbish in 
 father's study, and Gilbert when next he goes to the 
 city shall get the strings, and when Antoine has 
 learned to mJrror his soul in music I'll " 
 
 "What will you do?" asked Margaret soberly, as 
 Elsie paused for breath. 
 
 "Dance my vv^ay into fame! Now don't look so 
 horrified, or I shall think you are going to be a ' Miss 
 Prunes and Prisms ' instead of the good wholesome 
 'sister ' Dr. Ely thinks you are." 
 
 Elsie watched with sparkling eyes the pink flush 
 on Margaret's cheek, and a moment later mischiev- 
 ously intensified it by saying: "I wonder how the 
 staid Dr. Ely would relish hearing the world say that 
 the sister of " 
 
 " Elsie ! " exclaimed Margaret apprehensively. 
 
 " I was merely going to say — of the lady he ad- 
 mires so much was premier danseuse at the Stand- 
 ard ? " 
 
 Elsie was half-way to the house by the time she had 
 explained herself. 
 
64 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 *^ Oh, cet Elsie!" exclaimed Lizzette with a laugh. 
 '' What fire, v/hat verve zere ees under zat pretty head." 
 
 "She's a great puzzle to me," said Margaret some- 
 what sadly. " I really fear she'll burn her wings yet. 
 I hope I can keep her out of the candle." 
 
 " She'll keep herself out." exclaimed Antoine ener- 
 getically. *' She's got a heap of good sense; but she's 
 just like some wild bird, made to be gay and beautiful 
 all her life." 
 
 " She's been dropped in a sorry corner of the world, 
 if that is her destiny. There is little hope of anything 
 but the daily drill of duty in this household," an- 
 swered Margaret. 
 
 '' She'll never drill under any other captain than 
 love," said Antoine with a smile up into Margaret's 
 grave face. 
 
 " And he'll have to be a pretty lively fellow to keep 
 up with her antics, too," said Gilbert as he leaned his 
 hoe against the fence and took up the fiddle to exam- 
 ine it. 
 
 Margaret's face grew thoughtful as she heaped the 
 earth about the frame. '' Love, love," said she to her- 
 self. " After all, it is like the sun, the vivifying influ- 
 ence of the world, and duty sounds cold beside it. I 
 must find out what it is that is trying to burst its 
 bonds in my little girl's bosom. It may be I am too 
 slow and dull for the gay spring-time that is budding 
 there." 
 
 "Antoine," she exclaimed presently, "Gilbert shall 
 fix up the old fiddle and you shall learn to wake us 
 up. I believe we've been too sleepy for Elsie." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 65 
 
 " O Miss Margaret ! she is so lovely and so are 
 you," he added naively. 
 
 ''The old fiddle, Antoine," said Margaret, respon- 
 sively patting the boy's hand, " the old fiddle has a 
 history. Some eight or nine years ago my father 
 took into his house a sick man, who came apparently 
 from nowhere and was apparently journeying to the 
 same place. He was very ill when he came to the 
 house, and begged for a night's lodging and supper. 
 My father never turned any one who was hungry from 
 his door, and so he came among us, and sat all the 
 evening a silent figure in the chimney corner until bed- 
 time. He had nothing with him but a bundle tied up 
 in a red handkerchief and the fiddle. My father, with 
 a delicacy which was characteristic of him, did not 
 even ask the man his name, and so we never knew 
 who he was, nor where his friends were, if he had any. 
 About midnight we were all awakened by strains of 
 the weirdest music ; sometimes so sad and wailing that 
 it seemed like a human being in agonies of pain, again 
 as gay and glad as any chansonette, with here and 
 there bird notes so sweet and clear one could almost 
 hear the forest echoes, and then the maddest, wildest, 
 most rollicking melodies breaking in upon it all. At 
 last it stopped with a discordant crash of the bow 
 across the strings, and father stepped to the door of 
 the sick man's chamber, to find him lying across the 
 bed raving in delirium. We nursed him through a 
 two-days' illness, and then he died without having 
 told us a word of himself. There was nothing to in- 
 dicate who or what he was in his little bundle, and so 
 5 
 
66 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 that and the vIoHn were put away and nearly forgot- 
 ten until we came across them in moving. I am glad 
 Antoine is going to have the violin. My grave father 
 had no use for it." 
 
 During the recital of Margaret's story, Lizzette 
 Minaud had stood a rapt listener, her brown face 
 working with some unwonted emotion. When Mar- 
 garet had finished she said huskily, " Ze violin for An- 
 toine, Miss Margaret ? C'est tres-bon. I tank you so 
 mooch. Now Antoine will pour out his soul ; he ees 
 so like son pere, mon pauvre Jacques — ah Dieu ! oii 
 est-il ? " 
 
 " Is he not dead ? " asked Margaret in surprise. 
 
 " Non. When Antoine two year old, he go look for 
 work. He promise me to come back soon ; mais le 
 temps — c'est long, long. I nevair hear von word. 
 I know notings if he be living or dead. But ze violin 
 eet bring back ze memories. Mon Jacques he love eet 
 so, and play tres-bien." 
 
 " Ma mere ! ma mere! " cried Antoine, throwing up 
 his arms at sight of Lizzette's agitated face. 
 
 " Chut ! chut ! " answered Lizzette, bending down to 
 kiss him. " C'est passe, mon garcon. Now we will 
 be gay like ze birds, and happy ze livelong day." 
 
 Margaret had slipped away during the little collo- 
 quy between Lizzette and Antoine, and presently re- 
 turned with a small bundle carefully tied up in an old 
 bandana handkerchief. Untying the knot, she spread 
 its contents open to view. 
 
 " Mon Dieu ! mon Dieu ! " cried the voluble French- 
 woman, clutching the handkerchief and falling in a 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 6/ 
 
 paroxysm of weeping at Margaret's feet. " Ze cush- 
 ion I made for him; ze hair comb; ze neccessaire — I 
 know all, all. Mon pauvre Jacques! And you, Miss 
 Margaret, ze angel, ze comforter of his last hours ? 
 Plut a Dieu ! cet I too might have been wiz him. Ze 
 violin, celui de votre pere, Antoine. Le bon Dieu ! 
 Zese friends, ze violin, ze kind care de mon pauvre 
 Jacques, votre pere — ah ! my heart ees bursting wiv ze — 
 ze — gratefulness. I weep my eyes away," and the 
 affectionate creature clung to Margaret's skirts in a 
 bewilderment of grief, wonder, and joy. 
 
 " It seems like a miracle," said Margaret, stooping 
 to raise Lizzette from the ground. " But it only shows 
 how small the world is and how interdependent we 
 are. We shall be still warmer friends after this." 
 
 Antoine, a mute but agitated witness of the scene, 
 reached out a hand to Elsie, who had stolen quietly 
 beside his chair. 
 
 "How strange, how dear, how beautiful it all is!" 
 he exclaimed. 
 
68 A NEW ARISTOCRACY, 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 That evening, gathered in the little sitting-room at 
 Idlewild, were the five people who made up the Home 
 Circle Club which Margaret had organized, and who, 
 Elsie laughingly said, " represented the bone and sinew 
 of the ' new aristocracy ' which was to revolutionize 
 the Avorld." 
 
 "Only think," she exclaimed before Margaret had 
 gravely called the meeting to order. " Only think of 
 the greatness concentrated here ! In my grave sister 
 I recognize the * Morning Star ' of the new reformation ; 
 a second. Wickliffe with the mantle of peace and gen- 
 tleness bravely wrapped about her slight form. In 
 Gilbert another Sir Isaac Newton, who shall discover a 
 new law of gravitation, which shall make the gold of 
 the miser fall of its own volition into the outstretched 
 hands of the philanthropist. In Antoine a later 
 Corelli, who shall render all these aspirations into a 
 new classic for the benefit of future generations; and 
 in ma mere an Archestratus, who shall, in verifying 
 Voltaire's enthusiasm, * qu'un cuisinier est un mortel 
 divin,' solidify this band of enthusiasts with the ma- 
 terial offering of something good to eat." 
 
 "And you ? " asked Margaret. 
 
 "The unfortunate mortal upon whom you will all 
 practice." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 69 
 
 " I should like to begin by subjecting you to the law 
 oi gravity,'' exclaimed Gilbert. 
 
 '' Never fear," said Margaret. " Time will bring grav- 
 ity soon enough, and Elsie can't throw stones at us 
 without endangering her own enthusiasms. Her next 
 new dish will be our opportunity, Gilbert." 
 
 " Unless I put a guard over it." 
 
 " Will the meeting please come to order ? " said Mar- 
 garet soberly. Elsie subsided into her corner and 
 Antoine lay back among his cushions, and listened with 
 interest to Margaret's statement of the purposes of 
 the little home club. ''The first part of our plan is to 
 develop thought, and we have decided that such 
 thought must come to us in response to our daily 
 needs or grow out of our daily work. We therefore 
 expect each member to bring what we will call a blos- 
 som for the wreath of every-day living; this blossom 
 may be perhaps a wayside weed or a cherished bloom 
 of some inner chamber of the heart. Nothing is too 
 small or simple for this wreath, so that out of it we 
 may extract some consolation, hope, or purpose. 
 Upon these thoughts that are thrown together, and 
 which shall be kept in a record book, will depend the 
 evening's reading. In this way we think the demands 
 of our mental and moral needs will be best satisfied. 
 Elsie, what have you to offer ? " 
 
 The mischief had apparently died out of Elsie's face 
 as she answered : ''A good many things have come to 
 me to-day; but the most pronounced thought has been 
 the despair of enthusiasm and the futility of the most 
 earnest effort. I burned with the desire of a Fran- 
 
70 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 catelli to achieve an omelette; but having no eggs the 
 earnestness of purpose failed me." 
 
 A ripple of laughter greeted Elsie's announcement. 
 
 "Wanted," exclaimed Gilbert, "a. new invention for 
 making hens lay; otherwise the foundation of our cas- 
 tle in Spain will not be equal to its walls." 
 
 " Now, Antoine," said Margaret, " let us hear from 
 you." 
 
 " The day has been good to me," replied the lad, 
 ** for in it I have learned how sweet it is to hope." 
 
 "And I," said Lizzette, "haf found zat friendship 
 haf no price." 
 
 "While I," asserted Gilbert, " have found a boy's 
 back can ache a great deal harder at work than at play." 
 
 " Now, Margaret," asked Elsie, " how are you going 
 to philosophize over the want of eggs and a boy's 
 back ? These incorrigible facts take the poetry out 
 of our plan, I am afraid." 
 
 " Not in the least. It is the very thing we are en- 
 deavoring to do, make our philosophy fit our material 
 wants. It may be that the world wouldn't call our 
 reasoning by so dignified a name; but we don't care 
 for that. This is our world, and into it we are striv- 
 ing to bring as much of both earthly and divine sus- 
 tenance as will best fit us to receive the greatest 
 amount of happiness. Therefore, since eggs will con- 
 tribute to the mental balance and physical well-being 
 of Elsie, to say nothing of the rest of us, we must look 
 up some information regarding henneries. The gar- 
 den planted, Gilbert must exercise his ingenuity in 
 building one, while the rest of us " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 7 1 
 
 " Devise some means of making a hen lay two eggs 
 a day," interposed Elsie. 
 
 " Elsie, I am ashamed of you," exclaimed Margaret 
 with forced severity. *' To think that already you de- 
 velop the greed of a monopolist." 
 
 " Well, what is Eutopia good for, if it doesn't make 
 all doors swing back with the ' open sesame ' of good 
 wishes ? " 
 
 " Good to hope for," said Gilbert dryly. 
 
 " And to work for," added Margaret quietly. 
 
 " And ze hope and ze work keep ze world moving. 
 But ze boy's back, Mees Margaret, zat is a question 
 not yet answered." 
 
 ''A good game of base-ball would cure that, eh, Gil- 
 bert?" 
 
 '' I protest," exclaimed Elsie, " against any more 
 nonsense this evening. On our first grand opening to 
 be found on such a lamentably low plane is belittling 
 to our great aims. There has not been a word said 
 yet about the crying need of our country, the de- 
 plorable condition of labor, the injustice of our gov- 
 ernment, etc., etc. Will not our serene presidentess 
 inform her breathless audience how we are to strike at 
 the roots of these evils at once ? " 
 
 " Chiefly by attending to our owm business. In the 
 breast of each individual lies the power of bettering 
 himself, and as we better ourselves intellectually and 
 morally, as w^ell as materially, by so much we better 
 the world." 
 
 " It sounds easy," said Elsie dubiously. 
 
 *' It is easy," said Margaret firmly. " Grind out of 
 
72 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 our hearts the selfish love of ease that creates the un- 
 holy desire to build up ourselves by pulling others 
 down, and bravely resolve to shirk no plain duty, and 
 the battle is half-won. Now let us turn to the real 
 business of the evening. I have laid out a line of his- 
 tory work for the first half-hour ; for the second, belles- 
 lettres and poetry; for the third, discussion; and for 
 the last, music." 
 
 " From Antoine's violin ? " 
 
 "Yes, and from an organ to accompany him." 
 
 " Has the organ materialized ? " asked Elsie, gazing 
 incredulously around the room. 
 
 " It shall to-morrow. We can obtain one by monthly 
 payments, and only a little plainer living, fewer 
 clothes, and the thing can be managed. I'll agree to 
 wear calico all the time, even Sundays if need be." 
 
 "And I won't even think oi a ribbon," exclaimed 
 Elsie, with a mischievous twinkle shining through eyes 
 that were suspiciously misty. 
 
 "Amen," said Gilbert. " I'll Avear patches and play 
 ' bones.' " 
 
 Lizzette and Antoine said nothing; but a look of 
 intelligence passed between them, which told of a pur- 
 pose they did not care to mention just then. And so 
 the little Home Circle Club was arranged. Three 
 evenings. in the week the programme came to be suc- 
 cessfully carried out. Margaret kept a record of all 
 the proceedings, carefully noting down the doubts and 
 difficulties that beset them, and as carefully adding 
 all truths that came to help them. The music of the 
 violin and organ was not a startling success at first, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 73 
 
 for the empty purse prevented all thought of tuition 
 except that furnished by self-teaching manuals; but 
 as exceptional genius lay beneath Antoine's curly 
 locks, and Elsie was an uncommonly bright scholar, 
 it was not long before the two young heads had 
 solved the puzzling rudiments of music, and were on 
 their way toward a tolerable amount of proficiency. 
 Antoine was a new being. His mother affirmed that 
 the music would cure him. A faint color tinged the 
 hitherto pale cheeks, and an unusual sparkle lit up the 
 dark eyes. It would have been hard to find a happier 
 group of people than the five at Idlewild. They 
 were like one family in their interests and efforts. 
 Lizzette flitted in and out of both domiciles, intent 
 now on Elsie's cooking, now on Antoine's music, 
 which came to her ears at all hours of the day and 
 night— for the violin had grown to be like a living 
 companion to the crippled lad — now helping Gilbert 
 and Margaret In the garden or gravely puzzling over 
 some of the English books on Margaret's table. They 
 were all busy, cheerful, and conscious that they were 
 making progress, intellectually and materially. Liz- 
 zette's experience had been the safeguard over Mar- 
 garet's efforts in the garden. It was prospering finely, 
 and already Lizzette had sold at her stall in the market 
 
 at C enough to make Margaret feel that her hard 
 
 days of work with hoe and spade were sometimes sure 
 to be well rewarded. As the season progressed the 
 work in the garden required additional help. In an 
 old negro woman, known to everybody in the neigh- 
 borhood as '' Aunt Liza," together with her son Eph, 
 
74 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Margaret found the needed assistance. Often she 
 worked beside them, finding as acquaintance pro- 
 gressed a perpetual source of annoyance in the aim- 
 less and half-hearted way in which they worked. Ir- 
 responsibility seemed to be with them the predominat- 
 ing characteristic, and strive as she would against it, 
 she frequently found her efforts not much more suc- 
 cessful than so much writing in water. They would 
 both listen to her instructions with serious but blank 
 faces, and relapse at once into that indolent method 
 which was a continual thorn in Margaret's New Eng- 
 land thrift. It was her first serious stumbling-block 
 on the way to that high plane of achievement where- 
 on she had made no allowance for the thriftless, the 
 ignorant, and the irresponsible. To her well-regulated 
 mind, all people oiigJit to be industrious, patient, and 
 ambitious, and it was a keen thrust against her com- 
 posure to be brought into contact with the unpromis- 
 ing side of human nature. It was not so much that the 
 two did not earn the wages she paid them, as that she 
 saw failure, suffering, misfortune before the tA\o un- 
 thinking mortals. She felt a moral responsibility in 
 endeavoring to set their feet aright, and so tried in 
 numberless little ways to impress upon them a faint 
 idea of the requirements of life. She found in the 
 little hut where they lived a deplorable poverty, and 
 undertook to question Liza, who in the summer, to- 
 gether Avith Eph, earned fairly good wages, how it 
 happened that they were so poor. 
 
 '' Dunno, Miss Margaret," answered Liza with a 
 grin. " Spec somehow me an' Eph ain't got no way 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 75 
 
 of sabin'. In the summer time we has 'nough ter cat, 
 and we firgits about de cold, and so when de winter 
 comes, folks 'bout here is mighty good, and don't let 
 us go hungry, and that's jes' de way we gits thru." 
 
 " But wouldn't you rather save a part of your wages 
 in the summer and fix up the cabin good and warm, 
 and be able to feed yourself and have people respect 
 you ? " 
 
 '' Spec 'twould seem better to have de old cabin 
 fixed up ; but as for folks 'spectin' ole Aunt Liza and 
 nigger Eph — yah! yah! I reckon, Miss Margaret, 
 yer ain't lived long o' niggers much." 
 
 Liza's fat sides shook with unctuous laughter as she 
 looked up into Margaret's face. 
 
 " No," said Margaret, *' but I think every one is en- 
 titled to respect who earns it, whether he is black or 
 white." 
 
 " P'raps that's so," assented Liza, " but niggers ain't 
 white folks, nohow. They's a pore down-trodden race 
 fo' suah," she added, catching the whine of some clap- 
 trap orator. " Dey jes' don't know how to be any 
 better." 
 
 '* They can learn." 
 
 " Mighty hard work teach a nigger ; dey's got dreffel 
 thick skulls. Niggers is the comicalest folks too; jes' 
 gib 'em a chicken bone and a watermillion and dey 
 don't care fo' nuffin' else," and Aunt Liza stopped 
 work long enough to chuckle over her own wit. 
 
 ''But they ought to; because chicken bones and 
 watermelons don't grow on every bush. They ought 
 to learn how to take care of their money, and buy 
 
"jd A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 little homes of their own, and grow into citizens that 
 are honest and self-respecting," 
 
 ** Specs it take mighty long while to do dat, Miss 
 Margaret. Niggers don't have nuffin' mo'n a few pen- 
 nies at a time, and dey's sartin suah to git away jes' 
 soon as dey turns roun'." 
 
 '' Did you ever count up how much money there 
 would be in saving five cents a day for a year, or even 
 a summer ? " 
 
 ''No, don't know 'nuff; but Eph hyah's been to 
 school. Eph, you jes' count 'em up." 
 
 " Cain't do it. Hain't got that fur. Ye see," said 
 he, glad of a chance to rise from his cramped position, 
 with the ostensible object of explaining himself, " I's 
 only jes' larned de A B abs and hain't got no time to 
 go no mo'. I's got to hire out all de time." 
 
 " Well, five cents a day for six days in a week make 
 thirty cents; that sum for fifty-two weeks in a year 
 makes the sum of $15.60." 
 
 "Ooeeh!" exclaimed Eph. " Dat's mo' money 'n 
 I ever seed at a time. Jes' five cents' yer say? How 
 much ef it's only thru de summer dat we sabes it ? " 
 
 " That depends upon how many months you work. 
 If you work from April to November, say a period of 
 twenty-six weeks, there will be seven dollars and eighty 
 cents. Would not that go a good way in helping to 
 clothe and feed you in the winter ? " 
 
 " Golly, yes," exclaimed Eph. " I never has no 
 clothes when the col' spells come on. I's alius shiv- 
 erin' 'roun' in de winter and hopin' fo' spring." 
 
 " Eph," said Aunt Liza, roused by Margaret's arith- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 7/ 
 
 metic into an unusual interest, " jes' s'posin' we 'uns 
 tries dat little specolation. Five cents hain't a drefful 
 sight ter sabe a day, but it do heap up 'mazin' fast, 
 dat's so. Jes' let's make Miss Margaret hold de money 
 fo' us; fo' dar ain't no use o' us tryin' ter sabe it. It 
 jes' burn holes in our pockets fo' shuah." 
 
 " I's agreed," answered Eph, getting up again and 
 making an elaborate bow to Margaret. " Specs Miss 
 Margaret tryin' a little mission on us; but lawsee ! 
 reckon dar's need 'nuff of it, and I's putty shuah dar 
 ain't nobody nicerer to be banker fo' us." 
 
 Having delivered this speech, Eph leaned up against 
 the fence with the air of having supplied a long-felt 
 want. Margaret smiled and began, '' I am afraid " 
 
 '' Heah, you Eph!" interrupted Aunt Liza, picking 
 up a clod and hurling it at Eph's head, ** you lazy 
 nigger! go to work, or yer don't git no five cents to 
 sabe." 
 
 Eph cleverly dodged the clod and leisurely sank to 
 his knees. *' Specs Miss Margaret hain't no 'bjections 
 ter actin' as ouah banker," he resumed with the 
 utmost complacency. 
 
 ^' I don't believe that's the best plan. Can't you lay 
 it up yourselves, and resolve not to touch it till cold 
 weather comes ? " 
 
 " Shuah fo' sartin. Miss Margaret, a nigger don't 
 know how to sabe a cent. It jes' gits away, dat's all. 
 Onless you's our banker, like Eph say, we don't git 
 rich by time col' weather's settlin' down." 
 
 Aunt Liza, unmindful of the reproof she had just 
 administered to Eph, sat up in the path, and with 
 
78 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 numerous gesticulations proceeded to emphasize her 
 statement. " It's mighty good o' yer, Miss Margaret, 
 to take a likin' to us no-'count niggers, and I's jes* 
 goln' to try and see ef dar ain't some good in ouah ole 
 bones aftah all. Ef you'll jes' keep ouah sabin's I'll 
 make dat Eph work every day in de week and go 
 huntin' Sundays." 
 
 " Well," said Margaret, with difficulty repressing a 
 smile, *' ril try it. Now let's see if these two rows 
 can't be finished by noon." 
 
 " Meg," said Elsie, as Margaret came wearily into 
 the house at the noon hour, " what have you been 
 trying to do with those good-for-nothing ' cullud pus- 
 sons ' out there ? " 
 
 " Teach them a little responsibility, that is all." 
 
 " My sweet sister," said Elsie, rapturously kissing 
 the pale face as she drew Margaret down into a rock- 
 ing-chair, " you will kill yourself with trying to be the 
 world's keeper." 
 
 " It is only a little thing, Elsie ; the cup of cold water 
 and no more." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 79 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 It was June before the little Frenchwoman would 
 hear to Margaret's making any effort to dispose of her 
 produce in her own way. Regularly every morning 
 Lizzette boarded the four-o'clock train for the city 
 with her boxes of produce, which she pushed to the 
 train in the hand-cart and wheeled from the train to 
 her stall in the market. Until now the amount yielded 
 by Margaret's garden had been small in bulk, but so 
 well had it thrived under Lizzette's management and 
 the comparatively good season, that the more bulky 
 vegetables, such as spinach, peas, beans, etc., were 
 coming on, and Lizzette found the yield of the two 
 gardens more than she could well manage in her small 
 way. Margaret, appalled somewhat, for all her cour- 
 age, at having to face the multitude in a stall at the 
 market, was for disposing of her produce to the com- 
 mission merchants on South M Street. 
 
 '' Non," said Lizzette emphatically. " Zere ees no 
 money in zat. You make consignment and more 
 likely zan not get back ze whole stuff wilted and good 
 for nosing. I tried zat to my sorrow. In ze stall you 
 gell all at some price. You no carry home ze stuff 
 again." 
 
 " I know," said Margaret doubtfully, " but truly I 
 
8o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 dread my ignorance and the contact with things wholly 
 unfamiliar." 
 
 "Ah, ze little brown Frenchwoman haf no such fear, 
 and she forget ze girlhood so long temps! Zare ees 
 Gilbert — ees he not old enough ? I take him under my 
 wing, and he sail learn ze tricks of trade. N'est-ce 
 pas .'' 
 
 " I will go with you to-morrow," said Margaret, 
 ''for I must conquer my dread. Perhaps some time 
 Gilbert shall take my place." 
 
 Nothing in the line of work had ever seemed so dis- 
 tasteful to Margaret as wheeling the little hand-cart 
 through the streets of the city, and taking her place 
 within the stall next to Lizzette's. It was early when 
 they reached the market, and the buyers were not out 
 in full force; nevertheless Margaret fancied she saw 
 in every eye that lingered on her an impertinent curi- 
 osity. Self-consciousness was the least of her failings; 
 but there was an almost unacknowledged protest at 
 being compelled to stand up before the gaze of hun- 
 dreds and volubly offer her small wares for sale. Duty 
 certainly wore her most uninviting aspect that morn- 
 ing, and came nearer finding Margaret a coward than 
 ever before. She had never as yet shrunk from any 
 work, however menial ; but there was a vast difference 
 between performing that work within the seclusion of 
 home, cheered and upheld by an atmosphere of love 
 and appreciation that made " the dignity of labor " 
 something more than the radiant utterance of some 
 visionary pedant, and standing in the full gaze of the 
 public, subjected to the Avhims, avarice, snobbishness, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 8 1 
 
 and impertinence of the pushing, merciless multitude. 
 Oh, how she shrank from it all! How had she ever 
 thought it possible to have strength for such work ? 
 Lizzette's quick eyes noticed the constraint of Mar- 
 garet's manner, and she undertook, by a display of 
 more than ordinal y volubility and gayety, to dispel 
 the gloom that wrapped her. She bustled about, 
 changing the position of that bunch of onions or 
 radishes, this head of lettuce, or endeavoring to display 
 more temptingly the measures of spinach, peas, beans, 
 etc. More than one would-be buyer halted, gazed at 
 the silent figure and white face, and passed on. 
 
 " Zis will nevair do," interposed Lizzette in a whis- 
 per. "You look truly seek; sit down here behind ze 
 cart, and I sell for bof of us. Vous avez ze paleness 
 I no like to see. Ze work ees too hard." 
 
 Margaret shook herself together with an effort. 
 No, she would not be beaten back at the first step; 
 it would be degrading. The mutiny in her breast, 
 whatever it was, whether a hitherto unknown under- 
 current of false pride or a new and abnormal sensi- 
 tiveness, must be conquered. With a smile that was 
 almost pitiful in its attempted bravery she said : '' No, 
 Lizzette ; it is now or never. You will soon see what 
 a brave market-woman I will make. I shall make 
 a sale to the next comer. Good-morning, madam ! 
 How can I serve you ? " she asked, as a woman who 
 wore diamonds and silk approached and sniffed con- 
 temptuously above the little display of greenery. 
 
 "Dear me! You don't seem to have anything fit 
 for a pig to eat," said the woman as with ungloved 
 6 
 
82 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 hand flashing with diamonds she deHberately reached 
 for a measure of spinach, and turned it bottom side 
 up on the little counter. 
 
 '' I presume not," said Margaret, quietly picking up 
 the spinach and restoring it to its place. " We don't 
 sell to pigs here." 
 
 **H*m! impertinent!" and with a haughty stare 
 into Margaret's face, the diamonds and silk passed on. 
 Lizzette was convulsed with laughter. Margaret stole 
 a quick glance at her, and the white scorn of her face 
 lit up with a smile. 
 
 " That was a tonic, Lizzette," she said. *' I shall do 
 better next time." 
 
 A second later a sweet-faced little matron stopped 
 at the counter, asked for prices, made her selection, 
 and looking earnestly at Margaret, said: ''You are a 
 newcomer here. I know all the old faces." 
 
 " It is my first effort." 
 
 "And you find it hard?" 
 
 "A little. I shall get used to it." 
 
 "Ah, yes, we get used to almost everything in" this 
 world. I shall remember you and look for you to- 
 morrow. Good morning " And Avith a slight bow the 
 little matron took up her purchases and went on her 
 way. 
 
 Margaret's face softened as she glanced at Lizzette. 
 " Eet ees not all bad," Lizzette found time to whisper. 
 
 " No," said Margaret, " a little smile lightens the 
 whole world." 
 
 When the market hours were over, Margaret, to her 
 surprise, found that she had sold out her little stock, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 83 
 
 and Lizzette was voluble in praise of her ability as 
 a saleswoman. The generous hearted little French- 
 woman had nothmg to say of the numberless ways in 
 which she had contrived to bring Margaret's supplies 
 within the notice of purchasers. Margaret went home 
 with a lighter heart. After all, nothing was ever quite 
 so hard when once the shoulder had been put to the 
 wheel. Yet it was a white, tired face that greeted the 
 three who at Idlewild were anxiously awaiting the re- 
 sult of the experiment. 
 
 *' O Meg ! " cried Elsie apprehensively. "You have 
 gone beyond your strength, and I am to blame for 
 coaxing you into this move. I am going to take your 
 place." 
 
 *' No, indeed," said Margaret decisively; "I'll not 
 hear one word to it. This is my work until I have 
 mastered it and am ready to give it up to Gilbert." 
 
 They knew persuasions were useless, and so she was 
 left to work out the problem upon which she was just 
 entering. It did not grow any easier as the weeks 
 and months progressed. She never could quite put 
 down the mute protest that arose within her against 
 a conscious unsuitability for such work. It was always 
 distasteful to her to mingle with the jostling crowd 
 and urge upon fault-finding buyers the excellence of 
 her wares; but she resolutely choked back revolt, and 
 finding that she was gaining customers who grew to 
 like the simple earnestness of her manner and to rely 
 upon the exactness of her word and measure, and that 
 there was at least a living profit in her calling, she 
 learned to endure all its unpleasantness with no word 
 
84 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 of complaint. How bravely she bore it all no one 
 guessed except Lizzette, who witnessed daily the strug- 
 gle going on in the girl's breast. 
 
 '' Ze instinct of ze lady rebelled, but ze heart of ze 
 woman bear," she said sententiously. 
 
 The summer passed away quickly and uneventfully; 
 the daily round of duties, of self-improvement, of 
 little moments of relaxation over Elsie's organ or 
 Antoine's violin, making the days bright with widen- 
 ing hope and prospects. 
 
 One late October evening, while Elsie and Antoine 
 were filling the little house with music and Gilbert 
 was buried in a book, Margaret seated herself before 
 her father's desk and began a letter to Dr. Ely. 
 
 " In fulfilment of my promise, I inclose a summary 
 of our summer's work. You will see that financially 
 we are a trifle ahead. This is due to the wise fore- 
 thought of our good friend Dr. Ely and the manage- 
 ment of our wonderful little Frenchwoman. When I 
 look at my own work, I realize that I have been but 
 the obedient machine of wiser calculation than I could 
 possibly have evinced, and I take no credit to myself 
 for this happy state of our affairs. Much as I believe 
 in and preach the independence of the individual, I 
 realize more and more the absolute need of inter- 
 dependent friendship. It is impossible to find healthy 
 life in the isolation of self; and yet it is in the devel- 
 opment of self that we reach the highest capability 
 for perfect friendship. The wisdom of others has 
 benefited me largely this summer. Through others* 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 85 
 
 eyes I have seen with clearer vision many things which 
 my own inexperience would have shown me but diml}\ 
 I feel that I have grown stronger and more steadfast 
 by reason of this friendship that came like a waft of 
 summer wind across my barren pathway; and that I 
 may properly render unto Caesar, I hereby make my 
 acknowledgments for numberless good offices at your 
 hands. 
 
 " As regards the garden, the hot-beds are made 
 ready for the winter's sowing, and we have built a 
 substantial hen-house and a miniature duck-pond at 
 the foot of the raspberry patch. The yield of berries 
 this summer was inconsiderable, owing to the vigorous 
 pruning given to the bushes, but the growth has been 
 fine. The trellises are all in good shape and we hope 
 for a substantial return next summer. 
 
 " My experiment with Aunt Liza and Eph, about 
 which I wrote you, has not been highly successful. 
 Between the two they have managed to save about 
 five dollars, and I've no doubt the community will be 
 called upon as usual to keep the breath of life in their 
 poor bodies until spring. For my part, since they are 
 both able-bodied I shall owe nothing. Whatever help 
 I offer they must be made to pay for in some shape, 
 since in that way only can they be taught independ- 
 ence and responsibility, and something like a solution 
 be made of this problem of the poor whom we have 
 always with us. 
 
 " As regards my market business, I do not think I 
 am calculated for trade. The peculiar isolation of my 
 life has unfitted me for contact with many-sided hu- 
 
S6 - A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 manlty, and for that reason I tie myself to it with a 
 self-immolation of an Indian devotee. With not only 
 my own way to make in the world, but that of Elsie 
 and Gilbert, I can afford no mawkish shrinking from 
 unpleasant things. It will never be a pleasant business 
 for me, but as I find the newness wearing off, it grows 
 more bearable. I have established a regular line of 
 good customers who seem always well suited ; have 
 quite a trade in butter, which I buy from the farmers' 
 wives hereabout, and a slight output of eggs and 
 chickens from our own hennery. Eph has promised 
 to keep me supplied for the winter with game, and 
 Lizzette and I will make our trips at six o'clock in- 
 stead of four as the weather grows colder. So much 
 for material matters. 
 
 " In our Home Club we have done fairly well. We 
 have finished United States history, taken up the first 
 principles of political economy, made some studies in 
 Shakespeare and ' Ivanhoe ' and 'Adventures of Philip,' 
 t?'ted Browning and discarded him — our practical life 
 is too short to spend in solving enigmas that, however 
 charming they may be as poetical conceptions, have 
 nothing perceptible to teach us — and by way of dessert, 
 with Ruskin to fall back on, have taken up some slight 
 studies In sestheticism, the material result of which 
 has been innumerable Move bags,' impossible 'head- 
 rests,' and indescribable nothings on Elsie's part. The 
 best part of our efforts, however, has been the practi- 
 cal value of our discussions following the presentation 
 of a 'blossom' or thought by each member. You 
 will recall my previous letter regarding this. Out of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 8/ 
 
 this discussion has come wisdom, even beyond our 
 hopes, and strength greater than our own. We scorn 
 nothing here, not the simplest wayside weed, and we 
 have learned much from each other and research. 
 Antoine is making marvellous progress in his music. 
 Already he is interpreting Bach and Handel, and even 
 venturing into snatches of original composition. The 
 lad's soul seems to have been lit at the altar of music; 
 for on no ordinary presumption can one compute his 
 wonderful development. Strength and a greater de- 
 gree of comeliness seems to have come into his long 
 thin arms and bent shoulders, while there is a constant 
 glow in his dark eyes and an unusual gayety in his 
 laugh. Lizzette is in a fervor of happiness and pride, 
 and seems not to be able to do enough for us. Elsie 
 has caught Antoine's faculty for whistling, and often 
 makes a good second to the bird-like notes with which 
 he accompanies his violin. It is a rare treat to listen 
 to them as I am listening now — Elsie at the organ, An- 
 toine with his violin nestled lovingly under his chin, 
 and his deft bow bringing out with marvellous power 
 its almost human tones, and both whistling! Elsie 
 grows daily more charming and more expansive, and 
 music seems to be with her, as with Antoine, the ex- 
 pression of much that is restless, wayward, and beauti- 
 ful in her soul. Gilbert is docile and patient; but I 
 notice a growing uneasiness and distaste for his work 
 that must be met and overcome in some way. I have 
 been thinking of putting him in the manual-training 
 school in the city, but have not yet solved the problem 
 of ways and means, I think you may perhaps be 
 
88 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 pained to find that we do not attend church. In the 
 first place, the purchase of the organ rendered neces- 
 sary the most rigid economy in dress — in fact, Elsie 
 and I wear nothing but calico, and Gilbert's clothes 
 are growing decidedly seedy. In the second place, we 
 went once to St. Paul's, in the city, and have had no 
 heart to go since. My poor father long before his 
 death used to declaim against the growing tendency 
 to exclusiveness in the churches. In the simplicity of 
 my country living, I thought him unnecessarily appre- 
 hensive. The house of God was indeed to me so much 
 a sanctuary I thought worldliness was left at the outer 
 door; but I found my mistake upon entering the door 
 of St. Paul's. The free seats, high-backed and un- 
 cushioned, were portioned off from the others with a 
 wide aisle. In them were gathered a little handful of 
 people like ourselves, evidently the world's toilers and 
 God's poor. The cushioned seats were filled with a 
 richly-dressed congregation. The altar was superbly 
 decorated in white and gold, and the clergym.an, as 
 white and high-bred-looking as his aesthetic surround- 
 ings, preached a sermon on the ' Beauty of the ideal.' 
 He found his text in the Bible, but he found nothing 
 else there. The Bread of Life was not in it. I glanced 
 around the congregation ; those in the free seats sat 
 with blankly staring countenances, evidently victims 
 to a sense of duty. The occupants of the cushioned 
 seats leaned luxuriously back and listened with a well- 
 bred air of interest; but as far as I could see not one 
 face glowed with an intensity of feeling or asked for 
 anything more than the rhetorical flourish. We re- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 89 
 
 mained through the communion service, but did not 
 partake of it. I think the divine symbols would have 
 choked me, my heart was so hot and bitter within me. 
 Clearly my father v/as right. The church of to-day is 
 not for the masses, nor of the masses, and yet I feel 
 sure that there is a great heart of humanity underlying 
 all this worldliness, and perhaps waiting patiently for 
 the time to ripen when the crust of wealth-worship, 
 caste, and place-hunting shall be burned through with 
 the white heat of its fires. God loves his chosen, and 
 they are of all the earth ; some day he shall call them 
 together! We spend our Sundays at home. Elsie and 
 Antoine render beautifully those old arks of safety, 
 'Come! Ye Disconsolate' and ' Jesus, Lover of My 
 Soul.' We read, talk, study, and open our hearts to 
 the sweet graces of love and charity, and so we forget 
 that outside there is a world which scorns our poverty 
 and our calloused hands. Once in a while, drawn by 
 the music, old Aunt Liza and Eph — who by the way 
 begrudges the Sunday that takes him away from his 
 hunting — make an addition to our number. I don't 
 try to do any so-called missionary work with them, al- 
 though Eph says suspiciously he * specs dat's what 
 it all means, anyhow ! ' On the whole, life is very 
 pleasant with us. I am growing so accustomed to its 
 methodical rounds that I have no time for anything 
 like regret or vain aspirations. 
 
 ''With the best wishes for the prosperity of the 
 school and the welfare of our good friend Dr. Ely, 
 I am Sincerely your friend, 
 
 " Margaret Murchison." 
 
90 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The ground was covered with snow, and with the 
 thermometer registering ten degrees below zero every- 
 thing creaked, tingled, and snapped in the frosty air. 
 A keen, cutting wind whistled down from the North 
 and made the comfortably-housed mortal shiver with 
 dread at thought of being exposed to its rude blast. 
 In the little house at Idlewild the three drew around 
 the stove and discussed, gravely apprehensive, Mar- 
 garet's dread trip to market in the morning. 
 
 " Don't go! " exclaimed Elsie. '' It will be so bitter 
 cold that precious few will venture out to buy." 
 
 " I wouldn't if it were not so near Christmas, and I 
 shall have no money for remembrance if I do not sell 
 off the little produce we have." 
 
 ''Well, I'd rather forego a remembrance than have 
 you frozen stiff in the act of presenting a cabbage-head 
 to an indifferent public, while your very utterances 
 crystallized on the frosty air and left you a touching 
 monument to the ills of labor." 
 
 " Let me go, sister," exclaimed Gilbert. " I think it 
 is time you let me bear a little hardship." 
 
 ''Indeed it is," interposed Elsie. "You are spoiling 
 the lad by forgetting that if he lives long enough he 
 will be a man some time." 
 
 " Never fear! He will live long enough to see you 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 9I 
 
 a sharp-tongued old maid," ejaculated Gilbert, who 
 occasionally winced under Elsie's raillery. 
 
 ''That doesn't frighten me a bit! I never saw a 
 sharp tongued old maid who didn't have the right of 
 way everywhere she went. Try again, Gilbert. Your 
 picture is not half dismal enough." 
 
 "Hush, children!" interferred Margaret, laying a 
 hand on the hand of each. " Suppose I accept your 
 proposition and let Gilbert take my place to-morrow! " 
 
 "Yes, and the rest of the winter," said Gilbert ear- 
 nestly. ''It is too hard for you. I've noticed you 
 were growing thin under it." 
 
 "And I too," added Elsie. " I should have said so 
 before, but you have such a desperately calm heroism 
 about you that it takes more than usual bravery to 
 remonstrate with you." 
 
 " Desperately calm is an admirable expression, Elsie," 
 said Margaret w^ith a smile, '' and now that you have 
 exhibited so much bravery, I suppose there is nothing 
 left for me but to succumb.'' 
 
 " Exactly. It is refreshing to find you so docile." 
 
 " I suspect it is because I am a coward physically. 
 I have not much desire to stand in the front; in fact, 
 rd like to desert from the army of workers." 
 
 "Margaret, I'm afraid you are going to be sick," 
 exclaimed Elsie, all the mischief dying out of her 
 face. 
 
 " Nonsense, Rosebud. I never was sick in my life." 
 
 " Everybody finds his Waterloo some time, and now, 
 Margaret Murchison, I'm going to exert my long-re- 
 served authority and insist that you put up that book 
 
92 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 — somehow I never see you of late without a book or 
 a cabbage in your hand — and go to bed. You are 
 completely tired out, I know, and there is no use in 
 trying to make a martyr of yourself any longer." 
 
 With gentle insistence Elsie took the book from her 
 sister's hand and dragged her off to bed, hovering over 
 her with ostentatious airs of stern command that were 
 as grateful to Margaret's tired senses as they were 
 amusing in the blithe-hearted girl. 
 
 Some moments later, though it was still early in 
 the evening, the little household was wrapped in 
 profound slumber. 
 
 Fire! Fire! shouted a belated passer-by as he ran 
 hurriedly toward the Idlewild cottage. 
 
 Fire! Fire! first took up one voice and another, 
 and Fire! Fire! they cried almost under the windows 
 of the little house. No response came from the inside. 
 " Pound on the doors ! " shouted a voice. 
 
 " Maybe they are not at home," responded another. 
 " Pound away! wake them up! break in the door! " 
 
 Terrific blows were applied on the door, which yielded 
 to the pressure and fell back splintered from top to 
 bottom. Fire! Fire! yelled the foremost man of the 
 party. Still no response from the inm.ates. By this time 
 half a dozen men had gathered in the room, and were 
 busily engaged in throwing out articles of furniture, 
 hunting for water, and endeavoring to put out the fire, 
 which, with the draft of the open door, was already 
 encircling the room. 
 
 *' Good God ! " cried one of the men, opening a bed- 
 room door and discovering Elsie and Margaret asleep. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 93 
 
 " Here are two women ! Wake up ! Wake up ! The 
 house is on fire ! " 
 
 Elsie sprang up dazed and bewildered. 
 
 " On fire ? " she cried as if dimly understanding. 
 *'0 Meg! O Meg! wake up! We'll burn!" and seiz- 
 ing Margaret by the shoulder she undertook to wake 
 her. There was no response from Margaret, who lay 
 like one dead. 
 
 " There ain't no time to waste," called the man. 
 " Come, get up out of here," and he shook her vigor- 
 ously. So heavy a stupor was upon her she could 
 make no reply, and the man finally lifted her by main 
 force and called to Elsie, " Come on, girl — there ain't 
 no time to fool away." 
 
 Just then arose the cry, ''We can't get a drop of 
 water ! Everything is frozen solid ! " 
 
 " Let her go, boys ! Throw out the things ! No use 
 trying to save her ! " 
 
 At that moment Elsie appeared in the doorway. "My 
 brother ! My brother Gilbert ! He's in there ! " point- 
 ing to a door that seemed barred by the flames. " Let 
 me wake him," and she was about to rush through the 
 flames, clad only in her night-dress and with bare feet, 
 when the little knot of men threw themselves in her 
 way. One of them, axe in hand, dashed through the 
 flames, and a moment later they heard the sound of 
 shivering glass, while Gilbert awoke from a boy's sound 
 slumber on the snow outside of his room. The man 
 with the axe followed the boy's exit through the win- 
 dow, and appeared at the outer doorway a moment 
 later. "Any one else in the house ? " he asked. 
 
94 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " No," said Elsie growing cooler as she realized the 
 safety of Margaret and Gilbert. " Save the books, the 
 organ, and the desk if everything else goes." 
 
 "All right, but you better put for the neighbor's. 
 We'll bring you some clothes and save the furniture 
 too. Now, boys, pitch in ! " 
 
 Elsie started out of the door at the word of com- 
 mand, and almost stumbled over Antoine on his knees 
 in the snow. '' O Elsie! O Elsie!" he cried. "I 
 couldn't stay in. I was so frightened. Thank God, 
 you're not burned ! " 
 
 Elsie picked up the helpless lad in her arms and 
 started as fast as the burden would permit her for the 
 lad's home. At the corner of the house she met Gil- 
 bert in his night clothes, dazed and stupid. "Come, 
 Gilbert ! " she cried, " help me take Antoine home. I 
 can hardly carry him." 
 
 "I want my clothes," he shivered; "let me get my 
 clothes." He was just dodging into the door, v/hen a 
 hand seized him roughly by the shoulders and sent 
 him flying into the snow again. 
 
 "Are you mad ? The walls are just ready to fall. 
 Get to the neighbor's ! Here, take this blanket ! " and 
 the fireman tossed the shivering boy a blanket. Elsie 
 was barely half-way up the path leading to Antoine's 
 home, when she encountered Lizzette frantic with 
 fear for Gilbert and Elsie. When she saw Elsie's^ 
 burden she snatched the lad up with a startled excla- 
 mation. 
 
 " Mon Dieu, Antoine ! Que fait il ? Oia va-t-il ? I 
 nevair know he leaves ze house, Elsie. Run, Elsie ! 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 95 
 
 Margaret ees in a faint. I no wake her! Gilbert, 
 mon pauvre gar9on ! Que dire ? que faire ? " 
 
 Hastily along the icy way the three ran, Lizzette 
 having taken Antoine from Elsie's arms. They burst 
 open the door of the little sitting-room, to find Mar- 
 garet still and white on the lounge. 
 
 " Meg, darling," cried Elsie, sinking on her knees 
 beside her. " Oh, look up ! Speak to me ! What is it ? 
 Oh, somebody tell me what is the matter ! She breathes 
 —see ! she moves a little ! Meg, Meg, speak to me ! " 
 
 Her wild importunities only caused a little tremor 
 to run through Margaret's frame. By this time Lizzette 
 was at Elsie's side with a glass of brandy. " Here, 
 drink zis, Margaret ! Non ? A teaspoon, Elsie ! Now 
 zen, open her teeth! Zay are not set! C'est tres- 
 bon! She swallow? Oui ! Her hands, zey are so 
 cold! Ce n'est pas bien! Some hot cloths, Elsie. 
 I go send for ze docteur! " 
 
 As Lizzette turned away there came a loud knock- 
 ing at the door. Several men stood outside with cloth- 
 ing and furniture. " We have saved what we could. 
 Where shall we store the things ? " 
 
 " Oh, come in," cried Lizzette. " I know not. I only 
 know ze young lady ees seek. Vill not some one be so 
 kind to get ze docteur ? She faint all ze time." 
 
 "Certainly," exclaimed one of their number. "I'll 
 go at once." 
 
 "Ze furniture!" exclaimed Lizzette, suddenly recol- 
 lecting herself. " In ze little room in ze back zare, 
 votyou can find ze place for. Ze rest in ze hennery— 
 anywhere. I tank you, gentlemen ! Zese young people 
 
96 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 SO like my own eet break my heart," and sobbing bit- 
 terly Lizzette sank into a chair. 
 
 Elsie and Gilbert, wrapped in blankets, still cowered, 
 dumb with anguish, at Margaret's side. Antoine lay 
 back in his wheel chair as white as his pillows, but 
 with eyes that glowed like caverns of light in his white 
 face. 
 
 " It's hard, mum," said one of the men, as with quick 
 glances he took in the scene, ** but we've saved most of 
 the stuff, and I guess the young lady will come to 
 after a while. Pretty nearly frightened to death, I 
 reckon." 
 
 "This is not a faint from fright," said the doctor 
 half an hour later. " It is the lethargy of typhoid 
 fever. Has she not seemed tired and languid for sev- 
 eral days ? Ah, I thought so ! You could not wake 
 her ? No ; it will be some time yet before she realizes 
 her surroundings. A critical case; but not beyond 
 cure. Now, my good madam, can you put her to bed ? " 
 
 " Oui — oui, at vonce." 
 
 Elsie and Gilbert, by this time aroused from the 
 vague horror and stupefaction which had overtaken 
 them, had managed to equip themselves in the various 
 odds and ends of clothing which the men had dropped 
 on the floor, and now sprang quickly to the aid of 
 Lizzette. In a few moments Margaret was safely be- 
 stowed in Lizzette's bed, and the doctor was pouring 
 directions in Elsie's ears. 
 
 ''You are sure you are calm enough to remember 
 instructions ? " asked the doctor, intently observing 
 her white face and darkly-circled eyes. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 97 
 
 ' ' I am perfectly calm, now that I have hope for my 
 sister. She shall not suffer for want of attention." 
 
 " Non, non," said Lizzette excitedly. " She ees ze 
 angel of our lives. We sail nevair leave her von mo- 
 ment." 
 
 " It will be hard for you," said the doctor sympa- 
 thetically, '' but her case is urgent, and depends largely 
 upon care. I will call again to-morrow. Good-night ! " 
 
 " Now for some beds," said Lizzette, all her energy 
 returning. ''Antoine, mon gargon, venez avec moi ! 
 You sail sleep now, for ze great fear ees ovair. La 
 fievre, eet sail be easy cure." 
 
 With tenderest ejaculations Lizzette picked up An- 
 toine and carried him to bed. " Le bon Dieu ! " ex- 
 claimed the lad fervently as he clasped his arms around 
 his mother's neck. 
 
 ''Oui," said Lizzette, kissing him. "He make all 
 sings even." 
 
 For three weeks there was but one thought, one 
 hope, one fear in Lizzette's little home. Margaret's 
 fever was of that low, obstinate type which is all the 
 more difificult of cure by reason of its seeming lack of 
 violence. Day slipped into night and night into day 
 again all unheeded by the quiet figure on the bed. She 
 seemed neither to hear nor to see, and only responded 
 to the care bestowed upon her as a new-born infant 
 responds to the fulfilment of its needs. She lay like 
 one sleeping peacefully, and seldom evinced restless- 
 ness unless this lethargy was broken by demands upon 
 her attention. At the end of the twenty-first day 
 there came a visible change. Her features grew drawn 
 7 
 
98 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 and sunken ; her hands became more restless, now 
 idly picking at the bedclothes and anon clutching 
 vaguely at the air. Her breath grew hourly and hourly 
 more irregular; now sinking almost away, and again 
 growing labored and painful. 
 
 '' Now," said the doctor, " is the hour of trial. Keep 
 her strength up and we shall save her. She has a 
 magnificent physique to aid us." 
 
 Heavily dragged the hours as the four — Lizzette, 
 Elsie, Gilbert, and the doctor — watched Margaret's 
 painful struggle for life. There seemed to be so little to 
 do to save her. It was like barbarism to sit there and 
 watch the regular administering of the necessary stim- 
 ulant, and realize that upon it, and the recuperative 
 power in the frail body, depended hope and life. Elsie, 
 worn as she was with watching, was nearly mad with 
 the desire to do something worth while, to be active 
 in rousing Margaret to recognition, and not to feel 
 almost guilty in the passiveness with which she watched 
 the approach of the dread crisis. 
 
 " I shall go wild with waiting, doctor. Is there 
 nothing more I can do ? " she moaned. 
 
 " Nothing, child," he answered sympathetically. 
 "We are doing all that can be done." 
 
 " Waiting is such hard work." 
 
 " For youth, yes ; for old age, its time of greatest 
 cheer. When you are silver-haired, as I am, you will 
 have learned to wait patiently." 
 
 " I never was patient ; but God means to teach me, I 
 see. It was Margaret who was always patient, always 
 kind, always helpful. Dear God, we cannot live with- 
 out her." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 99 
 
 Down upon her knees beside the doctor's chair 
 sHpped broken-hearted Elsie, and grasping his hand 
 she cried desolately: ''Oh, may the good God 
 strengthen you to save her, doctor ! You don't know 
 all she has been to us, to everybody with whom she 
 came in contact. She has been one of God's good 
 angels, sent by Him to make this selfish world more 
 mindful of divine truth! He cannot mean to take 
 her now with her work just begun. I know He will 
 give you power to save her, and you will, you will, 
 won't you ? " 
 
 With all of a childlike innocence and pleading she 
 raised her tear-stained face to his. 
 
 " My dear child," he replied, " all that I know I have 
 so far applied to the case, and I am deeply interested 
 in saving her. I have faith that I shall do it. Now, 
 my little girl, it is not wise to give way to tears. You 
 must keep up your strength to help me. The battle 
 is only half-won when the crisis is passed." 
 
 At that instant there was a timid knock at the mid- 
 dle door, which speedily opened to show Eph's black 
 face, as he whispered half-apologetically : ''I don 
 fotched some game, and reckon maybe I's gwine ter 
 heah some good news. Mammy's out'n heah and we's 
 come ober ter help take cah of you'uns fo' ter-night. 
 Mammy says as how yer oughter hab some good strong 
 coffee, an' she don tol' me ter ax yer should she make 
 some ter hearten yer up a bit ? " 
 
 " That's right, Eph," said the doctor, who knew Eph 
 well. '' Just tell Aunt Liza to go ahead ; for that's 
 the very thing we need." 
 
lOO A NEW ARISTOCRACY 
 
 " The world is full of kindness," said the doctor 
 when Eph's black face had been withdrawn, " if one 
 only knows how to strike the key-note." 
 
 The interruption had been in the nature of a tonic ; 
 for the wave of intensified feeling subsided befoje the 
 simple offer of the good-natured African. Elsie bent 
 over Margaret's bed with renewed faith and strength, 
 and as the midnight hours grew slowly into early morn- 
 ing, she was as quick as the doctor to notice the least 
 change in the symptoms. 
 
 " I think she is better, doctor," she whispered half- 
 questioningly. 
 
 "You are right," was the answer. " She will live." 
 
 Swiftly as an electric message went the glad news 
 from eye to eye, and ''Thank God! " welled up from 
 anxious hearts and lifted eyes overflowing with tears. 
 
 Margaret had been convalescent two weeks before 
 she was permitted an answer to the wonder in her eyes. 
 It was a disjointed answer at best. No one knew how 
 the fire had originated, why it had been impossible to 
 make connections with the water-mains, or why they 
 had been so deplorably incapable of action. One fact 
 alone stood out distinct and clear: Margaret's insensi- 
 bility and the subsequent hard fight for life. Now that 
 Margaret was recovering, the misfortune seemed to 
 lighten. In fact, the old sunshine had come back to 
 their faces, albeit the unpicturesque side of poverty 
 stared them in the face. They had not as yet gone 
 hungry, for Eph with the generosity and sympathy of 
 his race had kept the table supplied with game; but 
 Lizzette's slender resources were being daily lessened. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. lOI 
 
 Of this, however, she gave no intimation, but cheer- 
 fully bore her increased expense and labor, thankful 
 above all else for the boon of Margaret's life, and the 
 opportunity to repay a debt which it had seemed to 
 her a life's devotion could never obliterate. Elsie was 
 quick to see how the slender means were being strained 
 to their utmost, but while Margaret was still so weak 
 and needing such careful nursing she could make no 
 effort to earn anything to help out the scanty purse. 
 She could only bide her time until Margaret was able 
 to wait upon herself, and then something must be done. 
 She and Gilbert must be bread-winners now. Gilbert, 
 in the mean time, had gone from door to door, shovel- 
 ling coal here, sweeping walks there, running occasional 
 errands, and doing odd jobs of tinkering, in the hope- 
 ful effort to eke out the scanty income. It was a miser- 
 able pittance at best that he earned, but it bought the 
 beef for Margaret's tea and occasional bits of fruit to 
 tempt the tardy appetite. If Margaret surmised the 
 severity of the struggle, she saw no evidence of it in 
 the serene faces about her. If the old gayety of Elsie's 
 laugh was a trifle subdued and Antoine's violin had a 
 more than usual plaintiveness, there had come a ten- 
 derer sympathy, a sweeter note of love, and a closer 
 bond of union that were even more grateful. By tacit 
 consent the old evenings had been resumed as Mar- 
 garet's convalescence progressed, Elsie "serene presi- 
 dentess pro tem.," as she styled herself, and Margaret 
 an honorary member, from whom nothing was per- 
 mitted except smiles and occasional applause. It was 
 a great delight to Margaret to watch her Protean sis- 
 
102 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 ter. How admirably the versatile little witch fitted 
 into every niche! How beautiful she was in face and 
 form, and more than beautiful in character! "God 
 shield her!" was Margaret's inward prayer. ''The 
 world is full of danger for such as she, and I must has- 
 ten to get well, rebuild the home nest, and keep the 
 home ties strong." 
 
 But Margaret's recovery was very slow. It seemed 
 as if the red blood of renewed strength would never 
 come, and it was with a bitter heart-pang that she lis- 
 tened to the doctor's statement that she would not be 
 fitted to resume work of any kind before spring. The 
 golden cord had been well-nigh snapped in the indom- 
 itable determination to conquer self and circumstan- 
 ces, and nature was taking her revenge. Gradually, 
 sitting helpless and empty-handed in her chair, she be- 
 gan to notice the little evidences of desperate need 
 which the others tried in vain to keep from her, and 
 one morning, determined to try her strength, she 
 crawled feebly into the kitchen to surprise them 
 at breakfast with nothing on the table but potatoes 
 and salt ' 
 
 *'We are waiting for the cook to bring in breakfast," 
 exclaimed Elsie, noticing the pain in Margaret's eyes. 
 
 "O Margaret!" cried Lizzette, " zis ees too much. 
 Here, sit down, and see what good appetite we haf. 
 Ze pomme de terre, ze sel, bof of a superieur kind 
 and so well served we eat and eat like ze epicure." 
 
 The humorous twinkle in Lizzette's eyes was lost on 
 Margaret, for weak and disheartened she sank into a 
 seat, bowed her head on the table, and sobbed like a 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. IO3 
 
 child. In a second Antoine was out of his chair and 
 his arms were around her neck. 
 
 " Don't," he whispered. '' The potatoes are done to 
 a turn and you will spoil them." 
 
 The lad's keenness had touched the right chord. 
 To stand in the way of another's need or pleasure, even 
 in little things, was an ingrained abhorrence of Mar- 
 garet's nature. Instantly she raised a half-smiling face, 
 " It is a good deal better than starving, after all," she 
 said. 
 
 *' Vastly," responded Elsie. " Just watch Gilbert 
 stow 'em away! I'm not going to tell the result of 
 my tally this morning, for fear he'll take revenge on 
 me. We are growing to be experts on potatoes, and 
 can tell how they taste with our eyes shut." 
 
 The ripple of laughter that greeted this statement 
 chased the last tear from Margaret's eyes. 
 
 "Hereafter," she said resolutely, " there shall be no 
 beef, fruit, and creams for me. I intend to become an 
 expert too." 
 
 Lizzette threw up her hands in protest. " Non, non, 
 Margaret. Ze strength fail unless ze diet ees generous 
 for you. Ze waste tissue must be repaired first. Non, 
 non, cherie. Trust Lizzette to know ze best." 
 
 "Well, I submit on one condition," and Margaret 
 threw a quick glance at Antoine's pale face. " I must 
 share with Antoine. He needs rebuilding as much as 
 I do." 
 
 " C'est vrai," said Lizzette in a choked voice. "II 
 est tres souffrant; but aujourdhui I make some fa- 
 mous potage de lapin for all, and we dine like ze em- 
 
104 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 pereur. Eph he bring ze lapin and say, ' Game mighty- 
 shy somehow, Missis Minaud, but I don't fergit Miss 
 Margaret, nohow.' " 
 
 *' Poor fellow! I am afraid he robs himself," said 
 Margaret sympathetically. 
 
 " If he does, other people make it up to him," replied 
 Elsie. "The community has had its usual call to feed 
 him and his mother. I asked him one day when he 
 was here with a brace of partridges if he shot enough 
 game to support them. ' Lawzee, missy ! ' said he with 
 a laugh that showed the whites of his eyes and the in- 
 ternal anatomy of a cavernous mouth, ' not by a jug- 
 ful. Dis yere game law jest doin' a heep o' mischuf 
 to po' men. I hez ter be mighty cahful.' So, Miss 
 Murchison, on the principle that the receiver is as bad 
 as the thief, I mistrust you've been cheating your be- 
 loved country of its just dues whenever you have 
 smacked your lips over a bit of partridge breast! " 
 
 " Let us be thankful that rabbits are not interdicted, 
 and that Eph's sense of kindness exceeds his respect 
 for law." 
 
 '* ' How are the mighty fallen,' " quoted Elsie tragi- 
 cally. " I fully expected to see you rise in the might 
 and majesty of insulted justice, and visit condign pun- 
 ishment upon poor Eph by refusing to be any longer 
 a party to his crime." 
 
 '' Hunger is said to know no law, and while I feel 
 inclined to forgive Eph for past sins, I shall have to 
 try to impress upon him a fuller sense of his obliga- 
 tions as a law-abiding citizen." 
 
 "A useless task, I fancy. Too many generations of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 10$ 
 
 dependent blood run in his veins. His liveliest sense 
 seems to be gratitude for some little acts of kindness 
 on your part." 
 
 " I wonder what he did with the money he and his 
 mother saved last summer," said Margaret reflectively. 
 
 Elsie laughed. **I asked him one day, and he hung his 
 head as sheepishly as a boy who is caught stealing ap- 
 ples. Finally after much coaxing I got the informa- 
 tion — ' Deed, missy, specs you think I's nuffin but a 
 po' fool niggah; but I's listened to you'uns playin* 
 music till I's most dead, and I buyed a 'cawdion wid 
 my part ob de cash and mammy she buyed a hat fur 
 meetin'. I's larned to play on it too, Missy Elsie! ' You 
 see, Margaret, your idea of ' culchah ' has taken deep 
 root in unexpected soil." 
 
 '' Is Aunt Liza's hat an outgrowth ? " 
 
 ''As an artistic idea I imagine it is; for more inten- 
 sified reds and yellows never gleamed above a smiling 
 black face. The poor old creature was so delighted 
 with her ' speriment,' as she called it, in saving money 
 for such an artistic triumph, that I hadn't the heart to 
 do more than enjoy it with her." 
 
 "After all," said Margaret thoughtfully, " my ' speri- 
 ment ' was not a failure, even if it missed its objective 
 point. I have aroused ambition in their apathetic 
 breasts. See if it does not bear good fruit." 
 
Io6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 One afternoon as Elsie and Antoine were filling the 
 little house with the notes of a Hungarian battle song, 
 in which violin, organ, voice, and whistle played prom- 
 inent parts, Margaret was startled by the sudden open- 
 ing of the outer door, and the appearance on the 
 threshold of a richly-dressed lady, who with a depre- 
 cating gesture which the carnival of sound alone per- 
 mitted, undertook to explain her unannounced presence. 
 Margaret stepped feebly across the room and hushed 
 the players as the lady said laughingly: 
 
 " I rapped several times, but vv-as unable to make 
 myself heard, and venturing upon the freedom of long 
 acquaintance, I opened the door. I think I must have 
 made a mistake. I thought I was in the house of 
 Lizzette Minaud." 
 
 "You are," said Margaret. "Be seated and we will 
 call her." 
 
 The moment Lizzette saw her caller she cried in the 
 freedom of her native tongue : " Madam Mason ! Com- 
 ment cela va-t-il, aujourdhui ? " 
 
 "Assez bien. Et-vous ? " was the answer in the 
 same tongue. 
 
 Lizzette hesitated a moment and then said by way 
 of explanation : " Zese friends of mine zay speak ze 
 French wiz me." 
 
 "Ah ! " and the lady glanced somewhat superciliously 
 
, A NEW ARISTOCRACY^. IO7 
 
 at Margaret and Elsie. " It is immaterial to me which 
 tongue we use. I have only a few moments to spare 
 at best. I was not aware, Lizzette, that you were mu- 
 sical." 
 
 ^' Eh bien, eet ees only Miss Elsie and Antoine. I 
 haf not ze time." 
 
 " I should suppose not," said the lady, still using the 
 French tongue, in the evident belief that it might cover 
 some slight impertinences of question and manner. 
 
 " Where did they learn that battle song they were 
 playing as I came in ? " 
 
 '' Zey learn zemselves," answered Lizzette." Zeyhaf 
 un grand penchant for music, and eet ees bread and 
 meat to Antoine." 
 
 "Humph! Who are these girls ? " 
 
 The blood mounted to Lizzette's face, but restrain- 
 ing herself she said with a quiet dignity, that in the 
 little market vv'oman was evidently vastly amusing to 
 Mrs. Mason, " Zey are my guests." 
 
 Mrs. Mason laughed. " Come, Lizzette " she be- 
 gan, but her words were interrupted by a simultaneous 
 movement on the part of Margaret and Elsie. Mar- 
 garet arose from her chair, and Elsie as quickly offered 
 her arm, and the two were on the point of leaving the 
 room when they were arrested by a whisper from An- 
 toine, ''Take me too. I can't stay here." 
 
 Elsie put her hand to Antoine's chair, and in a pro- 
 found silence the " funeral procession," as Elsie called 
 it, marched out of the room. 
 
 " Come, come, Lizzette," exclaimed Mrs. Mason in 
 English, when the door had closed. " I meant no 
 
I08 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 offence, of course. You seem to have acquired an un- 
 usual dignity since I last saw you." 
 
 *' For zose who deserve it, oui; for Lizzette Minaud, 
 non. I know ze ladies when I see zem, if so be zey are 
 in calico or silk." 
 
 *' Oh, of course, of course," replied Mrs. Mason some- 
 what impatiently. " Tell me who they are, anyway, 
 and how they happen to be with you." 
 
 "Helen Mason," said Lizzette a little sternly, *' if so 
 be I did not know you nearly ze whole of your life, I 
 nevair tell you von leetle word. But since I think 
 vous avez ze heart under zat spoiled exterieur, I vill 
 tell you ze story." 
 
 Mrs. Mason laughed. 
 
 ''The privilege of an old friend, Lizzette, is some- 
 times terribly abused; but I forgive you because of 
 my impatience to hear this wonderful story. You've 
 really aroused my curiosity." 
 
 With all the eloquence of eye, voice, and gesture so 
 characteristic of the French, Lizzette gave the details 
 of Margaret's struggles and misfortunes. The barren 
 story lost nothing under the glow of Lizzette's imagi- 
 nation and fertile tongue, and when she finished with a 
 glowing peroration on the virtues of the little family, 
 Mrs. Mason's eyes required several applications of a 
 dainty bit of embroidered gauze before they were re- 
 stored to their pristine brightness. 
 
 " Very affecting indeed," she declared. " It is singu- 
 lar how hard some people's lives have to be, but it 
 is fate, I suppose." Mrs. Mason was evidently quite 
 resigned to fate. " I declare," she exclaimed, "listen- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. IO9 
 
 ing to the story of the trials of these people, I had 
 nearly forgotten my own. I am in the deepest trouble, 
 Lizzette, and of course I had to come to you for help 
 just as I used to do." 
 
 *' Tu as I'air triste," laughed Lizzette. 
 
 *' Why, I am in despair. You remember that ex- 
 pensive Frenchman I took such pains to import for 
 my kitchen a year ago, and who was such a splendid 
 cook ? Not quite equal to 3^ou, of course, Lizzette — 
 nobody ever has been. Well, what did the beast do 
 but get so drunk yesterday that he hasn't prepared 
 a meal since and we are nearly starved ! " 
 
 '' Wiz all zose servants in ze house ? " asked Lizzette 
 incredulously. 
 
 " Oh, as for that, the maids have succeeded in send- 
 ing up something, but then you know how exasperat- 
 ing it is to have meals so poorly served. Dear me ! he 
 was such a model on sauces!" And a sigh that was 
 evidently drawn from the depths of her heart followed 
 the plaintive ejaculation. 
 
 '' Was ? Ou est il ? " 
 
 '' Oh, Mr. Mason discharged him this morning. You 
 know how rigid he is about drunkenness. I begged 
 Mr. Mason on my knees to let me keep Joseph another 
 month, anyway ; for Herbert — your Herbert, you know, 
 Lizzette — is coming home from Europe, and Lve no 
 end of dinners planned for him, and no cook in the 
 house. What am I to do, Lizzette ? Can't you come 
 to me just for a month, Lizzette ? I will pay you well 
 if you will, and Antoine can stay here with these girls. 
 Oh, do come, there's a dear, good Lizzette." 
 
no A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Mrs. Mason was gently patting Lizzette's brown 
 hand with one of her own daintily gloved ones. Liz- 
 zette pondered a moment. '' Vot you pay Joseph ? " 
 
 ''An enormous sum," answered Mrs. Mason, coloring. 
 '' He had such a reputation, you know, and one always 
 has to pay for reputation ! " 
 
 "Ah ! " 
 
 The ejaculation was so dry that Mrs. Mason has- 
 tened to add : '' But of course I shall not let money 
 stand between us." 
 
 Lizzette ruminated a little : " Ees eet worth to you ze 
 twenty dollars a week ? " 
 
 '' It is truly," she answered, feeling a sense of relief 
 that it was not Joseph's usual weekly stipend of one 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 " Eh bien ! " said Lizzette, " I cannot go." 
 
 '' Lizzette, you break my heart. Why not, pray ? '^ 
 
 '' Because everysing go to ze waste here ; mais, I haf 
 ze plan for you. I find you une cuisiniere a cet prix." 
 
 *' But ordinary cooks, you know, Lizzette, cannot 
 earn more than five or six dollars a week." 
 
 " I know; mais, zis von ees so tres-bonne, I myself 
 teach her. She lack ze experience, zat ees all. Elle a 
 le genie sublime ! " 
 
 '' That may be ; but such wages are too large to pay 
 inexperience. I think you ought to get her cheaper." 
 
 *' Ees eet not," asked Lizzette with a sly twinkle in 
 her eyes, " zat le prix ees much sheaper zan you obtain 
 Joseph ? " 
 
 "Oh, of course; but Joseph was a noted chef." 
 
 " Haf you not ze grand need of a cook ? " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. Ill 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 "Zen if I take I'avantagc de votre need to obtain le 
 bon prix for ze work zat ees very good ivizoiit ze rep- 
 utation, I only follow ze well known business principle : 
 one zat Monsieur Mason take Tavantage of every day." 
 
 '' Lizzette, you are too much for me. Where is your 
 paragon ? " 
 
 " Here. C'est Elsie." 
 
 *' What, that young girl ? You astonish me. She can- 
 not be capable; besides, I thought you considered her 
 a lady." 
 
 " Bah ! Ze work ees not ze lady any more zan your 
 robe de sole ees ze lady. Ven I say ' lady ' I mean ze 
 instinct, ze character, ze soul, ze nature. She cannot 
 harm zat by working dans le cuisine. My word for 
 it, you will nevair find Elsie Murchison ze trespasser 
 of her place, if so be it ees in your kitchen or in your 
 salon." 
 
 "Small likelihood of the latter! Go on, Lizzette — 
 you are really eloquent." 
 
 " Mais, I feel ze indignation at ze misapprehension 
 of your world ofer ze name of lady. In my leetle 
 world eet means somesing besides ze airs and ze graces 
 et I'argent." 
 
 "Your world and mine won't quarrel over it much, I 
 fancy," said IMrs. Mason composedly. " It seems to me 
 you've grown into a fierce little radical since you 
 compounded such delectable dishes in mamma's 
 kitchen ; but as to the capability of that young thing, 
 I doubt it much." 
 
 " I do not, for she learn so fast ; and ven I haf vonce 
 
112 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 taken her through ze maison and she know ze duties, 
 you vill be surprised at ze ease she do zem. Besides, 
 ze grand sing ees ze buying, and I vill do zat until she 
 sail haf learned. Je vous le promets a treasure in El- 
 sie, and you vill nevair be sorry zat Lizzette Minaud 
 say so." 
 
 " I never have been sorry that I took any advice of 
 yours. But how do you know your marvel will ac- 
 cept ? " 
 
 *' Nous verrons ! Elsie ! " called Lizzette, stepping to 
 the kitchen door, '' Sit down," she added, as Elsie pre- 
 sented herself. " Madam Mason haf ze offer to make to 
 you," and thereupon Lizzette detailed the proposition 
 that had just been under discussion. 
 
 Elsie's eyes grew big with wonder as she listened to 
 Lizzette. '' I am afraid I am not equal to it," she 
 faltered. 
 
 '' Lizzette vouches for you," said Mrs. Mason. '' I 
 have alv/ays found her advice good." 
 
 Elsie did not answer at once. A tide of thought 
 was sweeping over her. The opportunity was like a 
 tale from fairy land in the riches it seemed to offer; 
 but how could she live under the domination of that 
 supercilious woman she k/ieza she should hate ? But 
 Margaret, Gilbert, Antoine — how much she could do 
 for all of them ! Courage ! Now was the time to 
 prove herself. The way had been opened ; there could 
 not be, must not be any shrinking back. 
 
 '* Very well," she answered simply. *' I am willing to 
 make the trial." 
 
 "To-morrow, then," said Mrs. Mason, rising, "you 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. II3 
 
 will begin under Lizzette's management. She knows 
 my house as well as her own. At ten o'clock in the 
 morning I shall be prepared to receive you. Good- 
 evening, Lizzette and — Elsie." 
 
 With a scarcely perceptible nod Mrs. Mason hast- 
 ened out to her carriage. When the door had closed 
 Lizzette grasped Elsie by the shoulders and began an 
 impromptu chaussee up and down the room. 
 
 "C'est tres-bon! C'est tres-bon ! " she cried. ''I 
 prove ze sharper zat time; mais, le defaut ees in ze 
 grand cause of humanity." 
 
 '' I am frightened to death, Lizzette," said Elsie. 
 
 " Chut! Helen Mason ees only la femme ordinaire, 
 and reech ! Helas ! I'argent zat petite femme frow to 
 ze winds. Lizzette haf catch some for you, anyway." 
 
 Margaret opened the door just then and the three 
 sat down to discuss the important move. 
 
 " Honestly, Lizzette, now, do you think L can man- 
 age their great dinners ? Why, I haven't the least idea 
 how to plan any work beyond my own little kitchen." 
 
 " Vraiment, c'est une bagatelle ven you haf got ze 
 hang of sings. Nefer you fear. I take you under my 
 wing for three, four days and zen we vill see! Ze 
 chance was so tres-bon to help Margaret " 
 
 "And all of us," interrupted Elsie softly. 
 
 '' Oui ; ze pomme de terre and ze sel go by ze board 
 now, eh, Elsie ? " 
 
 ** O Lizzette, what a good friend you have been ! " 
 exclaimed Margaret. 
 
 " Bah ! eet ees only selfishness. I want myself some 
 good sings to eat. Now, Elsie, I gif you my recipes; 
 
114 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 vous savez zat you read zem wiz care and learn zem 
 by heart. Sans doubte, you exercise your skill to ze 
 charm of madam." 
 
 '' Tell us about her." 
 
 '* Zare ees but leetle to tell. I vork in ze kitchen de 
 sa mere zese many year. I make ze good friends of 
 Helen and Herbeart — ah, Herbeart, mon cher ami, il 
 est un galant homme, and I knows ze folly of Helen 
 like ze book. She ees vain and haughty; mais, her 
 heart ees not mechante. You vill grow into ze good 
 friends some time." 
 
 " I don't expect that," said Elsie. "All I ask is not 
 to be tyrannized over. I am conservative enough to 
 recognize the gulf society places between us, and I 
 shall endeavor to keep to my side of the fence." 
 
 "Vous avez raison. Still, I make ze meestake eef 
 Helen Mason do not herself some time break down ze 
 barrier. Zare are some sings zat vill not be made to 
 see de fausses idees de grandeur." 
 
 " It is not wise ever to hope for such a thing," said 
 Margaret, fearful that Elsie might be carried away by 
 Lizzette's volatile spirits. "We have our work to do 
 in our own sphere, and we know that we can achieve 
 all that is in us by working faithfully within our own 
 lines. If we hope for recognition outside of these 
 lines, it will but breed disappointment and discontent." 
 
 " Have no fear for me, my sweet sister," replied 
 Elsie with sparkling eyes. " I shall never yearn for a 
 world greater than that of our own little quintette, 
 wherein Lizzette, Gilbert, and I furnish the brawn and 
 capital — I feel like a bloated bondholder already — 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I15 
 
 and Antoine and Margaret represent the culture. But 
 to stop nonsense and come down to practical things. 
 Since I am to represent the capital of our community, 
 I must have the chief direction of affairs, otherwise 
 behold in me ' the iron hand,' etc. What are we to do 
 with our three-years' lease of our desolate home ? " 
 
 *'Eef ze agents vill not rebuild, Margaret and Gil- 
 beart sail stay wiz me and so still work ze land." 
 
 " No," said Margaret decisively. " The hardest part 
 of this apparent good fortune that has befallen Elsie is 
 that it takes her from home. I cannot endure it long-, 
 and if Elsie remains with Mrs. Mason I shall take 
 rooms in the city as near as I can find them, and Gil- 
 bert must bring her to us every evening. We must 
 not break the home ties." 
 
 " That will be glorious," exclaimed Elsie. 
 
 " Non," said Lizzette, tears springing to her eyes. 
 "Eet vill bring ze heart break to Antoine and Lizzette 
 Minaud." 
 
 ''No, no," said Margaret and Elsie together, "you 
 shall come to us every day after market hours, and 
 Antoine can be with us two-thirds of the time." 
 
 " I know zat vill be ze best for Elsie ; but ees eet 
 possible ? Ze docteur, he say zat you vork not till ze 
 spring. You must obey ze command, if strength sail 
 come back to you." 
 
 " T know," replied Margaret. " How would it suit 
 you to take a sub-lease of the land, if satisfactory ar- 
 rangements can be made with the agents ? " 
 
 " Eet vill be ze very sing." 
 
Il6 A NEW ARISTOCRACV. 
 
 '' In that event the manual-training school for Gil- 
 bert is the next move, and I shall be compelled to ask 
 Dr. Ely for a further advance on the books." 
 
 "And be sure to add that I can very soon repay it 
 out of my independent income," laughed Elsie. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. II7 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The mansion of Helen Mason was a treasure house 
 of art in pictures, draperies, furniture, bric-a-brac, and 
 all those distinguishing characteristics of wealth and 
 culture. In one particular it was somewhat unique; 
 everything was genuine, from the old masters to the 
 spoons. The fair mistress of the house hated pretence, 
 and although an ardent believer in the divine right of 
 kings, she recognized none of them in a tinsel crown. 
 The child of wealthy and aristocratic parents, in whom 
 the old noblesse oblige had taken deep root, she had 
 grown to look upon her station in life as the outgrowth 
 of a certain fixed law which bestows upon men the 
 positions for which they are best fitted. If there were 
 suffering, struggling mortals on planes far below hers 
 in social advantages, no doubt the sufferings arose 
 principally from their efforts to fit themselves into 
 niches for which they were not made. It seemed 
 singular to her undisturbed mind that there should be 
 such a seething discontent among the masses. Why 
 couldn't people be satisfied to go the way they were 
 called ? Why were they trying all the time to subvert 
 society and make- one fairly afraid of her life with 
 these horrible physical force movements and plots and 
 counterplots of all kinds ? It was so much better every 
 way for people to learn contentment. She believed 
 the doctrine was too little preached, and she meant to 
 
Il8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Speak to her pastor, the white high-bred rector of St. 
 Paul's, about it. He must really exert his influence 
 over these misguided people who were so clamorous 
 for places for which they were not destined. Believ- 
 ing as she did in the doctrine of every man to his place, 
 she strove with a zeal of a prophet in her own little 
 domain to make that place the best of its kind. Her 
 servants were accordingly well lodged, fed, and paid, 
 albeit they were trained to their duties with the pre- 
 cision of a martinet. Haughty, imperious in some 
 things, while childishly dependent in others, she was 
 at the same time a good mistress, and by no means 
 unfriendly to her dependents. She intended to accord 
 them the rights of their class, as she exacted a rever- 
 ent homage for the privileges of her own ; but she was 
 far from admitting that those rights could in any way 
 transcend the limits of a certain material consideration. 
 The finer qualities of the soul, such as innate delicacy 
 of perception and the instinctive appreciation of true 
 refinement, could not be theirs by reason of the stamp 
 of poverty and the miillstone of low association which 
 precluded cultivation. It was a theory of hers that 
 only generations of wealth and leisure could produce 
 the highest types, and she had consequently a great 
 scorn for the nouveaux riches of modern society and 
 their blundering attempts to imitate English customs 
 and cockney '' fads." As a rule her servants were loyal 
 and obedient, and she was wise enough to see that her 
 little investment in humanity yielded usurious interest 
 v/hich she was by no means disposed to undervalue. 
 She had been proud of having the best-equipped home, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 19 
 
 the most perfectly-trained servants, and the most noted 
 chef in the city. It was, therefore, with no Httle trepida- 
 tion that she awaited the coming of Lizzette and Elsie, 
 and contemplated yielding the dominion of her kitchen 
 to *' that young thing." Mr. Mason had laughed at her 
 when she recounted the result of her attempt to secure 
 Lizzette, and had said, by way of administering com- 
 fort to her perturbed spirit: "That is just about as 
 quixotic as women's schemes usually are. My word for 
 it, she will not have been three days in the house before 
 the present discomfort will be intensified, and we shall 
 end by having to order our meals from the caterer." 
 
 It was now nearing the hour of ten, and she was 
 impatient to settle details with Lizzette and feel the 
 troublesome experiment partially off her hands. As 
 she sat idly tapping one foot against the brass fender 
 of the blue-tiled grate in her morning-room, she was 
 a fair type of the cultured, self-poised, well-dressed 
 woman of society. Her face was chiefly remarkable 
 for a pair of keen gray eyes, with heavy black lashes 
 and straight brows. The remaining features were 
 nondescript, with a colorless skin and dark brown hair 
 handsomely coiffured, for setting. A keen, cold, some- 
 what intellectual face had been Elsie's thought on 
 first seeing her, and she felt sure that she should hate 
 her. She felt the same conviction sweep over her now 
 as she and Lizzette stood in the presence of the mis- 
 tress of the magnificent home. 
 
 " Be seated," she said, motioning them to seats. 
 " I presume Lizzette has informed you that I am 
 a strict disciplinarian and require the most perfect 
 
I20 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 obedience. If that is rendered you will not find me a 
 hard mistress." 
 
 " I should not have come if I had not expected to 
 obey orders," replied Elsie. " My only fear is that m.y 
 inexperience may try your patience." 
 
 "As to that I shall hold Lizzette responsible; and 
 now, while Lizzette will at once post you in regard to 
 matters below stairs, I will give you our hours for 
 meals, and shall expect you to report to me promptly 
 every morning at ten o'clock to receive orders for the 
 day. Lizzette will at present do my buying; but you 
 must of course go with, her until you have familiarized 
 yourself with prices and materials. Here is to-day's 
 menu, which by the way, as to the main dishes, I always 
 prepare myself. You may have noticed as you came 
 through the house that the maids are in uniform. I 
 shall expect you to wear one, and you w^ill find your 
 allotment of white aprons, caps, and kerchiefs in this 
 basket. Here, Lizzette, you may as well invest your- 
 self in one, too." 
 
 " Helas! zese nevv^ idees vill do for la jeune fille like 
 Elsie. Mais, ze brown face of Lizzette Minaud look 
 not so well from under ze white cap. Still I obey ze 
 mistress ! " 
 
 " Just as you always did," laughed Mrs. Mason, 
 pressing an electric button, which almost immediately 
 brought a maid to the door. 
 
 '' Show Elsie, our new cook, to her room. Stay with 
 me, Lizzette. I wish to speak vrith you." Elsie picked 
 up her satchel and basket and followed the maid, who 
 eyed her curiously, but vouchsafed no word. " Here," 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 121 
 
 she said sentcntiously, opening a door of a roomy, 
 comfortable bedroom on the third floor. 
 
 Elsie hastily entered and closed the door behind her. 
 Then dropping satchel and basket, she threw herself on 
 the floor beside them and cried out : " O Meg, Meg, 
 Meg, how hard life is away from you and your serene 
 courage ! How lovely all our theories are until we have 
 to put them into practice. I shall hate that woman, I 
 know. Dear me ! this won't do. I shall have a red nose. 
 Now let's see how I look in the new prison garb," and 
 volatile Elsie bounded to her feet, and speedily in- 
 vested herself in the white muslin cap with its narrow 
 frill and the accompanying kerchief and apron. 
 
 '' Not so bad, after all," she said, as she eyed herself 
 In the glass, and a roguish dimple nestled in her cheek 
 as she viewed the picture. It was pretty enough to 
 tempt the vanity of the Quaker maiden she resembled. 
 The dainty frill above the black rings of hair, the fichu 
 folded smoothly across her breast, and the long apron 
 with its big pockets, seemed exactly fitted to the 
 piquant face and slender form. ''Well, there's some 
 satisfaction in not looking like a fright," she said as 
 she descended the stairs. 
 
 The morning-room door stood open and Mrs. Ma- 
 son and Lizzette could scarcely repress a start of 
 surprise as the dainty maiden stepped upon the 
 threshold. "She look like ze picture of ze old time," 
 exclaimed Lizzette. Mrs. Mason made no reply as 
 she handed Elsie a memorandum-book and pencil, 
 which with keys to pantry and store-room were to be 
 suspended at her belt. 
 
122 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Now you are equipped, I believe, and Lizzette will 
 take you in charge. I wish you the best of success." 
 
 When the two had departed, Mrs. Mason stood 
 where they had left her with downcast eyes gazing into 
 the grate. " What a lovely face," she mused. " So full 
 of fire and strength and — v/ell, yes, I suppose I must 
 admit it — refinement! She looked like a queen in 
 masquerade as she stood in the doorway. But then 
 nature indulges in freaks of that kind sometimes. 
 Lizzette tells me they were always as poor as church 
 mice. What an absurdity/ I am perpetrating in put- 
 ting her in my kitchen ; but my old brown Lizzette 
 is always as good as her word, and we shall see what 
 will come of it." 
 
 The force of servants in the Mason household con- 
 sisted of James, the English-looking butler, of whom 
 Elsie was secretly afraid, because his gaze of admira- 
 tion was so open ; William, the coachman ; Martha and 
 Mary, the two house-maids ; and Jenie, the little kitchen- 
 maid of twelve years. They all knew^ Lizzette, who, 
 being a privileged character about the Mason mansion, 
 was free to do pretty much as she liked, and when, in 
 response to her call, they gathered in the below-stairs 
 parlor, which also served them for dining-room, they 
 received Elsie with unction. 
 
 " It hain't a bad place, miss," said James patroniz- 
 ingly. " I've been with the family five years, and I 
 can't say as I've 'ad a 'ard time by no means." 
 
 " I should say not," laughed Martha. '' James thinks 
 as he owns the hull place." 
 
 "Ceptin' you," added Mary. 
 
A NEW /M<ISTOCRACY. 1 23 
 
 " I wouldn't own such poor property, no'ow," said 
 James with offended dignity. 
 
 ''That ain't me," exclaimed William with a sly 
 chuckle. " I've just been a-dyin' to own both on you 
 girls for months." 
 
 "Oh, you horrid Mormon," chorused the girls; 
 ''you'll be wanting the new cook too, next." The 
 blood flamed into Elsie's cheeks and an ominous 
 sparkle gleamed for a moment beneath the downcast 
 lids; but, with a struggle that was only noticed by 
 Lizzette, she raised her eyes to William's round, honest 
 face. 
 
 " I think we shall all grow to be good friends; but 
 you must be very patient with me until I have learned 
 the ways here." 
 
 The sweet face, the timid, deprecating manner, the 
 ladylike voice, awoke varying emotions in the breasts 
 of Elsie's little audience. "You bet," exclaimed Wil- 
 liam hastily. 
 
 " Oh, of course," said James, and then stopped con- 
 fusedly as he recollected how near he had been to 
 saying " Madam! " 
 
 Martha and Mary looked at each other and sniffed. 
 " Stuck up," they whispered as they passed out to 
 their various duties; but little Jenie slipped her hand 
 into Elsie's and said simply, " I like you." 
 
 " Courage, ma chere," whispered Lizzette ; " now we 
 haf nosing but ze dinner to sink of." 
 
 In recounting the day's experience afterward to 
 Margaret, Elsie always alluded to Lizzette as her 
 " colossal spinal column ; " for in reality Lizzette was 
 
124 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 the main director and executor of the day's work. 
 Elsie obediently followed directions ; but her native 
 force and ingenuity seemed to have deserted her, which 
 made even Lizzette a trifle doubtful of the vvisdom of 
 her experiment. But when everything was finally 
 made snug for the night, and Lizzette was leaving for 
 home, Elsie said bravely, though tears stood under 
 the curved lashes, *' I shall do much better to-miorrow. 
 Tell Margaret I've got the 'hang' of the ship's tackle, 
 and to-morrow she'll sail." 
 
 '' Nevair fear," said Lizzette lightly, as she imprinted 
 a kiss on either rosy cheek, and steadily ignored the 
 trembling drops in the dark eyes. " Eet sail be ze 
 brave capitaine on ze deck, too." 
 
 The next morning, with the edge of strangeness 
 somewhat blunted, Elsie was able to send up the break- 
 fast in excellent style, and Mrs. Mason was therefore 
 prepared to receive her with a manner a trifle less 
 severe than that of the day before. 
 
 'J Your breakfast was well prepared," she said as 
 Elsie stood before her, note-book and pencil in hand, 
 to receive orders. '' If the dinner is as satisfactory I 
 shall feel no further uneasiness." 
 
 " I shall endeavor to improve as I become accus- 
 tomed to things, and I shall hope to satisfy you in 
 every way. I love to cook, and the kitchen is so ad- 
 mirably appointed that what has hitherto been a mere 
 passion I may be able to elevate into the great art 
 that Lizzette calls it." 
 
 " Lizzette is an enthusiast." 
 
 *' It takes enthusiasm to succeed in anything, and it 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACV. 12$ 
 
 is because I love my work that I expect to please 
 you." 
 
 Mrs. Mason looked at Elsie curiously. How quietly, 
 yet with what seemingly unconscious dignity, she ut- 
 tered those few well-chosen words. If she had been 
 mistress instead of servant they could not have been 
 better expressed or more charmingly enunciated. 
 There could be no question of efficiency with such in- 
 telligence ; but oh, there was the fear, always oppress- 
 ing one so with these " lady helps," that she would get 
 above her business. So to Elsie's little burst of con- 
 fidence she said coldly, ''As long as you keep strictly 
 to your line of duty I shall be satisfied." 
 
 "You have nothing to fear on that score, Mrs. 
 Mason. I know my place as * Elsie the cook.' Have 
 you any further orders ? " 
 
 " Nothing more to-day." 
 
 Mrs. Mason smiled triumphantly as she watched the 
 blood deepen in Elsie's cheeks as she left the room. 
 "The girl is as proud as Lucifer; but it is not a usual 
 pride, I must confess." 
 
 At the close of the week Elsie found that her end 
 of the domestic machinery was running quietly and 
 smoothly. She had already made friends with the 
 other servants, who, while recognizing the air of self- 
 respecting womanhood that would neither give nor per- 
 mit low jests or rude actions, could not fail to be 
 drawn by the simplicity of her manner and her frank, 
 straightforward way of looking at things. Insensibly 
 the loud-voiced talk and rude horse-play formerly in 
 vogue among them began to disappear. James' osten- 
 
126 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 tatious display of knowledge gradually weakened before 
 Elsie's clear eyes and plain questions; William left 
 his stable-talk at the door, together with his coat and 
 boots, and came to his meals in patent-leather pumps, 
 velveteen roundabout, and hair saturated with patch- 
 ouli. The house-maids had less gossip of the upper 
 regions to retail, and Jenie's smutty frock was invaria- 
 bly replaced by a clean one at meal-time. 
 
 " Ze leetle witch," exclaimed Lizzette to Margaret. 
 " She haf got zere necks under her heel so quick ! And 
 ze funny part ees zey know eet not at all." 
 
 *' I doubt if Elsie does," replied Margaret. *' For 
 after all it is only the power of judiciously exhibited 
 self-respect." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACV. 12/ 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 There was a subdued bustle in the Mason mansion 
 which betokened an unusual event. Covers were re- 
 moved from unused furniture, long-closed rooms were 
 newly aired and decorated, windows were opened to 
 the sunlight, and hot-houses were ransacked for potted 
 plants and cut flowers. In the store-rooms of Elsie's 
 department tables and shelves were piled high with 
 viands of every sort, the combined result of Lizzette's 
 and Elsie's skill ; for Elsie had been afraid on so mo- 
 mentous an occasion to trust entirely to herself. 
 
 " And all this fuss is over one small man," whispered 
 Elsie to Lizzette as they stood admiring the aggrega- 
 tion of eatables. " Has he been starving among the 
 Hottentots all these years, or is he a great gourmand ? " 
 " Nezair," laughed Lizzette. " II est ze apple of ze 
 eye of Helen Mason. Zay are alone togezzer in ze 
 world, and ze one sweet sing in Helen Mason ees her 
 love for Herbeart. Mais, he ees tres cher efen to me. 
 So vot you call warm-hearted, wiz ze bonhomie zat 
 make ze world bright. He travel in Europe zese several 
 year, and like Helen il a I'argent in heaps I know not." 
 *' What has he made of himself ? " 
 '' Eh bien. Vraiment, le galant homme! " 
 " A gentleman! A noble profession How does he 
 doit?" 
 
128 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 '' Ze witch ees laughing ! I no explain to zose mock- 
 ing eyes." 
 
 " Never mind, Lizzette. There is something so 
 charmingly indefinite about the term ' gentleman ' that 
 I was only trying to discover what particular form 
 this rara avis took." 
 
 " He choose no profession zat I know. He no haf 
 to work." 
 
 " Unlucky mortal! How he will envy us, Lizzette! 
 But tell me about him. Does he resemble his sister ? " 
 
 " Not ze leetle bit. • II a les eyes like ze summer 
 sky, zay are so blue. II est so tall like ze young tree. 
 His hair ees ze sunshine of ze autumn, and his smile 
 like ze warmth of ze summer sun." 
 
 "Scorching," exclaimed Elsie. " How glad I am I 
 shall not come under its gleams ; for I would rather 
 cook his dinner than be cooked by that smile! " 
 
 " Ze mauvaise Elsie! She make ze fun of eferysing, 
 efen my heart. I haf loved him since many year he 
 climb my knee, and I only speak ze figures de la 
 poesie." 
 
 " My dear Lizzette," exclaimed Elsie contritely, " I 
 do not make fun of your love, nor of your similes, 
 which really are quite wonderful. Indeed, I never 
 knew you so eloquent before; but this worship of 
 yours for the fair god is so new to miC, I did not know 
 that men were entitled to so much." 
 
 "Ze time vill come, ma petite Elsie, ze time vill 
 come ven zat mocking heart sail take back zose idle 
 words." 
 
 " How solemn you are, Lizzette. You frighten me." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 29 
 
 '' Non, non, mais, zere ecs no love like ze true love 
 in ze heart of ze good woman." 
 
 ''It may be," said Elsie lightly, *' but like the old 
 Scotchwoman's white linen, ' it taks a sair bit o' achin' 
 ta get it,' and I've no desire to prove it." 
 
 " Eet vill prove itself in ze heart, and no ask desire." 
 
 'Dear me! how far we have wandered from our 
 m.uttons. I suppose your paragon dines here to- 
 night ? " 
 
 " Oui, and to-morrow I sail go shake ze hand de 
 mon Herbeart, and find him still ze same." 
 
 " Perhaps not." 
 
 " I know," said Lizzette positively. " My lad ees 
 not made of ze sheap stuff zat wear out memory." 
 
 The next morning as Elsie, in response to Mrs. 
 Mason's invitation, entered the morning-room, she be- 
 came at once aware that its fair mistress was not its 
 only occupant. Partially concealed behind a news- 
 paper she saw a blonde head, out of which a pair of 
 blue eyes gave her a quick glance, and she noticed 
 with an odd sense of detail that their owner wore a 
 dark blue smoking-jacket with facings of pale blue 
 satin. There was also a running accompaniment of 
 observation as to a slim white hand, the curling ends 
 of a blonde mustache, and an air of indolent grace in 
 the long lithe figure. Venturing but one glance, she 
 stood with book and pencil in hand, quietly awaiting 
 Mrs. Mason's orders. It had been one of the results 
 of Elsie Murchison's secluded life and country rearing 
 that no one had ever told her how beautiful she was, 
 and if she could but read the pleasing tale in her 
 9 
 
I30 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 mirror she accepted it in as humble and thankful a 
 spirit as she accepted the sunshine and the flowers, 
 and there was always a refreshing unconsciousness 
 about her that reminded one of the innocence of a 
 child. If she ever knew how charming a picture she 
 made as she stood before her mistress with downcast 
 eyes and flushed cheeks and the quaint cap and ker- 
 chief only intensifying her girlish simplicity, it was not 
 till long after. The natural flush of youthful expec- 
 tancy at coming in contact with the young and hand- 
 some man before her Avas crushed back.under the self- 
 scorn with Avhich she regarded any vague desire, as 
 she expressed it, to " look over the fence." Not for 
 one moment would she allow herself to forget that 
 she was '' Elsie the cook," and a little defiant curve set- 
 tled around the dimpled mouth as she became aware 
 of the intent gaze of those blue eyes over the top of 
 the newspaper. It was with haste amounting almost 
 to curtness that she received her orders and betook 
 herself out of the room. 
 
 There were two or three moments of silence after 
 Elsie's departure, and then Mrs. Mason's guest threw 
 down his paper with the question : " Where in the 
 name of all the graces, Helen, did you find such a 
 Hebe as that ? " 
 
 There Avas a steely flash in Mrs. Mason's eyes as 
 she answered : '' Have you been half the world over, 
 Herbert Lynn, only to come home and rave over the 
 beauty of my cook ? " 
 
 " Cook ? I thought Lizzette was responsible for 
 that superb dinner last evening." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I31 
 
 " So she was in part ; but this girl, Elsie Murchison, 
 is a protege of hers whom I have engaged for a short 
 time until I can do better." 
 
 " Well, if her cooking corresponds to her beauty she 
 must be a treasure." 
 
 " That is what James and William both declare her 
 to be," replied Mrs. Mason calmly. 
 
 " Oh, of course, just their style of girl," and Mr. 
 Lynn resumed the reading of his newspaper, as if the 
 subject had no further interest for him. 
 
 '' Singular," he mused, while his eyes roamed over 
 an editorial resume of the Parnell inquiry, ''what sur- 
 prises nature does love to work, putting the face of 
 an houri over a mind that doubtless shames a Nancy 
 Sykes. Helen's cook, indeed ! but, by Jove! I never 
 saw so lovely a face before." 
 
 After this, despite the black looks of his sister, 
 Herbert took especial delight in haunting the morning- 
 room at the usual hour of her conference with her 
 cook. He was seldom rewarded by hearing the Hebe 
 speak, and then only in monosyllables ; but he noticed 
 she had "that excellent thing in woman," a well- 
 modulated voice, as well as a quiet and reserved 
 manner. 
 
 " Herbert," exclaimed Mrs. Mason with an angry 
 flash in her gray eyes, after he had been present at the 
 third or fourth of these conferences, " I'll not have 
 you watching that girl so, and I warn you that my 
 house is not the place for any old-world gallantries." 
 
 The mild blue eyes met her own for an instant with 
 an equally angry glance, which, however, speedily died 
 
132 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 away by the time the nonchalant lips had framed an 
 answer. " I believe I've been doing nothing unbe- 
 coming a gentleman." 
 
 " Well, I only drop you a warning. I know what 
 the views of young men usually are after they have 
 spent a season in Paris." 
 
 *' You are wise in your generation," he said with a 
 slight touch of scorn, ''When did you learn of the 
 all-pervading blight of that m^odern Gomorrah ? " 
 
 '' Don't try to be lofty with me," pettishly exclaimed 
 his sister. "You know as well as I do that no good 
 can come of your admiring that girl." 
 
 " And what possible harm can come of it ? I have 
 done nothing reprehensible, except to bestow a fevv^ 
 quick glances upon a fair and youthful face. If she is 
 not to be looked at, you must veil her like the prophet 
 of Khorassan. As for your insinuations — well, if men 
 go to the devil as regularly and deliberately as you 
 seem to think, it is often because they are driven there 
 by the cool assumptions of women like yourself. Now, 
 my dear sister, let me disabuse your mind once for all 
 of the fear that I have imbibed nothing but old-world 
 vices in my continental trip. I always did respect 
 virtuous womanhood and always shall. I shall not in 
 the least harm your Hebe of the pots and pans, but to 
 relieve your mind I'll read the papers hereafter in the 
 billiard-room." 
 
 ''"Well," said Mrs. Mason, after Herbert had some- 
 what ostentatiously departed, and she was left to 
 ruminate on not over-sweet fancies, " I fancy I've fore- 
 stalled any absurd ideas that might get into Elsie's 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 33 
 
 head, and although I am growing to Hke her better 
 every day, just let me catch her making eyes at Her- 
 bert ! " 
 
 " Elsie," said Mrs. Mason the next morning, " we 
 are all going out for the day, and you may have your 
 time to yourself. I've given the maids a half-holiday 
 and there'll be nobody at home but James." 
 
 Elsie stood for a moment irresolute. A swift desire 
 had all but leaped to her lips— but dare she make it 
 known ? 
 
 " What is it, Elsie? " asked her mistress, evidently 
 more graciously disposed than usual. 
 
 ''I would like to ask a great favor. If there is to 
 be no one in the house m.ay I try the piano ? " 
 
 " I was not aware that you played the piano," said 
 Mrs. Mason a trifle coldly. Elsie's face flushed. 
 
 " I do not. I never touched one in my life ; but I 
 have a longing to see what I can do. There isn't vol- 
 ume and scope enough in our little cottage organ, and 
 I promised Antoine to ask permission to try the piano. 
 He is so much interested in music and finds so much 
 pleasure in learning that I love to help him even in 
 little things." 
 
 " I see no objection in the present instance; but you 
 of course understand that I regard the request as an 
 unusual one for a servant to make ? " 
 
 *' I do," said Elsie hotly as she turned away, " and 
 I will not " 
 
 Back swept the red blood from Elsie's face, and a 
 white, dull patience overspread it as she took up the 
 broken thread of her speech. 
 
134 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Mrs. Mason, I was going to say that I would not 
 touch your piano for worlds ! You seem to be afraid 
 all the time that I will forget the difference in our 
 station and presurne upon it. Have I done so ? Have 
 I been less than obedient, or indicated by word or look 
 that I thought myself anything more than a servant ? 
 But even servants have the common right of humanity, 
 and I asked a favor, knowing it to be a favor, because 
 of the crippled boy I love and the sick sister who 
 taught me to love and do for all things helpless and 
 dependent. If it were not for them no money would 
 tempt me to stay where I am not trusted ; but they 
 are helpless and in need. I shall never ask any further 
 favors of you, Mrs. Mason; but if you still wish to 
 keep me I shall try, as I have tried, to be obedient and 
 faithful to your interests." 
 
 Mrs. Mason sat for a moment without speaking, and 
 then suddenly reached out her hand to Elsie. " Come 
 back, child," she said, " and sit down. I want to talk 
 with you." 
 
 Elsie cam.e back from the door and stood before her 
 mistress. " Sit down," reiterated Mrs. Mason. 
 
 " It is expected that servants will stand in the pres- 
 ence of their superiors," answered Elsie with the old 
 mischievous sparkle in her eyes. 
 
 Mrs. Mason laughed. '' I like your spirit, anyway. 
 I really haven't any objection to your using the piano 
 when we are away. I'm glad you are ambitious to 
 cultivate yourself; but you mustn't make the mistake 
 of regarding a little superficial finish as cultivation. 
 Genuine cultivation strikes deep in the soil and takes 
 hold of every fibre of the being.* 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I35 
 
 '' Mrs. Mason," said Elsie, ''you make a mistake if 
 you think I have any longing for the mere name of 
 lady. I believe I could be your cook all my days and 
 yet make myself worthy of the character and appella- 
 tion. It is not what one does so much as in the man- 
 ner of doing it that lies the distinction, and I have as 
 natural a longing for all things noble and beautiful as 
 the flowers have for the sun, and just as good a right 
 to reach for them." 
 
 *' Certainly," assented Mrs. Mason ; " but \vith such 
 surroundings you haven't a very hopeful chance of 
 obtaining them. Your life is not a very happy one." 
 
 "Yes, it is," replied Elsie stoutly, "because I m^ke 
 it so. I wouldn't change places with the richest w^oman 
 in this city, if by so doing I had to lose the dear hopes 
 and sympathies for every day living that make even 
 our misfortunes bearable. O Mrs. Mason, before the 
 fire and Margaret's sickness, nothing could have ex- 
 ceeded the daily delight of our lives, even with all 
 their hard work and privation. Something to believe 
 in, some hope for humanity, some trifle in w^ord or 
 deed for each other — why, it seemed like a foretaste 
 of heaven. And now — well — " she went on, choking 
 back the sobs, " it is a delight to me to know that 
 my earnings have placed my brother Gilbert in the 
 manual-training school, and are helping Margaret, 
 Lizzette, and Antoine in numerous ways. I don't 
 want anything in this world, but just to grow into 
 light and life with the dear ones I love and who love 
 me." 
 
 Mrs. Mason did an unprecedented thing for her. 
 
136 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 She clasped one of Elsie's hands in her own, and said 
 with a litle break in her voice: " My dear child, you 
 must promise to forget my severity, and take me at 
 my word when I tell you to use the piano as often as 
 you find the coast clear, and also to help yourself to 
 what books you like in the library. I shall never speak 
 a harsh word to you again." 
 
 " Don't say that," exclaimed Elsie quickly. *' I may 
 need a good many." 
 
 "Well, the compact stands until you do need them." 
 
 Two hours later, having seen the carriage drive from 
 the door, and supposing the house empty with the ex- 
 ception of James, who w^as dozing in his pantry off the 
 dining-room, Elsie came softly down the stairs to the 
 front drawing-room. She had taken off cap, kerchief, 
 and apron, and wore only a dark cloth dress wuth a 
 little knot of bright red silk at the throat. With 
 childish curiosity she investigated everything in the 
 handsome room, pausing longest before a Carrara 
 marble statuette of Cupid and Psyche and talking 
 aloud with all the abandon of a child. 
 
 '' So that face of Psyche's was the best the sculptor 
 could do to represent the soul. I should call it rather 
 the absence of soul; but then I'm a Philistine, and 
 lack culture; and as for Cupid, if the blind god is no 
 fairer than he is painted — I should say carved — he 
 wouldn't stand much chance of awaking immortality in 
 me. I don't believe I've got a bit of poetry in me, any- 
 how; I'm so inclined to laugh at sentim.ent, or senti- 
 mentality — it all amounts to the same thing. In either 
 event, I suppose it shows that ' Elsie the cook ' is made 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 137 
 
 of coarser clay than those who find beauty in unmean- 
 ing faces. But I forget. ' Elsie the cook ' has gone 
 away, and Elsie the lady has come to stay." 
 
 A low ripple of laughter broke from her lips over 
 the unintentional couplet. '' A poet, after all ! I guess, 
 as they say below stairs, I'll throw up my job and get 
 a quill and ink-stand." 
 
 At this juncture, a gentleman who had been stretched 
 at full length upon a couch within a curtained alcove 
 at the further end of the library, closed the book he 
 had been reading, and shoving the curtain aside for an 
 inch or two, gazed into the drawing-room through the 
 half-open door. It chanced that the wide pier-glass 
 was so situated that nearly the whole interior of the 
 drawing-room was visible to the occupant of the alcove, 
 and a half-smile gleamed beneath the curled blonde 
 mustache as he listened to Elsie's amusing comments. 
 
 " Elsie the lady has come to stay," she repeated, 
 " and now ril'see if I can play it as well as madam 
 herself. I wonder if I look like one," and half-dancing 
 up to the glass, Elsie stood for a moment looking criti- 
 cally at herself. " No, I won't do. My hair ought to 
 be so," and she gathered it up on the top of her head, 
 from which the riotous ends speedily escaped in a 
 curling mass. "There! that's better; looks quite 
 fashionable; gown is very plain, but then we'll sup- 
 pose I go in for asceticism. No rings, but no pot black 
 on my hands. Nails well manicured and tolerably 
 aristocratic-looking. That is, there's quite a taper to 
 the fingers, which I suppose puts the proper stamp on. 
 Now that my lady has come to her own, let's see how 
 
138 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 she receives her guests. We'll try her cook first, so as 
 to get the proper air of dignified severity. No, I'll 
 not do it," she said thoughtfully, as she stood for a mo- 
 ment with downcast eyes. " She was kind to me after 
 all, and I'll not repay it with mockery even to myself. 
 It is quite evident that there is a great deal due to 
 station in this world, and Elsie the cook must cultivate 
 a little appreciation. Come, my Lord Snubbem, and 
 teach me to be a Brahmin." 
 
 With a mock courtesy Elsie stood before a great 
 sleepy hollow chair of blue velvet and went on with 
 her soliloquy: 
 
 " You will no doubt understand, my lord, that this 
 is my first appearance in society, and lacking the savoir 
 faire of long acquaintance, I shall, I presume, shock 
 you with some of my ' wild woolly western ' ideas. 
 Nevertheless, having seen that my brother, Mr. High- 
 and-Mighty, just returned from ' the continent ' — that 
 is the way even Americans put it, as if there were but 
 one continent — is paying his proper devoirs to Miss 
 Bullion, and will probably fall in love with her, or 
 rather with her money, which, entre nous, is all ' we ' 
 ask nowadays, I suppose I'll have to permit you, my 
 Lord Snubbem, after a great deal of coaxing, to induce 
 me to play for you. Of course you know all the time 
 I'm dying to show off; at least that's the way they 
 say it is in society, and so you offer me your arm and 
 lead me to the piano, and I prepare to display my 
 diamond rings — dear me, it's too bad I haven't any ! 
 . — and my precious little knowledge of music. Let me 
 see, how shall I begin ? With a grand flourish, of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 39 
 
 course; now for that Hungarian battle song !" And 
 almost forgetful of the character she was supposed to 
 represent, Elsie struck the heavy chords of the over- 
 ture, and became at once absorbed in the melody she 
 was evoking. *' Ah, that is grand," she sighed tremu- 
 lously. " There is power, adaptability, volume in a 
 piano that you can't find in a cottage organ if you 
 smother your soul in it. Now good-by. Lord Snub- 
 bem. Elsie the cook and Antoine the cripple have 
 come back and are going to forget all about you." 
 
 Presently, after a few drum-beats of the piano, arose 
 the shrill, sweet notes of a trumpet-call. Again it 
 came, louder, sweeter than ever, then the answering 
 tones of the piano, until trumpet-call and drum-beat 
 were blended in one brilliant clash of melody. Then 
 the piano ceased and Elsie's whistle took up the plain- 
 tive solo of the violin, which is supposed to represent 
 the pathetic heroism of the Hungarian mother in send- 
 ing her loved ones to battle. Softly, yet clearly, and 
 with such underlying feeling rang the bird notes 
 through the room that the listener felt tears gathering 
 beneath his eyelids. Scarcely had the sweet notes 
 ended when louder and faster came the crash of battle, 
 to be followed by the low dirge and moaning, cries 
 rendered by the resonant whistle. " Oh, dear," sighed 
 Elsie, " if Antoine had only been here, it might have 
 been worth while. What a grand thing the piano is ! 
 Poverty wouldn't be so bad if it did not exclude so 
 much of the heaven of music and art, etc., etc., etc. 
 Now, Elsie the cook, stop that vain longing ! Maybe 
 you'll earn a piano yet with your immense riches. 
 
140 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Just one more try, and Elsie the cook must go into 
 the lower regions again ; but it's been glorious to know 
 what such a life might mean. Come, old comforter, 
 and compose my soul," and she struck the accompani- 
 ment to the old, old song, "Jesus, Lover of my Soul." 
 The fresh young voice, gaining confidence as the feel- 
 ing pervading the melody swept over her, seemed to 
 fill every nook and corner of the room and rise up- 
 ward and outward until it v/as lost on the shining 
 pathway to the stars. It was dusk when Elsie closed 
 the piano, and with a sudden fervor she bent down 
 and kissed it. ''The only friend I have in the house," 
 she sighed aloud. A moment later she passed out 
 into the hall humming softly to herself: 
 
 " Hide me! Oh, my Saviour, hide, 
 Till the storm of life be passed! " 
 
 When the last notes had died away in the distance 
 Herbert Lynn sprang from his couch, and striking a 
 match, looked at his watch. 
 
 " Six o'clock ! " he exclaimed. " Helen will be furious 
 because Eve not kept my engagement; but I wouldn't 
 have missed that scene for all the dinners in Chris- 
 tendom. Heavens ! what a nature there is in that little 
 girl!" 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I4I 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Margaret sat reading a letter from Dr. Ely. The 
 faint blood of returning health was deepening in her 
 cheeks, and the glad light of her eyes intensified by 
 emotions which the letter evidently called forth. With 
 the freedom of the invisible biographer we will glance 
 over her shoulder as she reads : 
 
 '' I have carried for months the picture of the cosey 
 sitting-room at Idlewild set like a gem in the silver 
 circle of memory. It is hard, very hard, now to feel 
 that it must be only a memory; that I shall never see 
 it again, and never be able to picture the little feasts 
 of reason which your letters have so charmingly de- 
 scribed. Still, home is where the heart is, and I re- 
 gard this misfortune as only a temporary interruption 
 of your plans. I know so well the motive springs of 
 action in your nature, that I feel sure as soon as your 
 strength comes back on perhaps a firmer basis, the old 
 progress will be re-established. 
 
 " I heartily indorse your move in placing Gilbert in 
 the manual-training school, and inclose a draft for 
 one hundred dollars to advance your efforts. You 
 need have no hesitancy in accepting it, as I find the 
 books are regarded by bibliophilists generally as pos- 
 sessing all the value I placed upon them. 
 
142 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 "As regards Elsie's experiment in going as a cook, 
 there is much to be said for and against. She will be 
 subjected in such a position to much that will tax her 
 high spirit; but if she is equal to it she will be the 
 gainer in conscious strength and purpose. As a finan- 
 cial move, even at the average wages, it is undoubtedly 
 the best thing that could be done; for even had the 
 w^ay been opened, there is no such money in teaching 
 school or standing behind the counter. It is also a 
 safer life for a girl of her beauty, because the seclusion 
 of the kitchen has no such temptations as beset the 
 workers in public shops and factories. The question 
 of caste has evidently not entered into her calcula- 
 tions, because she looks upon life as it is developed 
 from the standpoint of moral worth, and she is a 
 charming example of the revival of primitive ideas. 
 I shall watch the outcome of the experiment with a 
 good deal of interest, not alone because I admire the 
 fair experimenter, but because I also look upon the 
 move as an incipient factor in social progress. The 
 housekeeping and homekeeping questions lie at the 
 roots of all philosophy ; for man is by no means a 
 sublimated mortal who can exist and theorize with no 
 provision for his material needs. Still, if I could have 
 had my way, I should have preferred that Elsie de- 
 velop her character and fitness for the world's work 
 under less trying circumstances. It does not seem 
 fitting to me that women should bear the brunt of 
 bread-winning; there is other and better work for 
 them to do. 
 
 " As for my school and myself, I think we are both 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I43 
 
 growing in strength. I should indeed be faint-hearted 
 if I did not feel nerved for the battle when I remem- 
 ber the fearful odds against which you and Elsie have 
 set yourselves. I do not prophesy much in the way 
 of harvest for you, for I know the world better than 
 you do. Yet I know that with you a slender sheaf of 
 the gleanings will be as so much saved for the All 
 Father's granary, and I can only bid you God-speed 
 in all you do. I know those who come within the 
 radius of your presence are lifted, albeit unconsciously, 
 in aspiration, and I have no wonder at all at Eph's 
 devotion. I look upon it as a natural result of natural 
 conditions, and I predict that in your home in the city 
 you will find the question of how to find room for all 
 the demands upon your sympathies and interests a 
 much more serious one than it is now. I shall hope 
 to have in the future, as in the past, a full account of 
 the progress made by all of you, and trust that in try- 
 ing to fulfil the purposes that actuate you, you will 
 not forget what is due your health. 
 
 '^ Sincerely your friend, 
 
 "Charles J. Ely." 
 
 Margaret read the letter very slowly, evidently find- 
 ing much food for thought in the lines. That it was 
 happy thought the demure smiles that almost brought 
 dimples in her cheeks testified. 
 
 " It wouldn't be difficult to turn back now," she 
 mused, " but it would be cowardly. It will be easier 
 too to go ahead, knowing as I do that all my efforts 
 are watched by sympathetic eyes. The determina- 
 
144 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 tion to Stand by Elsie and Gilbert, until character shall 
 have been formed and purposes achieved, grows heroic 
 as I progress ; for in it I already discern, thanks to 
 Dr. Ely's eyes, a lever for the good of others besides 
 ourselves. Duty has always seemed so simple and 
 necessary a thing to me, that I don't believe I have 
 properly appreciated Elsie's heroism. Poor little girl 1 
 I wonder how she bears the brunt of the battle, and if 
 that tempestuous heart of hers is in daily rebellion. 
 Antoine!" she exclaimed aloud, ''we are glad this is 
 Sunday and that Elsie is coming home to-day, aren't 
 we ? " 
 
 " So glad that I can't half read," said the boy, tossing 
 aside his book and looking up with a smile. 
 
 " It seems to me, Antoine, the violin has leaned more 
 to elegies and dirges than formerly. That won't do, 
 for I notice you are not looking as well as you were, 
 and I fancy you are missing Elsie too much. I'll tell 
 you what we're going to do. Next week I shall look 
 up rooms in the city, near Elsie, and we will have her 
 home every night, and you — now don't look so dis- 
 consolate — you shall remain with us and take lessons 
 at the conservatory. I've arranged it all with ma 
 mere, and I shall see almost, if not quite, as much of 
 you as I do now." 
 
 Antoine did not answer until he had choked back 
 one or two obtrusive sobs. " And ma mere ? " he asked. 
 
 ''She will be back and forth every day, with two 
 homes instead of one." 
 
 " And am I really to have lessons ? " 
 
 " Really and truly," answered l^.Iargaret. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I45 
 
 " I don't know how to be thankful enough," said the 
 lad. " But who pays for them ? " 
 
 " Never mind asking questions," said Margaret, 
 smiling. '' It is your business to accept propositions." 
 
 " I know — it is Elsie ! " he exclaimed gleefully. " She 
 said she should dispense charity like a millionaire." 
 
 Margaret laughed as she replied : ''I don't think 
 Elsie's princely income, as she calls it, will be equal to 
 all the schemes she has in her bright head ; but I know 
 I am very glad of the prospect of having her with us 
 once again. It's a dull house without her." 
 
 " And shall we have the old * evenings ' over again ? " 
 
 " Indeed we shall, please God. We'll take up the 
 thread where it snapped on that awful night of the 
 fire, only a little wiser and tenderer perhaps in our 
 judgments." 
 
 " How would it be possible for you to be any ten- 
 derer than you always have been ? " asked Antoine. 
 
 " Because experience widens and deepens our na- 
 tures, and 
 
 " ' Hearts, like apples, are hard and sour, 
 Till crushed by pain's resistless power.' " 
 
 " God mellowed yours, then, in long-gone ages, for 
 nobody ever found a hard spot in your heart." 
 
 "A royal flatterer! '' exclaimed Margaret gayly. " I 
 shall have to kiss you for that," and Margaret sank on 
 her knees beside the wheel chair and printed a re- 
 sounding smack upon the lad's pale cheek. 
 
 " I'm jealous ! " cried a gay voice at the door, and 
 
 the next instant Elsie was on the other side of the 
 
 chair and Antoine's arms were around her neck, 
 10 
 
146 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 '' Home again ! Home again ! " he cried with a little 
 break in his voice. 
 
 " For just about six hours, so tongues must fly at a 
 mile a minute. I have heaps and heaps to tell," and 
 breathless Elsie sank into a chair and said nothing. 
 
 " Why don't you tell it ? " asked Antoine. 
 
 " It dwindles so when I stop to think of it. I guess 
 it is all summed up in the statement that ' Elsie the 
 cook * is very well satisfied with her place, and a good 
 deal prouder of her two-weeks' wages than if some- 
 body had earned the money for her. Just see! " and 
 emptying the contents of her purse in Margaret's lap, 
 she went on: ^' Now, I've come home for some music 
 and to hear the rest of you talk. Where's the fiddle, 
 Antoine ? Let's wake the echoes and forget the fry- 
 ing-pan." 
 
 " O Elsie, life has come back with you," exclaimed 
 Antoine fervently as he tuned his fiddle. 
 
 '' To stay, I hope ; for I don't want to be guilty of 
 taking life when I go again." 
 
 An hour later everything had been forgotten in the 
 rendering of the old hymns and psalms with which 
 it had been their wont to delight themselves on Sun- 
 day afternoons. Margaret and Gilbert were joining in 
 the chorus, and Lizzette was softly humming to herself 
 in her work about the kitchen, when there came a 
 gentle rap at the outer door. Lizzette opened it and 
 with difficulty repressed an exclamation at sight of 
 Herbert Lynn on the threshold. With a warning ges- 
 ture he put his fingers to his lips and said in a low 
 voice: "I did not want to interrupt the music or I 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I47 
 
 should have rapped at the front door. Who is it plays 
 and sings so charmingly ? " 
 
 '' Antoine and Elsie," said Lizzette proudly. 
 
 '' Elsie ? I did not know she was here. I had a 
 little leisure and concluded I couldn't better employ 
 it than in coming to see my old Lizzette." 
 
 " Vous avez ze welcome, just as in ze old days. Let 
 me get ze leetle rocker, and you sail sit by me and 
 talk," and Lizzette made a move to enter the little 
 sitting-room. Herbert's hand was on her arm in an 
 instant. 
 
 " No, no," he said in a whisper. " Let me sit here 
 and listen. It will disturb them to know I am here." 
 
 Softly and sweetly from the other room came the 
 strain, '' 'Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow," and 
 Herbert Lynn reverently dropped his head in his hands 
 and listened. If there was to his critical ear a lack of 
 technical skill, there was no lack of sympathy or feel- 
 ing in every touch and tone. Neither was there lack 
 of genius, although it was easily discernible that it 
 was an untrained genius. 
 
 ''What power Antoine gets out of the violin," he 
 whispered to Lizzette, who nodded and smiled in proud 
 acknowledgment of his appreciation. 
 
 " II a " she began, but the music had ceased and 
 
 there was a rustle of turning leaves as Margaret took 
 up the Bible. 
 
 " On second thought," she said, " I will ask for a 
 subject. What shall it be, Elsie ? You have been out 
 in the world — what need has seemed greatest to you ? " 
 
 "The strength to bear," answered Elsie soberly. 
 
143 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " It seemed easy to be patient and properly humble 
 in this home of love and appreciation, but in this other 
 world of place-hunting and time-serving the quick re- 
 tort quite too often besieges my lips. You know, 
 Margaret, it is only the old enemy, and as the horizon 
 widens and I see what life might mean to me if fortune 
 had been kinder, and I realize that I have a nature 
 capable of profiting by the beautiful things of the 
 world, I grow rebellious and dissatisfied. I try every 
 now and then to imagine I am perfectly contented ; 
 but all the time I know I am deceiving myself. Help 
 me, Margaret dear, with all your sublime patience and 
 courage, to bear it, and not yearn after the vain things 
 of the world." 
 
 There was a sound of tears in Tvlargaret's voice as 
 she answered : " Strength must come from within, 
 Elsie. 'They that dwell in His house ' know where 
 the well of strength is, and ' the pools are filled with 
 water.' As for the vain things of this world for which 
 you sigh, the sin of it depends upon what those things 
 are. I think I know your heart well enough to believe 
 they are not selfish follies, but only healthy aspira- 
 tions for broader fields of culture. I don't believe in 
 repraesing such aspirations. They are as natural to 
 natures like yours as sunshine to flowers. Aside from 
 my unchanging faith in the beneficence of God, I have 
 always found the thought that the duty of to-day may 
 be the pleasure of to-morrow my greatest source of 
 comfort. Let us work faithfully, cheerfully to-day; 
 the way may be a little rough, but after all we shall 
 find many things to gladden it. A note from Antoine's 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 49 
 
 fiddle, a bit of Elsie's nonsense, have often made me 
 smile in the midst of the moodiest repinings. Our 
 work now, Elsie, is like the hard digging around the 
 roots of a rose-bush; by and by we shall look up and 
 see its crown of beauty and fragrance, and the roses 
 will be all the sweeter because our hands have sent the 
 thrill along their stems that roused them to life. I 
 haven't the least fear for my little girl when we re- 
 establish the old home life. Discontent will be left at 
 the door, and aspiration will find wings in Antoine's 
 fiddle and at the ends of her deft fingers." 
 
 "The first day I ever saw you," said Antoine to 
 Elsie, "you said your ambition lay all in learning to 
 cook like ma mere. What is the matter with it that 
 it does not satisfy you ? Is the grand art of ma mere 
 no art after all ? " 
 
 "Don't ask such heretical questions, Antoine! Just 
 ask ma m^re if I don't put heaps of enthusiasm in my 
 work, and mxake perfect poems in pastry and sonnets 
 in salads, whose proof is in the eating! But one may 
 have a thousand ambitions in the course of a lifetime, 
 and to confess the honest truth — Margaret, hide your 
 face! — I've just now an absorbing ambition to have a 
 new gown in the very latest style, with velvet all -■ over 
 it and some genuine lace at the throat, and all those 
 refined ladylike things that make you feel so — so satis- 
 fied with yourself ! See, I bow my head and meekly 
 await the avalanche of reproaches from this virtuous 
 and austere household ! " 
 
 " Well," said Gilbert from his corner, " I haven't any 
 for you ; for the threadbare appearance of my knees 
 
I50 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 has filled me with a similar ambition. The fellows at 
 the training school are mostly sons of well-to-do men, 
 and they eye me in a way that doesn't make me feel 
 so — so satisfied with myself." 
 
 In an instant Elsie jumped from her chair, and 
 patronizingly patting Gilbert's head exclaimed : " My 
 dear brother, how glad I am to know I'm not the only 
 black sheep of the family! Meg, you see what comes 
 of letting the lambs out in the world's pastures! " 
 
 Just then Elsie, glancing out into the kitchen, caught 
 sight of the amused faces of Lizzette and Herbert 
 Lynn, and consternation, fright, and astonishment so 
 overcame her that she could only stand still and 
 scream. 
 
 This at once brought Lizzette and Herbert to the 
 door. '^ Margaret," exclaimed Lizzette, " zis ees my 
 old friend, mon gar^on Herbeart Lynn, who coming to 
 see his old Lizzette haf ze desire also to know her 
 friends. He haf zair welcome, I believe ? " 
 
 Lizzette looked appealingly from the white scorn 
 of Elsie's face to the surprise of Margaret's; but before 
 either had time to speak Herbert said eagerly and with 
 flushing cheek as he glanced at Elsie : " I can explain 
 my presence here as an involuntary listener in this 
 way. Lizzette, as you probably know, has been more 
 than half-mother to me. Taking advantage of a day 
 when I felt sure of finding her at home, I came out for 
 a little visit. As I neared the door I heard such charm- 
 ing music I hesitated to interrupt it, and so I crept 
 like a culprit to the back door and listened — very repre- 
 hensibly, I know — to a discussion which was so full of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 151 
 
 Strength and interest to me I had not the courage to 
 interrupt it. Lizzette, can you not help me to be for- 
 given ? " 
 
 " Helas," said Lizzette. '' I am ze grand culprit. I 
 take ze pride in vat you list." 
 
 "Lizzette's friends are of course welcome to us, 
 since we are trespassers upon her kindness," said 
 Margaret brightly. ''And as we have no state secrets, 
 I think we can forgive an unintentional listening. This 
 is my sister, Elsie Murchison, whom perhaps you know 
 serves your sister, Mrs. Mason, as cook." 
 
 Margaret's countenance hardened a trifle as she 
 looked at the young man's handsome face and again 
 at Elsie's, coldly repellant, and she laid a stress upon 
 the last word that brought an involuntary smile to 
 Elsie's lips. The nod which she bestow^ed upon Her- 
 bert was, however, so ostentatiously distant that the 
 pleasant augury of the smile was speedily dispelled. 
 
 ''An' zis ees my good lad Gilbeart Murchison, et zis 
 mon gargon Antoine," said Lizzette hastily, in an en- 
 deavor to smooth over the aw^kv/ardness of the situa- 
 tion. 
 
 Herbert turned quickly to the boys, and taking the 
 proffered seat eagerly clasped Antoine's hand in his 
 own. " You've changed a good deal, my boy, since I 
 saw you, and you are growing to be quite a musician. 
 Your genius must be cultivated." 
 
 "It is going to be," answered Antoine, "thanks to 
 my Elsie." 
 
 Herbert glanced up as Antoine spoke, in time to 
 see Elsie slip into the kitchen. 
 
152 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Eet ees ze dinner hour," said Lizzette, looking after 
 her. *' I sail leave you, Herbeart, in ze good care of 
 Miss Margaret and ze boys." 
 
 " I shall be well cared for, no doubt. 1 always have 
 been in your house." 
 
 '' You have but recently returned from Europe, I 
 understand," said Margaret as Lizzette left the room. 
 " Were you there long ? " 
 
 "Some three years," replied Herbert. 
 
 " Long enough, then, to become somewhat imbued 
 with old-world ideas and customs." 
 
 " To the extent of finding democratic America the 
 most delightful place on earth to live." 
 
 The air of constraint, so foreign to Herbert's usual 
 suavity of address, dropped off under the stimulant 
 of Margaret's calm eyes and interested face, and he 
 presently found himself talking and laughing with 
 her and the boys with the freedom of long ac- 
 quaintance. Li the mean time Lizzette had been bus- 
 tling about the kitchen on hospitable thoughts intent, 
 and wondering vaguely where Elsie had gone. In 
 honor of her home-coming she had sacrificed a couple 
 of plump chickens which she had stuffed with truffles 
 erown in the darkness of her cellar. On the case of 
 v/ooden shelves which, with the romanticism of her 
 race, she loved to dignify v/ith the name of " beaufet," 
 stood a glass bowl of snow cream flanked by a bas- 
 ket piled high with yellow sponge-cakes. 
 
 "Zere ees ze pineapple jelly, ze salade de cresson, 
 ze cold sliced ham, ze duchesse potatoes, et ze cream 
 chocolate — ah, well, Lizzette's table ees not so empty 
 after all." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 53 
 
 She was bending over the oven door, watching the 
 browning of the chickens and letting a flood of savory 
 ,steam into the kitchen, when she felt a warm kiss on 
 her cheek. Glancing up in surprise she saw Elsie, 
 cloaked and bonneted, before her. '' Fie, fie, Elsie," 
 exclaimed Lizzette. " Zis vill not do. You no leave 
 before ze dinner." 
 
 ^' I must," said Elsie, putting her hands on Lizzette's 
 shoulders and looking into her face with her eyes full 
 of tears. " Don't you see how the case stands ? This 
 ' petit curieux ' — there, don't be angry, I can't call him 
 anything else — has followed me here, and if Mrs. Mason 
 hears of it I shall lose my place. Don't you see I 
 could not sit at the table with him and defend myself 
 against her attacks ? " 
 
 " Oh-h ! " It was a very long and expressive " oh" on 
 Lizzette's part, and her eyes grew round with wonder 
 and amusement as she glanced at Elsie's perturbed 
 face. " I nevair vas so big dunce in my life. Haf 
 Herbeart efer speak to you ? " 
 
 " No," said Elsie, crimsoning, " only — only looked at 
 me!" 
 
 Lizzette burst into a laugh so resounding that it 
 penetrated the room beyond; but Elsie's distressed 
 face was too much for her tender sympathies. '' Ma 
 petite fille," she exclaimed, " hov\^ stupid ees your old 
 Lizzette. Eh bien, I vill explain. Herbeart know 
 not you live here; he tell me so, and I nevair know 
 Herbeart Lynn to lie. So you see eet ees not ma petite 
 Elsie zat bring him " 
 
 " Lizzette ! Lizzette ! " cried Elsie, beside herself with 
 
154 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 mortification. '* I did not mean it that way! I'm not 
 so vain as you think ; but to tell the truth he has always 
 eyed me so, when I went to confer with Mrs. Mason, 
 that I have noticed she was uneasy and cross when 
 he was in the room. That is all in the world there is 
 in it, except that as ' Elsie the cook ' I decline to sit 
 at table with his high mightiness. Honestly, I do not 
 want ever to speak to him." 
 
 '' Herbeart haf ze good heart zat harm nobody." 
 
 " That may be true; but the gulf between us is con- 
 sidered too wide by his circle ever to be bridged over 
 by the commonplaces of even the simplest associa- 
 tion. You know I am right, Lizzette, and no false 
 vanity prompts what I say. I do want to keep my 
 place, and Mrs. Mason would be furious if she knew 
 I broke bread at the same table with her brother." 
 
 ''Ah, zat Helen ! Oui, Elsie, vous avez raison. Zis 
 ees too bad. Mais you sail not go hungry; here in ze 
 pantry I set you some dinner." 
 
 " No, Lizzette, I can't eat," said Elsie disconsolately. 
 "I'll just go down to Aunt Liza's and stay till the six- 
 o'clock train. Tell Meg how the case stands. I know 
 she'll approve my view of it." 
 
 "Helas,"said Lizzette sorrowfully. " Ze dinner vill 
 be spoiled for Margaret and ze rest of us; but maybe 
 zat vill be ze best way out of trouble." 
 
 It was growing dusk when Elsie took her scat in the 
 car on her way back to the city. She was tired, faint, 
 and over-wrought. A disturbing influence had set 
 again at work all those little discontents which Mar- 
 garet's calm reasoning had well-nigh dispelled, and she 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 55 
 
 fairly gasped with horror when she saw Herbert Lynn 
 enter the car and deliberately take the vacant seat be- 
 side her. 
 
 '^Miss Elsie," he coolly asked, "will you be kind 
 enough to tell me why I am an object of such aversion 
 to you ? " 
 
 *' I— I— don't know what you mean," she stammered 
 
 helplessly. 
 
 ''Aversion, Miss Elsie, is said by Webster to mean 
 dislike, disapproval, detestation, repugnance, antipa- 
 thy, abhorrence, loathing, etc., and so on. I trust you 
 understand me now," and he looked down on the flush- 
 ing face with a marked little smile of triumph. 
 
 '' The definitions are all a blank to me, and relate 
 to nothing with which I am familiar." 
 
 " Let me enlighten you, then. Do you think I am 
 not aware that I drove you from the house this after- 
 noon, and Lizzette's delicious dinner? I am truly 
 sorry that my mere unexpected presence in that little 
 house should have been productive of so much mis- 
 chief. I assure you I am not half as bad as I look, 
 and I feel as penitent as a small boy who is caught 
 stealing apples, and just about as guilty." 
 
 Elsie sat with her face turned toward the window 
 and made no reply. Not to be balked, Herbert went 
 on : 
 
 " I never enjoyed — or would have enjoyed but for 
 the unlucky fact of your displeasure— anything so much 
 as acquaintance with your sister and the atmosphere 
 of Lizzette's little home. It is something new to me, 
 c id I am not so case-hardened as to be wholly insensi- 
 
156 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 ble to it." Still Elsie vouchsafed no word as he paused 
 in evident expectation. 
 
 " Well, if I am to have all this conversation to myself, 
 I shall take the liberty of saying just what I think. I 
 think a certain Miss Elsie Murchison is decidedly un- 
 reasonable, and is determined that the culprit's sentence 
 shall be a severer one than he deserves. She will not 
 even permit him to plead his cause. Nevertheless, as he 
 is satisfied of its justice he proposes to go on. The 
 brother of Mrs. Helen Mason, an acknowledged leader 
 of the haut ton, is neither a knave nor a fool ; at least 
 he is not prepared to so view himself just yet, and be- 
 cause his well-beloved sister has certain views in ac- 
 cordance with the creed of her set, it does not follow 
 that he must blindly indorse all those views. He may 
 have sufficient independence to recognize worth when 
 he sees it, regardless of its environment." 
 
 Still no response from stubborn Elsie. The hot 
 blood mounted to Herbert's brow. Bending forward 
 so that he might get a good view of her face, he ex- 
 claimed impetuously: 
 
 " Miss Murchison, if this is really a matter of per- 
 sonal dislike I have nothing further to say. Until I am 
 satisfied that it is, however, I feel that I have a right to 
 understand the meaning of your persistent silence." 
 
 Thus brought to bay Elsie raised her eyes, and 
 Herbert saw that they were full of unshed tears. 
 
 '' Mr. Lynn," she began tremulously, " it seems al- 
 most cruel in you to press me for an answer; but since 
 you force it you shall have the plain truth. There is 
 no personal feeling at all in the matter. I neither like 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 157 
 
 nor dislike you, and simply ask to be let alone. I am 
 your sister's cook, between whom and Mr. Lynn there 
 cannot be even common acquaintance." 
 
 " My sister's cook! " repeated Herbert. " It is as I 
 suspected, a mere matter of pride on your part." 
 
 " No," said Elsie desperately. " It is a matter of 
 bread and butter. As your sister's cook I am earn- 
 ing- g-ood waees, that are of incalculable value to those 
 I love and for whom I work. If I lose my place, it 
 means deprivation and distress. Can you not see my 
 reason and be generous ? " 
 
 ''Generous, most certainly; but not for any reason 
 you advance. I am not under my sister's dominion." 
 
 '' But I am ; and if I in any way incur her displeasure, 
 I shall suffer for it." 
 
 '' Not through me," said Herbert stoutly. " I shall 
 take good care of that." 
 
 "You can only do it by refusing to notice me any 
 further; a favor which I particularly request." 
 
 " I do not know that I ever before flatly refused a 
 lady's request; but this time I am compelled to do 
 so by circumstances beyond my control." 
 
 The mischief in Herbert's eyes was too much for 
 Elsie's volatile nature, and she greeted his audacious 
 statement with a ripple of laughter which she bitterly 
 regretted a second later. 
 
 *' There ! " he exclaimed. " I am glad the statuesque 
 repose of the De Veres has been broken. I think we 
 shall understand each other soon." 
 
 " We do now," said Elsie hastily. '' I cannot speak 
 any plainer." 
 
158 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Well, I can ; but here we are, and while w^e walk 
 the rest of the way home I'll endeavor to be explicit. 
 Please take my arm." 
 
 There was no help for it. Eight or ten blocks inter- 
 vened between them and the Mason mansion ; it was 
 dark and physical fear prevented Elsie's refusal of the 
 proffered escort. 
 
 '' Now," said Herbert as she meekly placed her 
 hand on his arm, "things are just to my satisfac- 
 tion. As regards your place, it shall be yours in- 
 definitely so far as I am concerned. I promise not 
 to annoy you in any way — that is, whenever I think 
 that way is consistent with my way. I admire your 
 sister very much, and she has already accepted my 
 offer of comradeship, which, by the way, shows her good 
 sense. As for her rebellious little sister, I shall be just 
 as much her good friend as if she were forty times a 
 queen in her own right, which she undoubtedly is. She 
 cannot prevent my admiration of her independence 
 and heroism if she snubs me twenty times a day, as, 
 judging from the past, I presume she will. That, hovv^- 
 ever, will be the least of my distress, so I succeed in 
 making her believe I am not a wolf in sheep's clothing. 
 I assure you, upon the honor of a gentleman, that I 
 shall be guilty of no more reprehensible act than to 
 claim the kindly consideration of one friend for an- 
 other." 
 
 Elsie found it difficult to frame a reply. Animosity 
 was fast breaking down before the simple, candid words, 
 and in its place had come a not wholly definable sense 
 of companionship that was strangely sweet. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 59 
 
 *' But the social gulf " she began feebly. 
 
 "A fig for it! Are you not of that heretical sect 
 which believes only in an aristocracy of moral worth 
 and cultivated brains ? Are }'ou going to deny me 
 the privilege of proving my claim to distinction among 
 you ? Your sister has already outlined your little 
 evenings to me, and I am going " 
 
 "To do what ?" asked Elsie quickly. 
 
 " Look in upon you occasionally, that is all. You 
 fancied I was going to apply for a membership. I am 
 afraid if I should, one of its brightest members would 
 stay away. But we are almost home, and you haven't 
 told me yet that you have forgiven my unintentional 
 transgression of the conventionalities this afternoon ; 
 nor have you promised to believe in my integrity and 
 good-will." 
 
 " I promise on one condition," said Elsie, stopping 
 suddenly. "There is only half a block further; let me 
 go alone. It would be so unfortunate for me if — if 
 any one saw us together." 
 
 " Certainly, if you wish it. I suppose there is no 
 law to prevent my walking a few steps behind you." 
 
 " I don't think there is any law anywhere for you. 
 Good-night," and with Herbert's laugh ringing in her 
 ears Elsie hastened down the area steps and swung 
 open the kitchen door 
 
l6o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " Elsie," said Mrs. Mason the following morning, 
 " I am going to give a reception in my brother's honor 
 to-morrow evening, and I shall put the dining-room 
 and kitchen in the hands of the caterer. If you like 
 you may assist Mary and Martha in the toilet-rooms 
 during the evening." 
 
 " Very well," answered Elsie soberly; but there was 
 a light in her eyes which made Mrs. Mason say inter- 
 rogatively, " You are pleased at the change ? " 
 
 " Indeed I am ! I shall see a little of the pageantry 
 of life, and I love to look at beautiful things, fair ladies, 
 and brave men. The whole thing will be a living pic- 
 ture, and while I hand a pin to this one, or a fan to 
 that, I shall be stealing something that will be neither 
 coats nor diamonds." 
 
 " Something less tangible, but more valuable, per- 
 haps." 
 
 " I am not so sure of its value as I am of its pleasure." 
 
 " Pleasure in what way ? " 
 
 '' In the way that a rose is just as beautiful to my 
 eyes as to those of a princess ; in the way that this re- 
 ception will be just as much for me as if I wore satins 
 instead of a house-maid's cap and apron." 
 
 Elsie had been for the nonce aroused from her usual 
 reserve, and as she caught the coldly critical glance 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY l6l 
 
 which Mrs. Mason bestowed upon her, she exclaimed 
 eagerly: '* I beg your pardon, Mrs. Mason. I did not 
 mean to inflict my small enthusiasms upon you." 
 
 " I was only thinking," replied Mrs. Mason, " that 
 the world seems to open a vista of enjoyment for you 
 which many apparently more fortunate would give 
 half their years to possess. What is the secret of your 
 happiness ? " 
 
 *' ' Secret ? ' I have none, unless it is that I am still 
 a child, in heart at least, and accept life as unques- 
 tioningly," 
 
 '' But by and by the heart of the child will have 
 grown old, and you will be like the rest of us, tired, 
 disappointed, doubting." 
 
 There was a note of sadness in Mrs. Mason's voice 
 that appealed at once to Elsie's tender sympathies. 
 Involuntarily she reached out a hand as if to lay it 
 upon the white jewelled one of her mistress; but with 
 a sudden start of recollection she drew back and said 
 simply: "There is so much in this world to hope for, 
 so much that may be had even by the poorest, that 
 disappointment and doubt need affect one only as 
 externals. I hope I may never grow wise if wisdom 
 brings only bitterness of spirit." 
 
 Mrs. Mason made no reply; she was watching the 
 fine mobile face before her, with its blending of pride 
 and guilelessness. "The girl gains on one so," she 
 mused, "that I could almost make her friend instead 
 of servant, if it were not for " 
 
 At this juncture Elsie, uneasy under the prolonged 
 
 scrutiny of the gray eyes, asked hesitatingly: "Do 
 II 
 
l62 A NEW ARISTOCRACY 
 
 you wish anything further, Mrs. Mason ? May I go 
 now r 
 
 ''You might have gone some time since," was the 
 calm reply, given with all the iciness of manner she 
 knew so well how to apply to the impulsive girl. 
 
 Elsie's face flushed painfully as she left the room. 
 Mrs. Mason smiled grimly as she saw it. " I treat that 
 girl horribly sometimes ; but it is the only way I can 
 preserve the proprieties." 
 
 The next evening, when everything had been put to 
 rights in the kitchen, Elsie and Jenie, the little maid 
 of the scullery, climbed the back stairs with many a 
 ripple of laughter. They were deeply engaged in the 
 all-important subject of dress, and were as keen in 
 their enjoyment of the good points of attire as many 
 a society belle who would grace the Mason parlors. 
 
 " Oh, but you are just lovely," exclaimed enraptured 
 Jenie as Elsie invested herself in a cheap lawn of rose 
 pink, and fastened a coquettish lace cap above her curls 
 in place of the frilled muslin of everyday. The dress 
 was as straight and plain as that of a Puritan maid ; 
 but the soft lace of a Martha Washington fichu and 
 a jaunty lace-trim.med apron with pink bows on the 
 pockets, created a costume that only needed the dark 
 eyes and tinted cheeks of the wearer to complete it. 
 
 " I lack one thing," said Elsie, critically surveying 
 herself in the glass. '' I wish I had one of those Bon- 
 silene roses that the florist has massed in the parlors. 
 I'm going to ask Mrs. Mason for one." 
 
 " I wouldn't," said Jenie. " I'd just take one. It 
 would never be missed." 
 
A NEW yVRISTOCRACY. 163 
 
 '' Jenie," laughed Elsie a3 she placed a hand under 
 the little maid's chin, " I should miss it, and that 
 would be the worst miss of all. I like to keep my 
 fingers clean, you know." 
 
 " Well, it ain't like takin' clothes and such like." 
 
 " Not exactly ; but all the same it ts taking what 
 doesn't belong to me." 
 
 " It's such a little thing I wouldn't have minded it." 
 
 *' It is the * littles ' that make us, Jenie. Lookout 
 for the little foxes and the lions will keep away. Now, 
 let me see how you look. As sweet and clean as a 
 whistle. Let me straighten your cap. Dear me, there's 
 a button off your shoe. I must sew that on right away. 
 It doesn't look ladylike, you know, to go with the but- 
 tons off." 
 
 Jenie laughed. '* Me a lady!" she exclaimed as if 
 the idea were preposterous. 
 
 '* To be sure," said Elsie seriously. '' You can be just 
 as much a lady in your work as Mrs. Mason in hers." 
 
 '' Humph ! She'd laugh at me." 
 
 *' That wouldn't affect the fact, and nobody will 
 laugh at you for respecting yourself. Only you must 
 lookout that you don't think so much of yourself that 
 you neglect your duty. People would have a right to 
 laugh at you then. Now I'm going for the rose;" 
 and having seen that Jenie's belongings were in order, 
 she opened the door and started for the lower hall, 
 humming a gay chansonette and emphasizing its tune 
 with a step as graceful as if art, not nature, had 
 prompted it. Herbert Lynn's door stood open, and 
 unseen by Elsie, he watched the lively patter of a pair 
 
164 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 of bronze slippers along the hall with a light that was 
 somewhat deeper than amusement in his eyes. 
 
 "Good-evening!" he exclaimed as Elsie neared his 
 door. " These buttons on my glove are a trifle refrac- 
 tory. May I beg you to fasten them ? " 
 
 The song on her lips met instant suppression as she 
 glanced up with heightened color into the blue eyes 
 that were smiling down at her. It seemed to Elsie 
 that it was rare good fortune which sent James at that 
 moment across the hall. 
 
 ''James/' she called, " Mr. Lynn would like to have 
 you button his glove," and without pausing a second 
 Elsie walked soberly along the hall to Mrs. Mason's 
 room. Herbert bit his lips in vexation, and re-enter- 
 ing his room, he slammed the door in no very amiable 
 frame of mind. 
 
 '' The witch ! " he exclaimed, throwing himself into a 
 chair and scov/ling like a thunder-cloud. '' How cava- 
 lierly she does treat me! Jove! isn't she lovely in that 
 cheap finery ! She ought to ' walk in silk attire and siller 
 hae to spare * instead of being doomed to the round 
 of Helen's pots and pans. How unequally the good 
 things of life seem to be distributed, and how singular 
 it is to find such pride of character in a girl occupying 
 her position in life. Well, I'd give * Jupiter and his 
 power to thunder ' to break that stubborn pride of hers, 
 and I'll do it or die in the attempt/' 
 
 A look of resolute will settled over the bright, almost 
 boyish, face and gave it an added strength and beauty, 
 which struck Elsie wonderingly as a moment later she 
 encountered him in the hall with her hands full of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 165 
 
 roses. He bestowed upon her only the slightest nod 
 as he passed rapidly down the stairs, and Elsie climbed 
 to her room and pinned the roses at throat and belt 
 with a feeling that something had taken the glamor 
 from the evening's enjoyment. 
 
 " I don't care," said she defiantly. " I knew my hands 
 would tremble if I tried to fasten those buttons; be- 
 sides, I don't thank him for noticing me in the least. 
 I'm only ' Elsie the cook ' and he knows it, for all of 
 his pleadings to the contrary. I just want him to let 
 me alone, and there's all there is of it." 
 
 This stalwart enunciation of wishes was not wholly 
 borne out by the misty eyes that greeted her from the 
 glass, and it required several little pattings of her 
 handkerchief to clear them so that she dare trust her- 
 self in the waiting-room below. The guests were al- 
 ready arriving as Elsie entered the dressing-rooms, 
 and her services were at once called into requisition 
 in undoing trains, buttoning gloves and slippers, mak- 
 ing up faces and arms, and arranging dishevelled coif- 
 fures. More than one quick glance was bestowed by 
 the guests upon the pretty maid in pink who so deftly 
 ministered to their various needs, and one tall, statu- 
 esque girl of superb grace and unusual elegance of 
 costume attempted to slip a dollar into Elsie's hands 
 as she was about to leave the room. 
 
 " I beg your pardon," said Elsie, flushing. " I — I 
 cannot accept the money. Mrs. Mason pays me for 
 my work." 
 
 The lady laughed as she tapped Elsie's cheek with 
 her fan. ''You must be a new acquisition of Helen's. 
 
l66 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 I do not remember to have seen you before, and as 
 for the money, my dear child, I always bestow it upon 
 those who serve and please me." 
 
 *' It doesn't seem right for me to take it," replied 
 Elsie; ''and I hope you won't think me ungrateful if 
 I refuse." 
 
 " Why, if you will be so quixotic I will not urge it 
 upon you, of course ; but you are the first of your class 
 I ever remember to refuse a gift. I must congratulate 
 Helen on her rare good fortune. Your action is quite 
 unusual, I assure you." 
 
 At the first opportunity Elsie turned to Martha and 
 Mary, who had smiled audibly behind their handker- 
 chiefs at witnessing the little scene. '' Did I do any- 
 thing wrong ? " she asked pitifully. 
 
 " Don't know as it's very wrong," answered Martha, 
 " but it's awful silly, and you'll find out that the tips 
 the rich folks give you'll buy lots o' nice things." 
 
 *' If that's all I don't care," said Elsie. " I don't 
 want to be rude." 
 
 " Why didn't you want it ? " asked Mary curiously. 
 
 " Because I am paid by Mrs. Mason for my work, 
 and because somehow it touched my pride to be of- 
 fered money for nothing." 
 
 Martha and Mary laughed. " That's a queer pride 
 of your'n, Elsie. I never seen none like it before," ex- 
 claimed Martha. 
 
 " It is a pride I hope that harms no one^ not even 
 myself." 
 
 ''I don't know about that! You'll always get left 
 if you stand too much on your dignity." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 6/ 
 
 " Not if I am faithful in my work, and that I mean 
 to be." 
 
 The evening was after all a great delight to Elsie, 
 who never allowed any misgiving to long cloud her 
 skies. The beautiful costumes, the light laughter, the 
 gay banter, the strains of music that floated up-stairs 
 from the mandolin orchestra stationed in the library 
 behind banks of ferns and roses, all seemed a dream 
 from the fairyland of the imagination. She hovered 
 over the balusters in the hall, and watched the moving 
 panorama below with all the intoxication of youth in 
 bright and beautiful things. Later in the evening she 
 crept down-stairs with the other maids, and hiding her- 
 self behind a screen of palms in the hall, could see in 
 the drawing-room beyond the bevy of belles and beaux 
 in the exercise of all the graces of refined intercourse. 
 She could see that Herbert Lynn was everywhere wel- 
 comed by bright eyes and cordial words, and a little 
 pang of regret shot through her heart at the injustice 
 of fate. But it was only for a moment, and then, with 
 an effort of will so strong that it sent the blood out 
 of her face, she trampled the rising regret to death. 
 
 '* I will not, I will not," she said between set teeth, 
 as she walked wearily along the hall to her room when 
 the last guest had departed. 
 
 "You've dropped your roses," said Herbert's voice 
 behind her just as she reached the foot of the stairs. 
 
 " No matter," she said, half-turning. ''A withered 
 rose is valueless." 
 
 *' Not to me," he replied emphatically, as he gathered 
 them up and deliberately placed them inside his vest. 
 
1 68 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 A look of innocent wonder swept over Elsie's face, 
 that was not altogether successful in its effort to ap- 
 pear natural. ''A wilted rose, I suppose, will answer 
 for a rose-jar! There are oceans in the parlors, and I 
 can bring you a panful if you v/ish." 
 
 Herbert took a quick step that brought him to 
 Elsie's side. '' Elsie Murchison," he exclaimed half- 
 savagely, '* do you know I never was baffled in my 
 life?" 
 
 " First times have come to a good many of the 
 world's conquerors. Mr. Lynn would be a most nota- 
 ble exception if he continued an unbroken line of vic- 
 tories." 
 
 " You may mock me as you choose. I have been 
 candid to the verge of bluntness with you, and you 
 know very well I am desirous of obtaining your friend- 
 ship." 
 
 "And you know very well," answered Elsie, all the 
 brightness dying out of her face and leaving it gray 
 and cold, " that there is no friendship possible between 
 us. I resolutely refuse to consider the slightest chance 
 of such a thing." 
 
 Stung to the quick, Herbert turned on his heel, say- 
 ing vehemently, '' Very well. So emphatic a state- 
 ment as that must be heeded ; but I am very much 
 mistaken if you do not some day regret it." 
 
 Elsie had never known such a weariness of body as 
 she carried up the long flight of stairs to her room, 
 and it was with a feeling of having been hunted and 
 driven to bay that she threw herself across the bed 
 and burst into tears. All the pent-up feeling of years 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 69 
 
 seemed to burst its bonds as sob after sob shook the 
 slight frame and floods of tears rolled their tempestu- 
 
 o 
 
 ous way over her cheeks. At last the force of the 
 storm was spent and she sat up in bed, weak but re- 
 lieved. 
 
 "I couldn't have been fiercer if I'd been Vesuvius 
 in action," she said ruefully as she tried to collect her 
 scattered senses. '' But I've done one virtuous act, 
 anyway ! ' Regret it ! ' Ah, if he only knew the silly 
 little heart I carry here, and how heavy it is and al- 
 ways will be ! Meg, dear, duty didn't find your little 
 Elsie on the coward's side, after all, and yet how I 
 should have enjoyed saying 'Thank you, sir,' after the 
 regulation order. He'll forget all about me in a day 
 or two, and it is a good deal better than if I had tried 
 the miserable farce of friendship only to have it surely 
 end in trouble. Now I'm the only one to suffer, and 
 henceforth I shall look upon myself as quite a heroine. 
 I don't think there's much fun in being one, though," 
 and with this doleful reflection Elsie, like a sensible 
 girl, turned off the gas and went to bed. If her sleep 
 had not the peace of the care-free, it was yet suffi- 
 ciently healthy to bring back the color to her cheeks 
 and the lustre to her eyes, and no one dreamed of the 
 tempest of pain that had swept over her the night 
 before. 
 
i;o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The week following Elsie's memorable visit to Idle- 
 wild found Margaret and Gilbert domiciled in rooms 
 some ten blocks removed from the Mason mansion ; 
 that being the nearest approach of cheap rents to the 
 aristocratic thoroughfare. The rooms were situated 
 in an apartment-house, as such are nowadays called 
 under the approved nomenclature of progressive ideas ; 
 but the building was some decades behind its impos- 
 ing name. It was indeed a type of the old shabbily- 
 built, inconvenient, and miasma-breeding tenement- 
 house. It was a long, narrow, five-storied structure, 
 poorly lighted and equally as poorly ventilated ; but it 
 was in fact the only house with a reasonable rent 
 which could be found near enough to Elsie to warrant 
 a nightly visit from her. Margaret chose, out of several 
 vacant rooms, four in the fifth story, because in these 
 she had both light and air, and she felt she could better 
 endure the inconvenience of the four long flights of 
 stairs than the absence of two such essentials to health 
 and comfort. The condition of the halls, which the 
 majority of the tenants seemed to consider a lodging- 
 place for refuse of various kinds, was a terrible eye- 
 sore to her housewifely instincts, and she had not been 
 many days in her new quarters before she put her 
 wits to work to effect a change in their untidy aspect. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I /I 
 
 So far as her own flight of stairs and its contiguous 
 hallways were concerned, the solution was simply a 
 compound of soap, water, and muscle; but when it 
 came to the consideration of those below her, some- 
 thing like generalship was needed to induce the desired 
 cleanliness. To perform an undue share of the public 
 work did not by any means enter into her scheme of 
 the general good. The responsibility of the individual 
 was the one hobby, if such it could be called, which 
 Margaret permitted herself. To arouse the latent in- 
 stinct of self-dependence and development was an al- 
 most unconscious exhalation of the sturdy faith which 
 had always made circumstances only a means unto an 
 end, and that end the uplifting of the better elements 
 of character. To be her brother's keeper in so far as 
 that keeping could induce a heartfelt aspiration or a 
 simple kindness, had been but an outgrowth of the 
 unselfishness of her aims. Few people looked with as 
 lenient an eye upon the shortcomings of humanity, or 
 were actuated by as sincere a desire to lend a hand to 
 retrieve a false step, as Margaret Murchison, Yet it 
 was with a good deal of delicacy that she reviewed 
 the means whereby she might bring an air of greater 
 thrift and cleanliness into the desolate halls below. 
 Like all refined and sensitive people, she felt a hesi- 
 tancy about bringing even an inferential reflection of 
 uncleanHness upon those whose co-operation she de- 
 sired. 
 
 " It will be impossible to do it," she sighed, " until 
 I have made their acquaintance, and won their confi- 
 dence. They will be distrustful and think in their 
 
172 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 vernacular that I am putting on airs if I broach the 
 subject before." 
 
 If the condition of the halls dismayed Margaret, the 
 condition of the living-rooms of the inmates of the 
 building was much more disheartening. Not that 
 poverty in its severest aspect was present, for in nearly 
 all cases the rooms were occupied by the families of 
 porters, ofifice clerks, and under salesmen, and although 
 a decent amount of food and clothing vv^as to be had 
 by the closest economy, there was such a lack of home- 
 ness that it turned Margaret heart-sick. The women 
 were, for the most part, good-natured, well-intentioned 
 souls, but tried beyond endurance in the almost hope- 
 less task of making both ends meet on the scanty dole 
 of the one wage-earner. Children Vv^ere everywhere ; 
 for whatever other blessings may be denied the toiler, 
 the children always come to lighten his heart and 
 empty his pocket. Ambition was well-nigh dead in 
 their bosoms ; for the daily grind of hard work, the 
 lowering cloud of capitalistic oppression, and the con- 
 stantly-increasing tide of mongrel, half-starved immi- 
 grants, who stood ever ready to snatch the crust from 
 their lips, had left very little opportunity for the 
 better classes of American workingmen to look for- 
 ward with any degree of hope. 
 
 There was a wholesomeness about Margaret that 
 made both men and women trust her, and with the 
 natural volubility of their class, the women had poured 
 the whole story of their daily struggles into her will- 
 ing ears before she had been ten days in the house. 
 There were twelve families in the building, a number 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 73 
 
 of rooms being unoccupied ; and barren as had been 
 Margaret's own life in the little parsonage at Barnley, 
 and later at Idlewild, she felt that it had been a broad 
 way of peace and plenty beside the narrow line of these 
 toilers. With her, above meagre outlines and practi- 
 cal details had been the wide field of growth, the pleni- 
 tude of hope, and the infinite realm of thought. With 
 these people, cabined and confined year in and year 
 out within smoke-begrimed walls, life had become a 
 sordid round of ministering to material needs, with no 
 blue skies to call their eyes upward or song of birds 
 to awaken benumbed hearts. 
 
 " I would not have thought poverty could wear so 
 pitiless an aspect," she mused. " Something must be 
 done to bring back the revivifying influence of hope 
 to these people. But what can I do, burdened with a 
 like poverty, against the greed and extortion of these 
 capitalists ? Just think of men with families compelled 
 to live and pay rent on six, seven, and nine dollars a 
 week, working twelve and fourteen hours a day, and 
 Sundays too, if the ' boss ' so wills, without a penny's 
 extra pay ! Oh, it makes my blood boil when I see 
 such injustice ! Is there no relief for all this ? Are 
 there no thunderbolts of heaven to strike these slave- 
 drivers who compel their men to this life, by telling 
 them the market is overstocked with unorganized 
 workers, and that a body of lean and hungry wolves 
 stands ever ready to snatch their scanty crusts ? Small 
 wonder that ambition dies, and that there are only 
 mutterings of discontent and savage envy and malig- 
 nant plottings against the mighty magnates who insti- 
 
1/4 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 gate and abet this monstrous cruelty. What can I dc 
 for these overworked and disheartened mothers, these 
 joyless children and sullen fathers ? How can I help 
 them to smile, to look for sunshine instead of clouds ? 
 Out of the abundance with which I am blessed I must 
 devise some way." 
 
 Margaret's abundance was certainly not that of 
 money, for she had been forced into taking '' slop- 
 work " from the factories, at forty-five cents per dozen 
 for men's hickory shirts and fifty cents per dozen 
 pairs for men's overalls. The winter's indebtedness 
 was draining the greater share of Elsie's abundant 
 wages, and Gilbert's expenses at the training school 
 were already eating into the carefully-guarded one 
 hundred dollars that had been sent by Dr. Ely. It 
 was evident that what help Margaret gave could only 
 be that of interest and suggestion. But how to make 
 suggestion inoffensive, and how to stimulate ambition 
 without arousing antagonism, were questions which 
 puzzled her not a little. 
 
 One Saturday morning, returning from the factory 
 with her arms laden Avith work, she stopped at the 
 doors of the various rooms on her way up-stairs and 
 asked that all the children who were large enough 
 to climb the stairs be sent to her rooms in half an 
 hour. 
 
 How joyfully they swarmed the halls long before 
 the appointed time, and what a time Margaret had 
 counting them ! Forty-eight above five years and the 
 eldest not above nine. '' How many go to school ? " she 
 asked as she ranged them along the wall. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 175 
 
 Fourteen little hands were raised; of these eight 
 were boys. 
 
 ''Now, boys," she exclaimed, "I'm going to begin 
 with you. What do you like best, or would like best, 
 if you could have your wish ? " 
 
 The answers varied from peg-tops to balloons and 
 locomotives. 
 
 " How many hours do you have out of school ? " 
 
 '' School's out at four. 
 
 '* Till half-after six, then — two good hours. Now, 
 how many are willing to work to earn money ? " Every 
 hand went up. '* Well, after four o'clock to-night I 
 want you to come up again to see my brother Gilbert. 
 He has fitted up a work-bench in one of the rooms, and 
 those of you who are willing to work, and work hard, 
 for two straight hours a day, can earn some money 
 by and by. It will not be so much fun, perhaps, as 
 racing through the halls, sliding down the stairs, or 
 playing out in the street ; but it will buy the peg-tops 
 and locomotives one of these days, and there isn't 
 much in this world we can have without paying for it 
 in one way or another. Are you all agreed ? " 
 
 ''You bet!" came the unanimous response. Mar- 
 garet smiled as she turned to the girls. 
 
 " How many know how to sew ? " Not a single hand 
 was raised. " How many are willing to learn ? " Every 
 hand in the room went up. " Boys and all," exclaimed 
 Margaret. " Now let's make a test. Who has a but- 
 ton ofl his shoe ? " 
 
 "Jimmy! Johnnie ! Nell! Sue! Mary ! Jane ! Jack! " 
 sang out the noisy chorus. 
 
1/6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Down on the floor, every one of you. Now, I'll 
 furnish needles, thread, and buttons, and I want every 
 one who has a button off to sew it on, and sew it 
 strongly, too. Now, the one who sews a button on the 
 best and quickest shall have that card," and Margaret 
 pointed to a brilliant chromo-lithograph of angels with 
 impossible wings and beatific smiles. 
 
 " Oh, my! " chorused the girls. 
 
 '' Jiminy crickets!" ejaculated the boys, with now 
 and then a more forcible expletive thrown in. It took 
 some time for the clumsy little fingers to get to work; 
 but Margaret, noting down time and names, kept close 
 tally, and at last pronounced every button in its place, 
 and proclaimed the name of the winner of the prize. 
 
 " Now," said Margaret, " this is not all. If every 
 little child here will agree to keep the buttons on his 
 shoes, I'll give every one, at the end of a month, a 
 still handsomer card, and by that time perhaps the 
 boys will have learned how to make frames for them." 
 
 "All right!" '^ Betcher sweet life!" "You're a 
 trump ! " " Bully for you ! " were the expressive an- 
 swers with which this proposition was met. 
 
 " I Vv^ant to get up a little club among ourselves and 
 call it the * Busy Fingers Club,' " Margaret went on, 
 " and I want to see how much real good work this 
 little club can do. I expect to be mistress of the club, 
 and the first thing I shall ask will be to see how neat 
 and clean you can keep yourselves. Now, take this 
 hand-glass and begin at the head, and tell me how 
 many are sure that their faces are as clean as soap and 
 water can make them." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 7/ 
 
 It was a shamefaced little group as the glass was 
 passed from hand to hand, and hitherto unnoticed 
 and unthought-of streaks and specks came into view. 
 The girls eyed each other askance and surreptitiously 
 applied their aprons to several more obtrusive marks, 
 but the boys made no attempt at self-improvement and 
 shouted their approval when one of the older ones ex- 
 claimed: ''Boys and dirt go together. 'Tain't no use 
 to try to keep clean." 
 
 " Trying does a great deal in this world, and I sus- 
 pect it is equal to making a boy declare war upon dirt. 
 We'll hope it is, anyway." 
 
 Thereupon Margaret proceeded to state the plan 
 and laws governing the Busy Fingers Club, whereby 
 every member was to become an important factor in 
 the great work of self-government and improvement. 
 When all the details had been submitted, the children 
 gathered around her enthusiastically. " It's just the 
 jolliest thing," they cried. " We'll work like tigers so 
 long's you're our captain." 
 
 And they did. Under Gilbert's tutelage the boys 
 developed skill and industry in wood-carving and ama- 
 teur cabinet work, while the girls from big to little 
 grew deft in the use of the needle, and lifted many a 
 burden from the shoulders of tired mothers in timely 
 patching and darning. Elsie became deeply interested 
 in Margaret's efforts, and begged silks and velvets 
 from Mrs. Mason for the girls' fancy work, which was 
 one day supplemented by a huge bundle containing 
 everything in the line of material for such work. The 
 bundle was sent anonymously, and great was the won- 
 
 12 
 
178 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 der of the girls and Margaret as to its source. If Elsie 
 guessed she was discreetly silent about it, athough she 
 was possessed of no small curiosity to know how the 
 scheme had become so well advertised. Her wonder 
 would have been greater, if her curiosity had been 
 less, could she have seen the companion of Lizzette in 
 her daily walks between market and station, and some 
 times to the very door of Margaret's hive of industry. 
 Since the evening she had so resolutely refused to 
 consider the possibility of association between them, 
 Elsie had not encountered Herbert Lynn. Once or 
 twice she had caught a glimpse of him in library or 
 dining-room as she passed up-stairs to her daily inter- 
 view with Mrs. Mason, but he had always seemed en- 
 tirely unconscious of her proximity. Evidently the 
 whim which had seized him had passed, and Elsie as- 
 sured herself, with somewhat remarkable frequency, 
 that she was glad the young man's reason had returned, 
 and that having been " baffled " at last, she hoped he 
 would not be so boastful in the future. 
 
 One morning, some three weeks after Margaret's re- 
 moval to the city, Lizzette left Antoine at Margaret's 
 doonwith a hurried exclamation • 
 
 " I haf not ze moment to spare. I haf ze business 
 engagement zis morning. I no return perhaps zese 
 several hour. Delay not ze dinner for me," and with 
 a kiss upon Antolne's cheek, she hastened down the 
 stairs. Half-way up the block she gave a signal to a 
 gentleman driving leisurely along on the opposite side 
 of the street. A second later he drew rein at the curb- 
 stone, and alighting, assisted Lizzette to the seat be- 
 side him. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 79 
 
 "O Herbeart!" she exclaimed, "I know not how 
 to tank you. You haf given me ze hope once more. 
 Mon Dieu ! Eef eet be true ze light of my life vill 
 shine again." 
 
 *' It is only a hope as yet," he answered, " for I was 
 not sufficiently posted about his case to enter into 
 particulars. However, this morning's interview will 
 probably determine it." 
 
 ''And ze docteur assure you he tink Antoine can be 
 made to walk ? " 
 
 " There is a chance for him, he thinks, but it will 
 be months of pain and tedium for the poor boy." 
 
 ''And after zat zen his music vill m.ake him ze grand 
 maestro, and I need not to toil till my hands — see!" 
 and she drew off a shabby cotton glove, " be so like 
 ze iron. Antoine ze grand maestro, and Lizzette ze — 
 ze — lady," and she gave an arch glance, half-smile and 
 half-tear, up at Herbert's sympathetic face. " Ah, eet 
 ees ze dream of fairy land ! " 
 
 Herbert smiled down at the wrinkled brown face 
 with the affectionate sympathy of the old boyish days, 
 and Lizzette grasped his hand and patted it softly. 
 " Eet ees all so dear zat I haf mon gargon Herbeart 
 to do zis for me in my old age. I could take ze loan — 
 Antoine sail repay — from no one so easy as my Her- 
 beart. Eet ees no offence zat I say eet seems like von 
 of ze family? " 
 
 "Offence! No," laughed Herbert. " I don't hedge 
 myself around with any absurd notions of caste, al- 
 though E — By the way, what a peculiar little body 
 your friend Elsie Murchison is ! " 
 
l8o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Lizzette*s eyes twinkled, but she was resolutely ob- 
 tuse. " Je ne vous comprend pas! Please explain." 
 
 " Oh, well, she is so — so — proud." 
 
 Lizzette laughed. '' Elsie ! ze cook de votre soeur 
 Madam Mason ! " 
 
 "Yes, cook, cook, cook!" exclaimed Herbert vehe- 
 mently. " She's thrown that in my face a half-dozen 
 times, and now you do the same. What's the matter 
 with all of you ? " 
 
 " Ze matter ees wiz you, Herbeart. Vot do you 
 care to know ma petite Elsie ? " 
 
 " Because she is the most charming person I ever 
 met. You needn't look so incredulous. There's an 
 originality and a sweet womanliness about her that is 
 exceedingly rare in these days. I suppose I may as 
 well tell you the whole story of what first attracted 
 me, although I shall enjoin secrecy upon you," and 
 thereupon Herbert proceeded to relate the scene in 
 the parlor which he had witnessed several weeks before. 
 Lizzette's enjoyment of the recital was keenly por- 
 trayed in her sparkling eyes and expressive features. 
 
 "Oh, zat Elsie !" she exclaimed. " She ees such a 
 witch!" 
 
 "A most unapproachable one, too," answered Her- 
 bert. " I had a strong desire to make her acquaintance 
 after the unconscious revelation I witnessed, for I felt 
 that it would not hurt a certain conscious complacency 
 of mine to brush it against the rugged sense and keen 
 satire of such a nature, and you know, Lizzette, that 
 I don't care a fig for the creeds of society. I can rec- 
 ognize a gentleman in the man Vvho drives my coach, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. l8l 
 
 if he exhibits the qualities of one. But your Miss 
 Elsie is decidedly averse to any advances in that di- 
 rection. In fact, she has snubbed me so emphatically 
 that I can't help thinking she has a personal dislike 
 for me." 
 
 "Ah, Herbeart, you reason like ze boy. I know 
 Elsie haf ze desire to please your sister, and Helen! 
 ze hurricane ees no comparison to her anger eef her 
 only brother should disgrace " 
 
 " Take back that word, Lizzette ! " exclaimed Her- 
 bert hotly. " Disgrace and Herbert Lynn never went 
 together, and never will, please God. It is no disgrace 
 to love — what Is beautiful and right." 
 
 Lizzette caught at his words quickly. " Tell me, 
 Herbeart, ees eet only ze passing fancy, or ze strong 
 man's love ? " 
 
 The blood flamed into Herbert's face as he answered 
 passionately: "Would to heaven it zuas only a passing 
 fancy; but I am afraid the ugly truth is that I'm in 
 love, as it is called, for the first time In my life." ^ 
 
 " C'est triste! C'est triste!" murmured Lizzette. 
 " Helen vlll be zo angry, and eet ees so — so — out of ze 
 right vay." 
 
 "Nonsense!" exclaimed Herbert. "The right way 
 doesn't depend upon any old-world Ideas of aristocracy. 
 Were I ten times a King Cophetua, I should sue my 
 little maid right royally, if there were only a little less 
 scorn in her eyes. I tell you, Lizzette, there is so 
 much unhappiness bred in this world by false ideas as 
 to what is due to position, and there are so many mer- 
 cenary and loveless marriages, that I am sick of the 
 
1 82 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 whole empty pageant. I cannot see that I am to 
 blame because I happened to be the only son of a 
 millionaire, nor do I feel bound to render myself mis- 
 erable for life to please the whims of those who enjoin 
 certain obligations upon the possessor of a little in- 
 flated position. As regards Elsie, I'd give a good deal 
 to be able to lift her out of that drudgery, even if— 
 yes, I'm so far gone as that — I never saw her again. 
 Can't you help me to help her, Lizzette ? " 
 
 " Eet ees all ze grave meestake, Herbeart. Elsie 
 ees so — so vot you call independent zat she no take 
 von sou in charity. I can see no vay except you for- 
 get her and leave her to her own place. Eet ees often 
 so mooch meestake to marry beneath von too." 
 
 " That isn't the question, at least not now. Such 
 gifts as Elsie's ought to be put to better use than the 
 making of sauces and salads in Helen's kitchen " 
 
 " I take eet you vould not mind eef ze talent vas 
 changed to Herbeart's kitchen," interrupted Lizzette. 
 "Zat ees just like ze man; he want eferysing to 
 himself." 
 
 "You wouldn't have found me quite so selfish if you 
 had waited a moment. I only desire a chance for the 
 best development of Elsie's gifts. Now I needn't ap- 
 pear in this matter, and a few thousand dollars, I'm 
 sure, couldn't be more worthily bestowed." 
 
 " Non, non," said Lizzette with a sober shake of her 
 head. " Elsie guess in no time, and ze cake be all 
 dough. Not von sou vill she take if she earn it not. 
 I haf tried her and I know. Zare ees only zis to hope 
 for; if so be you not forget her: leave her to her 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 83 
 
 place — eet would be von bitter blow to her to lose it — 
 and trust to ze change in time and circumstance. Eef 
 some time I sail find zat ze tangle may be made straight 
 and no hearts break, I vill tell my Herbeart." 
 
 ''A dubious promise, considering the view you take 
 of the situation ; but there is one thing you can do. 
 Antoine tells me Elsie is to pay for his music lessons; 
 let me pay for them, while you put the sum, small as 
 it is, in the dime savings bank to her account. That 
 will not be charity." 
 
 " Merely a loan zat Antoine sail repay! " 
 
 "Oh, certainly! What strict constructionists you 
 and your little circle are! " 
 
 '' Eet ees ze old-time construction of self-dependence 
 and respect zat I haf learned of Margaret and Elsie. 
 Ze self-pride ees wiz zem ze grande idee." 
 
 " Good doctrine, I'll admit ; but there are times when 
 it is excessively inconvenient." 
 
 *' Such times as mon Herbeart like to play ze philan- 
 thropist, eh ? Neffer mind, I feel ze day come ven 
 ze vay vill open for ze help you like to gif to hu- 
 manity." 
 
 '* But I am decidedly indifferent to humanity in gen- 
 eral. My philanthropy is specific." 
 
 "And goes no more beyond ze rosy cheeks and 
 bright eyes of a pretty girl! • Fie! fie! Herbeart, zose 
 bright eyes transfix you wiz zere scorn if she know 
 zat. So often I sees zem dimmed wiz tears ovair ze 
 pain, ze loss, ze trial of ze vide strange vorld. So 
 often she vish for money zat she might build up ze 
 strength of independence for ze suffering. Ah, you 
 
1 84 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 tink you know ma petite Elsie. Je vous dis, zat she 
 haf ze heart of ze angel in her breast. L'homme zat 
 vin ze love of ma petite sail take heaven to his home." 
 
 "Amen," said Herbert reverently. 
 
 " But eet will not be ze selfish heaven ; eet sail be 
 so vide as ze earth, so long as ze life! " 
 
 "Lizzette!" exclaimed Herbert with a start. ''All 
 this shames me, for I realize the selfishness of my aims. 
 But let me once win Elsie, and by all that is sacred I 
 promise to be as wax in her hands." 
 
 Lizzette regarded Herbert's flushed face with grave 
 eyes. " I tink you meestake her still. To vin ze spurs 
 and vear zem make ze knight in her eyes, I fancy." 
 
 ''Ah, well, I see you are. bound to convince me that 
 the way is difificult; but I do not despair yet. To tell 
 the truth, it is a new and somewhat depressing knowl- 
 edge to learn of how little value Herbert Lynn is in 
 this world. He always fancied himself quite a per- 
 sonage until he chanced on your quixotic circle." 
 
 Lizzette's eyes twinkled. " Eet ees good sometimes 
 to see ourselves in ze truthful mirror of unflattering 
 eyes. Still I do not tink mon Herbeart ees all so bad. 
 I haf some fond hope for him yet." 
 
 " It is fortunate that you have ; for with the un- 
 pleasant truths I've been hearing lately, there is great 
 danger in my finding this world a hollow mockery and 
 betaking myself to a monastery. But here we are! 
 
 Now for a consultation with Dr. M . We shall 
 
 know the truth about Antoine's case soon, and then, if 
 favorable, we can tell the lad what the future has in 
 store for him." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 85 
 
 Glancing up, Lizzette saw before her the facade of 
 a large hospital, into which they were speedily ushered. 
 It did not take long to establish the fact that so far 
 as could be determined without actual examination 
 there was hope for Antoine, and it was safe enough 
 to arouse the lad's anticipations ; a thing which Liz- 
 zette had hesitated about doing without strong pre- 
 sumption of success. A personal examination the 
 following day gave still greater color to hope, and 
 with glowing anticipations for the future, it was settled 
 that within two weeks Antoine should take up his 
 abode for six months at the hospital. 
 
 That night Elsie and Antoine held high carnival, 
 and between them there was a wild commingling of 
 laughter, tears, kisses, and music. Every now and 
 then Elsie would turn from the organ to print a kiss 
 on the lad's pale cheek, and Antoine would throw 
 down fiddle and bow to clasp his arms around her neck 
 and whisper : 
 
 " Only think, Elsie, if it hadn't been for Herbert all 
 this would never have happened. Isn't he good! " 
 
1 86 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 It was the night before Antoine's departure for the 
 hospital, and already April breaths were balmy with 
 Southland odors. Through the open windows of 
 Margaret's room there floated down to passers-by the 
 vanishing strains of a deftly-handled violin. Antoine 
 and Elsie were giving a farewell concert to Margaret's 
 Busy Fingers Club, and the strains of music had drawn 
 first one inmate of the house and then another up the 
 long flights of stairs until the rooms were full. It was 
 a treat to which the children had long been looking 
 forward, and their elders found a short surcease of 
 care in the delight and abandon of the two untrained 
 musicians, Elsie and Antoine were in their gayest 
 mood, and violin and organ seemed to laugh with 
 them. Like the birds they had tried to imitate a year 
 ago, music seemed to be innate in their breasts, and 
 they flung off gay quicksteps, ariettas, and rondos until 
 hands, feet, and heads of the little audience kept 
 almost unconscious time, and smiles flitted from face 
 to face in self-forgetfulness. 
 
 The music came in fitful gusts through the open 
 windows, and passers-by paused to listen, seemingly 
 loth to lose a note of the gladness trembling on the 
 air. Across the street in the shadow of a portico 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY 1 8/ 
 
 a man had stood for some time in a listening attitude, 
 and as the music seemed to grow madder and merrier, 
 a certain restlessness became apparent in shifting feet, 
 and an uneasy tapping of fingers on the wooden col- 
 umn against which he leaned. 
 
 ^' Antoine is gay to-night," he thought. '' Hope has 
 been awakened in his breast, and if it were not that I 
 might seem to be seeking his thanks I should climb 
 the stairs and make m.yself known to them. I wonder 
 if my Lady Scornful would be as unbending to-night 
 as she is within my sister's walls! I'm strongly 
 tempted to try her — yet I'm afraid it would be an un- 
 wise thing to do; for as Lizzette counsels, it is best to 
 await developments. What an extraordinary position 
 this is for me, anyway! I've tried my best to reason 
 it out on one of Helen's hypotheses, but it all comes 
 point-blank against the fact that life isn't worth living 
 without that little bunch of spitefulness. And, after 
 all, she moves in an orbit that is distinctly outside of 
 mine and with which, to tell the truth, I have very 
 little sympathy. She and her sister are charming 
 types of self-cultured women, and worthy of any man's 
 or society's recognition ; but their quixotic notions 
 regarding a regenerated humanity seem the veriest 
 nonsense to me. Every man for himself — et sauve qui 
 pent is, as the world makes it, a fairly good doctrine. 
 What is the use of being burdened with the sins and 
 sorrows of the world ? I don't consider myself re- 
 sponsible for them or that they would be materially 
 lessened if I threw away my money in clothing the 
 sans culottes. Such people are as ragged as ever the 
 
1 8-8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 next day after your philanthropy, and you are cer- 
 tainly none the better for it. Indeed, the leaven of 
 generosity, like that of love, ought to have a narrow 
 circle ; it grovv's too pale if you widen it. And yet 
 those two slender girls would build up a social para- 
 dise in which the ignoble qualities of humanity have 
 no part. Greed, avarice, jealousy, insincerity, are en- 
 tirely eliminated from their scheme of life. Surely in 
 their position they must have encountered all these 
 evils, and still they ignore them ! They look upon 
 others as themselves in replica, at least in motive. A 
 natural conclusion, no doubt, but one the facts do not 
 bear out. One may safely prophesy regarding the out- 
 come of these Utopian ideas. There never can be, 
 never will be, anything but the survival of the fittest. 
 I suppose if Elsie heard me she would say that the 
 fittest ought to include the majority at least, and that 
 it is in the hands of the fittest to help the unfit to be- 
 come fit. But that is what Christianity has been try- 
 ing to do all these years, and still the cry is, ' save us 
 or we perish.' These slender girls, hearing this cry, 
 have offered their empty hands to the multitude. And 
 the result ? Well, from what Lizzette tells me of that 
 little club of Margaret's, the outlook is by no means 
 disheartening ; but how will it be as the circle widens ? 
 How much of heart and hope — for it is all they have — 
 will they be able to bring into the work ? I rather im- 
 agine that unknov/n quantity is beyond my arithmetic 
 at present. How long am I going to be content to 
 let this pathetic little drama go on ? Elsie seems to 
 have locked the door against me in that pitiful plea of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 89 
 
 hers not to jeopardize her standing with my sister, 
 and I am more completely shut out of her sympathies 
 than if I were the beggar at her door. Even Lizzette 
 shakes that sage head of hers and says it is not right. 
 Right ! what's wrong about it ? If I had a perverted 
 taste and Elsie was coarse and ignorant, and the 
 chances were all against the ultimate happiness of such 
 a union, perhaps I might be induced to see my error. 
 But Vv'hen did reason ever lend her balances to a man 
 in love ? I always supposed I was sane enough until 
 a certain Miss Elsie Murchison took to snubbing me; 
 yet here I am, a love-sick boy, mooning outside of her 
 window, and like Benedick, ' a college of wit-crackers 
 cannot flout me out of my humor.* Dear Lady Dis- 
 dain, good-night! I'm going home to read my Shake- 
 speare once more and learn of my prototype how to 
 rail at and forget you — if I can ! " 
 
 It was late in the afternoon of the next day, and 
 Margaret sat alone in her room thinking wistfully of 
 Antoine and the long six months of his stay at the 
 hospital. The lad had gone cheerfully to the loneli- 
 ness and pain before him, never doubting that the 
 glad promise of walking like other m.en and awaking 
 to the joy of vigorous life would be fulfilled. Indeed, 
 his faith was so absolute that it took av/ay much of 
 the pang of separation, and Margaret and Elsie had 
 choked back unbidden tears and promised him a 
 weekly visit of long talks and merry times. Books, 
 violin, and a mandolin, the gift of Herbert, had been 
 sent with his other belongings, and a daily order for 
 flowers had been left by Herbert at 'he florist's. All 
 
IQO A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 that loving hands could do to smooth the painful path 
 had been done, and now there was nothing left but to 
 hope and wait. But how they all missed him ! The 
 pale quiet face, the great dark eyes, the loving smile, 
 and the sweet strains of his violin had so entwined 
 themselves around their hearts that not to find them 
 daily ministers to their need seemed a sore depriva- 
 tion. ** Elsie's smile will be more infrequent now that 
 Antoine is no longer with us," sighed Margaret. " I 
 am afraid our loved evenings will be doleful enough 
 without our laddie. Still there must be the same 
 adherence to duty wherever the lines fall, and perhaps 
 our progress Avill be all the more substantial when we 
 realize that hard work is our only master." 
 
 There was a sudden scurrying of feet up the stairs 
 and several children burst breathlessly into the room. 
 "O Miss Margaret!" they cried, "just come and see 
 Avhat some men have done to the new tenant — the 
 one that only moved in a week ago! They've just 
 come and took every bit of furniture, and the woman 
 is sick, and they took the bed from under her and left 
 her only a straw tick and a quilt, and she's crying 
 awful, and the two little babies are squalling, and — oh ! 
 it's dreadful! " 
 
 Margaret quickly followed the children down two 
 flights of stairs, to find the scene even more pitiable 
 than the children had described. Upon a thin straw 
 mattress in the corner lay a woman with her face hid- 
 den in her arms, while heart-rending sobs shook her 
 frame from head to feet, and two little children, as yet 
 only prattling babes, crouched beside her crying: 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 101 
 
 " Mamma, mamma, look up. Talk to baby. Don't 
 cry! Mamma! Mamma!" 
 
 Margaret knelt beside the agonized form and softly 
 stroked back the hair from the face that remained 
 persistently hidden, and then, taking both of the won- 
 dering babies in her lap, said softly to the group of 
 children at the door: " Now run away, dears, and shut 
 the door." 
 
 The children obeyed instantly, and Margaret re- 
 mained softly stroking the woman's hair and hugging 
 the now quiet babies to her bosom. Under the sooth- 
 ing influence of Margaret's touch and presence the 
 violent sobbing soon ceased, and a tear-stained face, lit 
 up by a pair of hollow eyes, glanced up at Margaret. 
 One glance caused a sudden transformation in the 
 convulsed and agonized face, and a thin hand crept out 
 toward Margaret as the woman said brokenly, but in 
 the unmistakable voice and language of refinement: 
 "You are good not to pass by on the other side. 
 What made you come here ? " 
 
 " Love," said Margaret simply. 
 
 " Love ? " repeated the woman interrogatively. 
 *' Love died long ago, and the devils of greed and pride 
 danced at his funeral." 
 
 '' Not in all hearts, I trust. Love lives to help and 
 strengthen sufferers like you. Can you tell me any 
 way to help you ? " 
 
 ''Yes— kill me!" The hollow eyes gleamed with 
 sullen despair. 
 
 ''And the babies?" asked Margaret as she stroked 
 back the rings of flaxen hair above the fair little brows. 
 
192 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Oh, God forgive me ! I am so wretched, so des- 
 perate." 
 
 " I know it, and I do not blame you ; but let us see 
 if there is not some way toward the sunshine. Tell 
 me all about it." 
 
 " It is only a little to tell. The marriage of a petted, 
 only daughter, with a head full of romantic notions, 
 to a man whose only fortune was head and hands ; but 
 who held, at the time of my marriage, a salaried posi- 
 tion as manager of a prosperous business firm. A 
 panic, a failure, and consequent loss of employment, 
 followed by unsuccessful attempts at re-establishment 
 in the old line, the yielding of health at the shrine of 
 motherhood, the gradual settling into bare and bitter 
 poverty, the disposal of every article of value, and 
 that last resort of the impecunious, the buying of 
 needed furniture on the instalment plan, followed by 
 the forcible taking back of the furniture just before 
 the last payment could be made." 
 
 " And your husband ? " 
 
 " He went out again this morning in the old, well- 
 nigh hopeless search for work." 
 
 ''Your parents ? " 
 
 " They live in a distant city and know nothing of 
 this. I married against their wishes. There were just 
 five dollars more due on the furniture, but the chattel- 
 mortgage shark exacted immediate payment, and of 
 course I could not meet it. He was kind enough to 
 leave me this," and the thin hands pulled at the* tat- 
 tered quilt. 
 
 '* Oh, it is pitiful! Shameful!" exclaimed Mar- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 93 
 
 garet. " You must not be left to lie here. Can you 
 walk ? " 
 
 " I haven't walked a step In three months. Edward, 
 my husband, has lifted me in his arms and managed 
 to care for me and the babies. Oh, it is terrible, the 
 way we have been compelled to live." And sobs again 
 shook the slight frame. 
 
 " Never mind," said Margaret soothingly. '' It will 
 be better soon. My rooms are two flights above, so 
 it will be impossible to take you there, but you shall 
 have a comfortable bedroom and kind friends to look 
 after you. I shall be compelled to leave you for a 
 few moments, until I can ask some of these friends to 
 make room for you." 
 
 *' Oh, don't trouble anybody! I can't bear to be 
 thrown upon charity. It hurts my pride so." 
 
 "We won't call it charity; we'll call it love. The 
 love that prompted the Samaritan and a greater than 
 he to moisten parched lips with cooling waters and 
 taught mankind the constant need they have of each 
 other." 
 
 "And do you believe in Him ?" 
 
 "With an everlasting faith," answered Margaret. 
 
 " I did once until the inhumanity of the world made 
 me doubt." 
 
 " Doubt no longer," said Margaret, smiling, " for He 
 has raised up succor for you." With these reassuring 
 words Margaret sought the rooms of several good 
 women of the house, to hold counsel with them and 
 determine the best course to pursue, Margaret's story 
 evoked such a storm of indignation and invective 
 13 
 
194 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 against the mortgage shark that, if it could have 
 gathered sufficient volume, would have swept the 
 whole guild from the face of the earth. And yet, one 
 and all counselled Margaret not to meddle with the 
 matter. 
 
 "You can't do nothin' with 'em. They've got the 
 power and they know it," was the unanimous conclu- 
 sion of the little circle. 
 
 " But the injustice of it," exclaimed Margaret. " I 
 can't stand tamely by and see a helpless being robbed." 
 
 " No more could we if there was any chance, but 
 you'll find, the longer you live, that the poor don't 
 have no justice in this world. The laws is all made 
 for the rich." 
 
 '' Then it is the fault of the poor man if he has no 
 justice, for he is a recognized factor in the vote that 
 sends men to make those laws, and if he knows his 
 rights he can have them maintained." 
 
 '' Well, I don't know how it is, but my man has to 
 vote as the boss tells him or lose his place." 
 
 " Shame ! Shame ! " said Margaret indignantly, 
 " and this is America's boasted freedom of life and 
 thought! But we are forgetting that poor woman. 
 Who among you will take her in until something can 
 be done ? " 
 
 " I," exclaimed Mrs. Smith, a motherly woman whose 
 rooms were on the same floor. '' We're a good deal 
 crowded now, but she shan't lay there and suffer so 
 long as I have a crust." 
 
 " Let us hope it will be only a temporary incon- 
 venience. I am going to find some way to unravel 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 1 95 
 
 this web of injustice and regain possession of those 
 goods." 
 
 '* You'll have your trouble for your pains," said Mrs. 
 Smith dubiously as they walked along the hall. 
 
 " It may be, but there will be some satisfaction in try- 
 ing. Here we are!" Margaret exclaimed as they entered 
 the sick woman's room " Now we'll make a chair of 
 our hands and between us carry you to Mrs. Smith's 
 room, whose heart is as large as her back is broad." 
 
 ''You're making it pretty big," laughed Mrs. Smith 
 as she presented her ample form to the sick woman's 
 view. A faint smile at the pleasantry played over the 
 wan face, as she allowed them to lift her to the im- 
 provised seat and carry her to a bed. 
 
 " Now," said Margaret, when their charge was safely 
 bestowed between clean sheets, and the babies were 
 softly cooing on either side of her, '' I want all the in- 
 formation you can give me, and all the papers you 
 have relative to this furniture. I am going to make 
 an effort to get it back." 
 
 ''You will find an old portfolio in the tick I was 
 lying on. All the receipts for money paid and the 
 contract are in it." 
 
 As Margaret returned with the portfolio, a sheet of 
 paper fell from it and fluttered to the floor. She 
 picked it up and was about to restore it, when the sick 
 woman said : " Read it. It will verify the statement 
 I made a few moments ago." 
 
 Margaret glanced along the page and saw that it 
 v/as poetry written in a free-flowing hand. Seating 
 herself beside the bed she read: 
 
196 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 "O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ! 
 
 You do nothing but think and feel, 
 
 And often you weep, 
 
 In some sensitive deep. 
 O'er wounds that you cannot heal. 
 
 " O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ! 
 
 You have threaded the paths of life, 
 
 And found the sweet. 
 
 Too incomplete 
 To answer the pain and strife. 
 
 " O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ! 
 You give me no peace or rest ; 
 The blinding steep, 
 Or lonely deep 
 I walk at your stern behest. 
 
 " O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ! 
 
 You have only your faith and prayer ; 
 
 For every ill. 
 
 Their utterance still 
 Comes back on the empty air. 
 
 " O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ! 
 How often with faith and you, 
 
 I have tried to soar 
 
 Where doubt is no more, 
 And humanity's sometimes true. 
 
 " O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ; 
 Why ask for an endless day ? 
 I am tired of the light. 
 And long for the night. 
 To rest forever and aye ! 
 
 " O Soul, I am tired of you, tired ! 
 Go ask of Time, and find 
 Some quiet spot. 
 Where feeling is not, 
 And oblivion conquers niind ! " 
 
 As Margaret finished reading she bent over and 
 kissed the white face. '' Is this yours ? " she asked. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I97 
 
 "Yes, and dozens of others. They have been my 
 safeguard against insanity. Only when I could go 
 outside of myself, could I find anything to make the 
 barren life endurable." 
 
 " Have you offered any for publication ? " 
 
 " No ; I have neither stamps nor courage." 
 
 " May I keep this ? " asked Margaret, referring to 
 the one she had just read. 
 
 " Certainly, if you like it." 
 
 " I do, very much ; and now let me see the contract 
 and receipts." 
 
 Margaret found that the original bill and contract 
 called for one hundred and fifty dollars, but that the 
 expense of making mortgage and the interest had been 
 compounded until, although one hundred and seventy- 
 five dollars had been paid, it still called for a balance 
 of five dollars, which remaining unpaid, permitted fore- 
 closure and forcible seizure of the furniture. 
 
 ''A Shylock's bond!" exclaimed Margaret indig- 
 nantly. " It is so manifestly unjust that I feel sure 
 there is a law somewhere to cover it." 
 
 ** We knew at the time the goods were bought that 
 it was an unjust contract, but we had no money to pay 
 down, and what could we do ? It is just the way the 
 world takes advantage of necessity. The trite maxim 
 that ' sentiment and business have nothing in common ' 
 you'll hear on the lips of every man in trade." 
 
 '^ We shall hear how justice agrees with business, 
 then," said Margaret, rising. '' I should like to put the 
 bitter dose of equitable payment for these crimes 
 against common humanity, betv/een the teeth of these 
 
198 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 sharks. At any rate, if there is no justice for such des- 
 picable creatures it is time it was known." 
 
 " Humanity has a grand defender in you," said the 
 sick woman, looking admiringly at Margaret's flushed 
 cheeks and flashing eyes. 
 
 " Not so," she replied, shaking her head. ".I know 
 my weakness and ignorance too well. I only recognize 
 the truth that the primitive idea of equal rights seems 
 to have been utterly lost in this avaricious world. But 
 so long as I have voice I shall speak for it. The good 
 such speaking may do remains to be seen." 
 
 Margaret went up to her rooms and opened her 
 purse to see how much money she had at her com- 
 mand. Of the money Dr. Ely had sent, but fxve dollars 
 remained. " If worst comes, and I cannot regain the 
 furniture, this will at least buy them something to eat, 
 and I can loan them Gilbert's bed while he takes the 
 lounge, until the way is opened for something better. 
 Now to find a lawyer in whose hands to put the case." 
 
 Once on the street, Margaret realized that in all the 
 great city she knew no one to whom she might apply 
 for advice. She wandered down toward the business 
 part of the city, intently scanning signs and inwardly 
 praying that she might be directed to some one who, 
 with the profession of lawyer, combined the outlawed 
 sentiment of humanity. **J. Brown, Attorney," glit- 
 tered in gilt letters before her, and up the two tall 
 flights of stairs she followed the beckoning sign. A 
 gentle rap, answered by a gruff '' Come in ! " and the 
 room of J. Brown, Attorney, opened to her view. 
 
 '' Is Mr. Brown in ? " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. I99 
 
 " I am he. What can I do for you, madam ? " 
 
 " I desire advice on a matter of business." 
 
 "Ah, be seated, please. You may state your case." 
 
 Margaret lost no time in doing so, relating the piti- 
 ful story with such succinct detail that the lawyer 
 beamed at her with evident admiration. 
 
 " Very well stated, madam — very well, indeed. Are 
 these people in any way related to you ? " 
 
 " They are entire strangers." 
 
 ''And you have taken up their case from pure 
 charity ? " 
 
 "From pure humanity, rather; as, indeed, I would 
 that another should do for me." 
 
 " Very admirable of you, indeed ; but you are doubt- 
 less aAvare that it takes money even to champion the 
 cause of humanity." 
 
 " I am," said Margaret briefly, though with sinking 
 heart. 
 
 " Then you will readily see that I can give you no 
 advice on this matter without cash in hand." 
 
 " How m.uch does it require ? " 
 
 " In consideration of circumstances, I'll make it 
 merely nominal. Say five dollars ! " 
 
 Margaret arose to her feet somewhat unsteadily. 
 " I have but five dollars in my purse, sir," she ex- 
 plained, " and I shall need it to buy food for the sick 
 Avoman. I shall be compelled to look further." 
 
 " As you like," and J. Brown, Attorney, stiffly turned 
 his back on Margaret and returned only a slight ac- 
 knowledgment of her faint " Good-afternoon." Some- 
 what depressed by this encounter, Margaret wandered 
 
200 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 on and entered no less than six offices, to be met with 
 very nearly the same treatment in every case, and the 
 identical result in all. " The cause of humanity can- 
 not be championed without money! " 
 
 These words seemed burned in on Margaret's brain 
 as she left the last of these offices and stood irresolute 
 and disheartened upon the sidewalk. How could she 
 take the story of failure back to that suffering woman ? 
 How could she bear to tell her that the promised suc- 
 cor was only a chimera of her own quixotic brain ? 
 " I'll not do it," she said resolutely. " I'll go tell that 
 little sister of mine, and though I know her purse is 
 always low, perhaps her fertile brain may suggest 
 what my own stupefied one fails to apprehend." 
 
 Margaret Avas coming up the area steps of the Mason 
 mansion with her purse reinforced by two dollars, the 
 entire contents of Elsie's pocketbook, when she en- 
 countered Herbert Lynn just descending from his 
 buggy. 
 
 " Miss Murchison, I'm delighted to meet you once 
 again," he exclaimed as with smiling face he advanced 
 to greet her. There were tears on Margaret's cheeks 
 and trembling on the heavily-fringed lids of the blue 
 eyes. "Pardon me," he cried solicitously. ''You are 
 in trouble." Margaret hastily brushed the tears away 
 as she answered : 
 
 " Only a little overwrought. I've been passing 
 through some trying scenes to-day." 
 
 " You were going home ? Let me take you there. 
 Fortunately my buggy is just at hand." 
 
 '' Thank you ! I'm not going home at present. I 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 20I 
 
 have some purchases to make, and I do not Hke to 
 detain you." 
 
 '' I have ample leisure, and it will be a new sensation 
 to be of some use. I beg you to command my services." 
 
 Margaret glanced up curiously at the eager, almost 
 boyish, face. " Perhaps if I were to tell you my 
 errand you would not be so ready to offer your ser- 
 vices. It is not pleasant to one who cares for his own 
 peace of mind." 
 
 Herbert laughed. '' I shall insist now where before 
 I begged. Perhaps my own peace of mind will be all 
 the dearer by contrast." 
 
 "If you insist I accept gratefully; for the truth is, 
 my self-reliance is a good deal shaken." 
 
 When they w^ere seated in the buggy and driving 
 leisurely along the boulevard, Margaret said: ''I am 
 glad I have met you, for I have a story to tell and ad- 
 vice to ask." Without further prelude she detailed 
 the events of the day. Herbert listened attentively 
 until the whole story had been told, and then, with a 
 new look of earnestness on his face, he exclaimed em- 
 phatically : 
 
 " Miss Murchison, if there are brains enough in 
 
 C , this dastardly outrage shall be probed to the 
 
 bottom. It is enough to make a man's blood boil to 
 think of the injuries inflicted on suffering women and 
 children by such overpowering greed. But," he added, 
 glancing at his watch, " it is five o'clock and already 
 past office hours. Nothing can be done until to- 
 morrow. If you will trust me with these papers, I 
 will make an early effort to-morrow to regain the 
 
202 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 furniture. In the mean time, allow me to supply a bed 
 and immediate necessaries for the sufferers." 
 
 *' That will not be needed," interposed Margaret. 
 "I have a bed of Gilbert's which I can loan them " 
 
 "And turn the poor fellow onto the floor!" in- 
 terrupted Herbert. " That is philanthropy gone mad, 
 Miss Murchison. I shall insist upon supplying the bed." 
 
 " I am perfectly sane, Mr. Lynn," laughed Margaret, 
 *' and contemplate nothing worse than asking Gilbert 
 to occupy a lounge." 
 
 '' We'll forestall that by the purchase of a bed. Now 
 that you've taken me into partnership, you must not 
 deny me my rights." 
 
 " Not if you look upon it in that light," said Mar- 
 garet seriously. " Still I should regret it, if it seemed 
 a charity that was forced upon you." 
 
 " You would rather inconvenience yourself than ask 
 a favor of one w4iom you knew to be perfectly able to 
 grant it ? " 
 
 " I should, if I thought the favor would be bestowed 
 as a mere matter of form, without the promptings of 
 a generous spirit." 
 
 " 'The gift without the giver is vain,' " quoted Her- 
 bert musingly. " You can trust the spirit this time. 
 Miss Murchison," he added, with a half smile. " It has 
 lighted its torch at your altar." 
 
 ''Thank you," replied Margaret gratefully, "but 
 only for the time being, I am sure. The embers are 
 glowing on the home shrine." 
 
 " Belief from such a source is most highly treasured," 
 commented Herbert smilingly. " Now that you have 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 203 
 
 complimented me so generously, perhaps you will tell 
 me what I must do to deserve it." 
 
 " Buy the bedstead," said Margaret dryly. 
 
 '' To hear is to obey," and putting whip to his horse, 
 Herbert soon drew up before a down-town furniture 
 store, where bedstead and clothing were purchased 
 and dispatched on their way. A huge basket of pro- 
 visions was next procured and stowed away in the 
 buggy, while Margaret carried a smaller one of fruit. 
 
 " Let me carry these to your room," said Herbert 
 as they drew up before Margaret's home. " You are 
 to be sole almoner, for I beg you not to let my name 
 appear in the transaction." 
 
 " I shall be compelled to," said Margaret, " if only 
 as the mythical great and good man of all such works 
 of charity. I could not truthfully bear the burden of 
 so much generosity." 
 
 *' Paint me as glowingly as you please, if only you 
 give me no local habitation or name." 
 
 " Your wish shall be respected. Will my presence 
 be necessary to-morrow ? " 
 
 " No, I can save you all further trouble. And now 
 good-night, and thank you for having given me a few 
 genuinely happy hours." 
 
204 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 "Well, we've won !" exclaimed Herbert the next 
 day as, having mounted the stairs two at a time, he 
 thrust his head into Margaret's open door. '' The men 
 are putting the furniture into the room, and I've a 
 httle sop in the way of damages," and he drew from 
 his pocketbook a bank-note for ten dollars and laid it 
 in Margaret's lap. 
 
 She looked at it dubiously. " Oh, it is honest," he 
 laughed ; " there's no taint of charity about it. Such 
 high-handed crimes against justice must be made to 
 suffer the penalty. It has set me to thinking, too, 
 that it is tim.e something was done toward establish- 
 ing justice for these helpless poor. Why, the case 
 would never have been won if I had not employed 
 some of the best talent in the city." 
 
 *' And that, of course, is costly." 
 
 "Of course; often more than the little sum in ques- 
 tion. By the way, have you seen the head of this dis- 
 tressed family down-stairs?" 
 
 " I saw him for a few moments last night. He 
 seems to be a gentleman in bearing and acquirements, 
 but he wears a depressed, hopeless expression and a 
 listless, half-hearted manner, that I can see are a con- 
 stant thorn in the side of his more energetic, if en- 
 feebled, wife." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 205 
 
 " Well, no wonder, if half the story she tells is true. 
 This seems to me a case of genuine humanity; one 
 that appeals directly to a man's soul if he has one. 
 That man ought to be given work." 
 
 '' True, but he says he has sought for it far and wide." 
 
 '' I don't think he need seek any further. I have a 
 
 friend who is a wholesale grocer down on S \V 
 
 Street, and in relating the story to him, he offered the 
 position of porter at eight dollars a week. Not a 
 munificent salary, certainly, but a good deal better 
 than nothing." 
 
 '* Oh, I am so glad !" exclaimed Margaret. "And 
 how happy that poor wife will be. I've grown very 
 much interested in her, for the reason that such an 
 ambitious spirit seems to dv/ell within the enfeebled 
 body. How terrible it is when body and spirit are so 
 at odds!" 
 
 "Terrible indeed! I really hope the good news of 
 a place for her husband will act as a tonic. I leave 
 the matter entirely in your hands and empower you 
 to deliver the message." 
 
 " I will go now, if you will excuse me. I am in a 
 hurry to tell the good news." 
 
 "Oh, certainly! Never mind me." 
 
 Margaret returned with a dismayed and crestfallen 
 countenance. " He refuses it ! " she exclaimed breath- 
 lessly as she sank into a chair. Herbert gave a long 
 low whistle, and elevated his eyebrows in a cynical 
 grimace that was not at all becoming. 
 
 " I am ashamed to tell you his reason," Margaret 
 went on. " It seems so trivial under the circumstances. 
 
206 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 He says he is fitted for higher work, and, in short, 
 cannot accept such ungenteel employment." 
 
 " Well, that settles the Hon. Edward Carson, Esq.," 
 said Herbert briskly. " I shall waste no more sym- 
 pathy on him." 
 
 '' But the poor wife," said Margaret, the tears stand- 
 ing in her eyes. " It was pitiful to see the look she 
 gave him and hear her voice as she urged his accept- 
 ance of the place. ' Anything is better than starving,' 
 she cried. 'And perhaps you can work up to a better 
 place; I am sure you can when your employers learn 
 your fidelity and trustworthiness;' but her entreaties 
 were useless. He was stubborn with that white de- 
 termination of an iron will. Neither the poor woman's 
 tears nor prayers had any visible effect upon him." 
 
 '' What does the fellow intend to do ? " 
 
 '' Oh, he has some little peddling devices, out of 
 which, I believe, he expects to realize the fortune of 
 a Vanderbilt in a short time. In fact, he informed me 
 that he considered himself fully equal to managing his 
 own affairs." 
 
 " He has proved it. Well. Miss Margaret, this only 
 strengthens my belief in the folly of attempting to 
 help such incapables." 
 
 " But think how the innocent suffer with the guilty ! 
 Think of the sick Avife and the helpless babies! Be- 
 cause the man is stubborn and ill-natured, must those 
 who are dependent on him be left to starve ? " 
 
 " It seems a hard doctrine, born of that old pagan 
 idea of brute force; but I sometimes question if it 
 would not be the shortest way of ridding the world of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 20/ 
 
 its great army of incapables. Don't look so horrified, 
 at least until I have finished. Take this unfortu- 
 nate woman, delicately reared, educated, refined, sen- 
 sitive; charity is, no doubt, nearly as offensive to her 
 as starvation. Such people are proud of their inde- 
 pendence of character, and what can she hope for in a 
 future that sees only the hand of charity between her 
 and the grave ? The helping hand in an extremity 
 like this is different from a bounty that must be a 
 continued obligation." 
 
 *' Looking at the question from her standpoint, per- 
 haps you are right; but in looking at it from ours, I 
 think you are wrong." 
 
 " There's the rub ! These ethical questions demand 
 some other solution than expediency." 
 
 ^' Christianity alone can solve them, as indeed it is 
 the only true solution of all the great questions of the 
 world. The simple truth that we are our brother's 
 keeper acknowledged by mankind would be an easy 
 method of settling this omnipresent and embittering 
 war between labor and capital." 
 
 " A method the world has been slow to accept." 
 
 " In one sense, perhaps, but as we view the long 
 night of darkness and degradation before the coming 
 of Christ, we can only marvel at the progress that has 
 been made in less than two thousand years. Some 
 day in God's great harmonies Ave shall hear the rhyth- 
 mic heart-beats of an altruistic faith, binding the 
 whole world together in a common brotherhood." 
 
 ** And you are doing your best to strike a note in 
 that great harmony ? " 
 
2o8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 "With Mr. Lynn's help," laughed Margaret. "He 
 is going to advise me how to assist that suffering and 
 unfortunate woman down-stairs." 
 
 "Impossible! He can only be the humble tool in 
 your wiser hands. However, I've been wise enough 
 to think she ought to be put under the care of a phy- 
 sician. That can be safely managed through you, as 
 indeed can all delicate commissions." 
 
 " Thanks," said Margaret. " I always try to put 
 myself in the sufferer's place, as I have known what 
 it was to need help, and be grateful for it." 
 
 " When my hour of tribulation comes, may I have 
 just such a ministering angel!" exclaimed Herbert 
 warmly. 
 
 " Tribulation and the prosperous Mr. Lynn are a 
 singular and almost unlooked-for conjunction." 
 
 " A man may have a great deal and yet want more. 
 In fact, if he owns the earth he usually wants the moon, 
 or something equally impossible." 
 
 " Is that one of your longings ? " 
 
 "No; mine is more sublunary, if you will permit a 
 pun so atrocious. The truth is there's another Galatea 
 in whose marble veins I should like to see the warm 
 blood of feeling run. My presence always seems to 
 congeal the red current that glows for others." 
 
 " You speak in enigmas." 
 
 "Just now, perhaps; but by-and-by you will under- 
 stand. By the way, there is one intense longing you 
 can gratify. May I drop in some time to one of those 
 charming ' evenings ' Lizzette and Antoine have de- 
 scribed to m.e ? I have a sincere desire to consider 
 myself a beneficiary." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 209 
 
 '' I am afraid I should say * no,' if I did not begin to 
 realize a little the earnestness of your nature. We 
 are sensitive to our shortcomings." 
 
 "An equal sensitiveness inspires me with the desire 
 to find a motive as admirable as that which actuates 
 your little coterie. Besides — I suppose I may as well 
 be honest, since you will be sure to find me out — I 
 play the violin a little myself, and would be most 
 happy occasionally to supply Antoine's vacant niche, 
 provided your sister could be prevailed upon to ac- 
 company me." 
 
 A new light dawned upon Margaret as she watched 
 the boyish blush that mounted to Herbert's brow. 
 ''And so you have already found out what an uncer- 
 tain quantity my little sister is ? " 
 
 " As regards your humble servant, she has been a 
 profound certainty. A block of ice could not have 
 been a colder reality," answered Herbert with a rueful 
 smile. 
 
 Margaret's face grew suddenly thoughtful, but after 
 a moment's hesitation she said bravely: 
 
 " I believe there are times when only the truth should 
 be spoken regardless of conventionality. For my own 
 part, Mr. Lynn, I like you exceedingly, and should 
 gladly welcome you to our little circle; but my little 
 sister is young, beautiful as you know, imaginative, 
 sensitive, and — well, is it not best under the circum- 
 stances, which you so well understand, that she should 
 continue a cold reality to you ? " 
 
 "No!" exclaimed Herbert emphatically, as he 
 sprang to his feet and placed a hand on the back of 
 14 
 
2IO A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Margaret's chair. " I am no cowardly trifler, and I 
 have an honest admiration for Elsie that has a right 
 to crave its legitimate outlet. I ask only a fair 
 field." 
 
 Glancing up at the earnest, flushed face, Margaret 
 sm.iled as she rose and laid her hand on his. " You 
 shall have it," she said. " Bring your violin and be 
 your own propitiation. I never interfere in matters of 
 this kind." 
 
 Herbert raised Margaret's hand to his lips, and mur- 
 muring something wholly unintelligible, he snatched 
 his hat and left the room. Margaret sat long buried 
 in thought after he had left her. Elsie's doubts and 
 misgivings in no way troubled her. Love in her eyes 
 was too sacred and too rare to ham.per it with the 
 chains of caste or clothe it in false conventionality. 
 But until now the thought of love and Elsie had not 
 come to her except in the vague sometim.e that comes 
 to all women. Elsie was so young, so inexperienced, 
 yet, strange as it seemed, so wise. She had looked 
 apprehensively upon the volatile nature, fearful that 
 its buoyant wings would be sadly singed in the candle 
 of life. Yet by Herbert's own confession the little 
 maid had been as wise in her demeanor as if whole 
 generations of elder sisters had stood sponsor for every 
 utterance. '' I am glad," she sighed tremulously, with 
 that sweet enjoyment of love which all women have. 
 ** I could not be better pleased if the selection had 
 been my own ; but T mistrust that little sister of mine 
 will lead him a wild dance before she surrenders, if she 
 ever does. There are graver thoughts in that young 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 211 
 
 head than I ever dreamed of. But all I can say is, 
 God speed an honest love! " 
 
 An hour later Margaret was on the street, intent 
 upon a purpose which had been gaining strength ever 
 since the invalid, Mrs. Carson, had given her the poem 
 she had read at her bedside. There seemed to Mar- 
 garet to be too much merit in the poem to forego the 
 effort to find for it, not only publication, but pay. 
 Margaret had become strongly possessed of the prim^i- 
 tive idea that the laborer is worthy of his hire, and 
 that merit had the right to demand recognition. Her 
 contact with life had so far been so simple and direct 
 that the complexities governing m.an's progress had 
 only just begun to confront her. It v/as, therefore, 
 with the bravery born of ignorance that she entered 
 several editorial sanctums connected with the various 
 leading papers and periodicals of the great city and 
 offered the poem for inspection. The contemptuous 
 glances, and decided snubs she received, disturbed her 
 equanimity rather than her purpose; although if the 
 matter had been a purely personal one, literary am- 
 bition would have met instant death in these en- 
 counters. But Margaret's strength was always greater 
 for others than for herself, and not until she had ex- 
 hausted all avenues did she intend to turn back. Fi- 
 nally in the eleventh venture she encountered an editor 
 who, listening to her story and becoming interested, 
 volunteered the information that the poem had merit 
 and was worthy of remuneration. A check for five 
 dollars gladdened Margaret's heart, and her smiles and 
 expressions of gratitude must have made a bit of sun- 
 
212 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 shine in the soul of a just man. Margaret hurried 
 home, her face glowing with happiness, and hastening 
 into the invalid's room, produced the check with infinite 
 satisfaction. There was no answer, but a pair of thin 
 arms reached up and clasped Margaret's neck, while 
 sobs and tears contended for the mastery. Margaret 
 waited until the storm had subsided and then said 
 gently: "You will have a chance now to turn your 
 talent to account." 
 
 " What an angel you are ! Sent by the God whom 
 I doubted I How can I ever repay it all ? " 
 
 " By reawakening a slumbering faith, getting well, 
 and working cheerfully," and with a kiss upon the in- 
 valid's agitated lips, Margaret went up to her rooms. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY 213 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 One evening, a week after Antoine's departure for 
 the hospital, Elsie sat at the organ, idly picking out 
 the melody of several of his favorite airs and dreamily 
 wishing the lad could be with them once again. Mar- 
 garet was busied over her books, and Lizzette, who 
 was with them for the night, was knitting the stocking 
 that always grew but never seemed finished, and Gil- 
 bert was putting some decorative touches upon a 
 small medicine cabinet. Suddenly Herbert Lynn ap- 
 peared in the open doorway, his arms filled with books 
 and a violin case in one hand. 
 
 Elsie arose from her seat as the others greeted him, 
 and stood with her slight figure as erect and indignant 
 as her mutinous spirit could make it. Herbert turned 
 toward her. '' I am here by permission of high au- 
 thority," he laughed, glancing at Margaret. " I have 
 no apology to make this time." 
 
 '' My sister's guests are always welcome," said Elsie 
 icily, as she sank upon the piano stool and industri- 
 ously undertook to rearrange several sheets of dis- 
 ordered music. 
 
 Herbert made no reply, but stood composedly watch- 
 ing the trembling- fingers and the swiftly-mounting 
 blushes on the fair face. 
 
 *' You are nervous," he said at last. ''Let me do 
 that for you. I am delightfully calm." 
 
214 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Sometning in the exasperatingly cool tones made 
 Elsie glance up, and then as quickly glance down 
 again. 
 
 " It is useless to keep on the defensive any longer," 
 Herbert resumed as he coolly took the sheets of 
 music from her. " I've come to beg a truce." 
 
 '* And have you forgotten all I said ? " 
 
 "Not altogether; but I am of a forgiving disposi- 
 tion." 
 
 " You forgive very easily, it seems to me," said Elsie 
 haughtily. 
 
 " Sometimes, and one of these times is when a spite- 
 ful little girl says things she doesn't mean." 
 
 Elsie tried hard to keep a sober face, but Her- 
 bert's good-nature was irresistible, and the corners of 
 her mouth relaxed in a smile as she looked up and 
 asked: ''What occult wisdom taught you she didn't 
 mean them ? " 
 
 " The science of physiognom.y, if there is such a 
 science. A face that is all sunshine for others cannot 
 surely mean to keep all its thunder-clouds for an in- 
 offensive young man like me." 
 
 " Some people attract lightning," exclaimed Elsie 
 mischievously. 
 
 '' By reason of superior magnetism, it is to be pre- 
 sumed. Thanks!" 
 
 At this juncture Lizzette came up with the violin 
 case In her hand. " Herbeart, zis ees ze reminder de 
 mon petit Antoine. Let me hear ze fiddle speak again." 
 
 " Willingly, if Miss Elsie will accompany me." 
 
 Elsie looked up, mutinous still ; but meeting Her- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 21$ 
 
 bert's eyes, defiance gave its last gasp as she said under 
 her breath: ''You are an arch conspirator. I suppose 
 there is nothing left for me but submissiveness." 
 
 Herbert's blonde head bent low over the pile of 
 music he was ostensibly examining as he whispered : 
 '* You shall see how generously I can conspire. Trust 
 me to be magnanimous." 
 
 Elsie's nimble tongue was silent, and a sudden Avave 
 of intoxication seemed to sway her back and forth in 
 a rarefied atmosphere where breathing was impossible. 
 When at last she dared to glance again at Herbert, he 
 was tuning his violin with such a look of beatific con- 
 tentment on his face that pent-up feeling, on the peril- 
 ous edge of a tear, seized the other alternative and 
 burst into laughter. With instinctive quickness she 
 dashed into a noisy jig on the organ, and by the time 
 she dared to glance apprehensively around, Herbert 
 had selected the piece of music and was striking its key- 
 note on the violin. Elsie played very badly that night, 
 and Herbert was several times obliged to point out little 
 mistakes and make corrections with all the gravity of 
 a professional music master. But the tumult in her 
 veins rose higher and higher, and with a sudden crash 
 on the keys the music came to a stop. Glancing down 
 at the perturbed face, Herbert turned to the others: 
 
 " My violin is evidently not Antoine's and Miss 
 Elsie looks tired. Have you examined the new 
 books. Miss Murchison ? There is one on sociology, 
 by Sir Lyon Playfair, I thought might interest you. 
 And there is Henderson's ' History of Music,' the 
 ' Journal of Marie Bashkirtseff,' ' The Three Germanics,' 
 
2x6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 and two or three newly-issued volumes of poetry by 
 Meredith, Lover, and others. I thought before I 
 dipped into them I should like your opinion." 
 
 While Margaret, Lizzette, Gilbert, and Herbert 
 were discussing the new books, Elsie slipped away, too 
 perturbed to do anything but throw herself on the bed 
 and cry. Just why she cried it would have been dififi- 
 cult for her to tell. But she did not try to tell; she 
 only knew, like all volcanic natures, that safety and 
 reason lay in a copious burst of tears. Half an hour 
 later she presented herself in the sitting-room, her old, 
 calm, smiling self. 
 
 " Now that the ice is broken I shall hope I may 
 come often," said Herbert as he bade them good-night. 
 And saucy Elsie had no retort ready. 
 
 The summer wore into early autumn with busy days 
 and brightening prospects for our little circle. Antoine 
 was making slow but evidently sure progress at the 
 hospital, and was hopeful and happy at the Sunday 
 receptions of the friends who clustered around him. 
 Lizzette beamed with joy and gratitude and seemed 
 to have thrown discretion to the winds in the praises 
 of Herbert which she constantly chanted in Elsie's 
 ears. The treaty of peace to which Elsie had so un- 
 willingly committed herself had, after all, been a very 
 simple affair. Herbert had been generous, as he 
 promised, and beyond occasional evenings together 
 over violin and organ, at which Elsie was learning to 
 acquit herself with greater credit than on their first 
 venture, they did not often meet. Contrary to her 
 usual custom, Helen Mason had not closed her city 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 21/ 
 
 home for the summer. Herbert, much to her chagrin, 
 refused to seek the seashore, and with wise forethought, 
 as she fancied, she filled her house with gay com- 
 pany. Among the guests was a certain Miss Alice 
 Houghton, who, an orphan and the sole possessor of 
 great wealth, lived, together with a duenna aunt, at 
 one of the great family hotels in the city. She was a 
 tall, fine-looking, well-bred girl of twenty-three or 
 twenty-four. Her distinguishing characteristic was an 
 air of pronounced weariness, that reminded one vividly 
 of Young's " Languid Lady." It was a difficult matter 
 to interest her in anything, yet her attention once 
 caught, her face would light up with unusual intelli- 
 gence and animation. Herbert at first regarded her 
 simply as an exponent of the system of purposeless 
 education which is bestowed upon the average society 
 girl ; but after several weeks of acquaintance he be- 
 came convinced that a secret grief was preying upon 
 her. He was consequently not greatly surprised when 
 he found her one morning in late summer in the draw- 
 ing-room, Avith a ghastly look of horror on her face 
 as she clutched a newspaper and read the head-lines 
 concerning a sensational suicide of a fast young man 
 about town in one of the gambling hells of the city. 
 
 "My husband!" she gasped, pointing to the head- 
 lines and then lapsed into insensibility. 
 
 Elsie was on her way to her morning conference with 
 her mistress when she encountered Herbert, pale and 
 distracted, with the limp burden in his arms, calling 
 wildly for Helen. Th'tre was no time for explanations 
 as Helen Mason ran quickly down the stairs, and Elsie 
 
2l8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 returned to her work with a clouded face and defiant 
 air that did not escape Herbert's notice. The story 
 of Alice Houghton's life was soon told to the two 
 sympathetic friends. A marriage, secret at first from 
 mere caprice, but afterward guarded because of shame, 
 to a handsome but dissipated and entirely character- 
 less man of fashion, who, having spent his own and a 
 considerable portion of his wife's fortune at the gam^ 
 bling table, had deliberately shot himself rather than 
 face the consequences of his evil deeds. The story 
 never became known beyond the three or four sym- 
 pathizers within the Mason household, and the death 
 of a relative furnished ample excuse for the deep 
 mourning and grief-stricken air with which the young 
 widow again faced the world. Herbert was very kind 
 and attentive to her in the early days of her grief, and 
 in consequence his sister drew some exceedingly flat- 
 tering pictures as to his future. 
 
 With Margaret the summer had been productive of 
 much good. The little leaven of her kindly nature 
 and generous deeds had permeated the whole tene- 
 ment-house and extended even beyond it in sundry 
 additions to her Busy Fingers Club. She was idolized 
 by the children of the neighborhood, who hailed her 
 as the patron saint of all their little schemes and am- 
 bitions. Under her fostering care and that of the 
 physician which Herbert had ordered, the invalid, 
 Mrs. Carson, was slowly gaining her health and some 
 slight encouragement in her literary ventures. There 
 was a cloud, however, hovering in Margaret's sky. 
 Gilbert, who had already reached a man's stature, had 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 219 
 
 acquired as well a man's independence, and had taken 
 to absenting himself from home evenings, much to the 
 annoyance of both sisters. It had been his custom 
 during the spring and summer to go for Elsie and 
 bring her home for the night, and there had been a 
 substantial progress made in their studies in conse- 
 quence. Of late, however, Elsie had found herself 
 dependent for escort upon the good-natured William, 
 who had shown himself only too happy to be of use 
 to her, and had grown alarmingly confidential as a 
 result. This state of William's mind being duly im- 
 parted to Margaret, she had resolved to forestall 
 trouble by insisting upon Gilbert's usual attendance 
 on his sister. But the lad was sullen and unresponsive 
 when she broached the subject, and when night came 
 he put on his hat and went away without a word. 
 Margaret brooded for some time over Gilbert's chang-ed 
 demeanor, and with a feeling of impending trouble 
 which it is so often impossible to resist, she dressed 
 herself for the street and went out, resolved to dis- 
 cover the places he frequented most. Fortune favored 
 her, for at Mrs.^ Carson's door she learned that Gilbert 
 and Mr. Carson had held a discussion about a meeting 
 of some kind which they were to attend that evening 
 at Harmonic Hall. The nature of the meeting the 
 invalid did not know, but she imagined it was semi- 
 political in character, as she had found that her hus- 
 band had become interested of late in municipal poli- 
 tics. There had been strange mutterings in the air 
 for some time among the inmates of the tenement- 
 house, and Margaret's heart instantly took 'he alarm. 
 
220 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 What had Gilbert, a minor, to do with municipal poli- 
 tics and this spirit of discontent that she could but 
 notice among the laborers with whom she lived ? The 
 great strife between labor and capital had never come 
 actively home to Margaret. Indeed, so simple had 
 seemed its solution to her upon the broad basis of broth- 
 erly love and active Christianity, that she had worked 
 on quietly, hopefully, in the firm faith that she was only 
 one of millions of like factors in once more estab- 
 lishing the kingdom of Christ. Like one who watches 
 the battle from the hill-top, she believed the contend- 
 ing forces were only seeking their way up to the clear 
 sunshine. It was, therefore, with something like con- 
 sternation that she found herself among the disorderly 
 crowd in the hall. Here and there little groups of 
 men and women Avere noisily discussing various topics 
 and paying only occasional attention to the speaker, 
 a swarthy, wild-eyed woman, who was shouting in a 
 shrill, rasping voice the most astounding ideas that 
 had ever greeted Margaret's ears. Drawn by curiosity 
 as well as interest, she quietly worked her way up to 
 a position near the platform and sank into a seat to 
 listen. 
 
 '' Talk about freedom," yelled the speaker, waving 
 her long thin arms like a revolving windmill. " I tell 
 you we are slaves — handcuffed, manacled, abject 
 slaves." This assertion brought a round of applause. 
 " Talk about the great American eagle — it is only a 
 superannuated old crow that lets its blind followers go 
 where the witches dance on the point of a needle." 
 This witticism provoked a loud guffaw of approval 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 221 
 
 from the crowd. '' I tell you, men, what we want is to 
 preach the gospel of discontent. We want every one 
 of you, all thinking people, to be anarchists. We don't 
 believe in statutory law ; we don't want any law but 
 natural law." 
 
 ''Hear! Hear!" came in shrill calls from various 
 parts of the room. 
 
 " But you say," resumed the speaker, " that anarchy 
 is disreputable. That is just what w^e want it to be. 
 We want to find the gospel of discontent in the gut- 
 ters. We don't want to be reputable, and I thank 
 God that I am absolutely disreputable. We leave re- 
 spectability for the Christian capitalist, the slave-driver, 
 the monopolist. Why, a man cannot be a Christian 
 anarchist, because anarchy is only of the earth. The 
 only class of people who can regulate this dismal con- 
 dition of society, at which so many are just now trying 
 their hands, are the anarchists. Think of it : the tele- 
 graphs in this country are owned by one man, the rail- 
 roads by sixty families, and into the hands of the few 
 is fast being gathered the country's wealth. Imprac- 
 ticable dreamers propose to remedy this evil by mak- 
 ing the state or nation responsible, but the anarchist 
 says no, he doesn't want any interference, for he has 
 had too much of it. The state resorts to armed force. 
 If we want liberty, there is no other way to get it but 
 to do as the state does and resort to armed force." 
 
 The speaker sat down amid a great wave of applause, 
 and Margaret shrank back in her seat with her cheeks 
 burning and eyes flashing with indignation. A man 
 with long black hair and ragged beard next occupied 
 
222 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 the platform, and held forth on the cruelty of the 
 bloated capitalists and a monopolistic press. 
 
 "Why, all attempts at pacification," he cried, ''are 
 dead failures. Monopolists are more arrogant, trades 
 unions more bitter than ever. ' Give us more wages,* 
 we cry; 'We'll give you less,' they say. 'We don't 
 want to work so many hours a day,* we respond ; ' You 
 shall have more,* they answer. ' We won't work under 
 such conditions,* we declare; 'Then starve,' they hiss. 
 Do you know there are over three millions of working- 
 men who are crying all this ? And the capitalists 
 ask: 'What are you going to do about it?' We'll 
 show them what we'll do about it. Let them beware ! 
 Let them remember the dark days of the French Revo- 
 lution, and note how many patrician heads went under 
 the axe because the rabble like us — the sans culottes 
 like us, if you please — went crying for bread, and when 
 they couldn't have bread they cried for blood and had 
 it. Why, men, this is the greatest war of history. It 
 is a war not of countries, but of the globe, and the two 
 great forces, the very rich and the very poor, those 
 bonded slaves of an arrogant aristocracy, are closing 
 in upon each other. As yet it is a TDloodless strife; 
 but let them beware, I say, 'let them beware! This 
 trouble will never cry itself to sleep. There are too 
 many mighty passions surging through the bosoms of 
 outraged and insulted beings. There are too many 
 hungry wives and freezing children. From the Bastile 
 to the portals of this hall stalks a long line of men- 
 acing ghosts, who w^ith pointing fingers demand that 
 the cause for which they died shall yet be made tri- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 223 
 
 umphant. Blind is he who cannot see that the edicts 
 of society are crushing to the wall the helpless toilers, 
 the unfortunate women and innocent children of this 
 world. Blind is he who looks upon the cruelties in- 
 dorsed by capital without rising in righteous indigna- 
 tion to echo the cry that rings along the line, ' Down 
 with the aristocracy! ' It is a lie that all men have an 
 equal chance in this w^orld ; I tell you the competition 
 is unequal and capital forces the issue. Success ! suc- 
 cess ! is the Moloch of the world's worship, and into 
 its ravenous maw you and I and every one of the 
 toilers feed daily the writhing bodies of wives and chil- 
 dren. It is feasting on the putrid carcasses that are 
 crushed under its triumphal car. And all the while 
 there is wealth enough in this world for every man to 
 have and to spare. I tell you, fellow-mortals, the 
 torch and the shotgun, the bomb and the bludgeon, 
 are as much for the toiler as the blue-coated minions 
 of the law." 
 
 The man took his seat on the rear of the platform 
 amid the wildest cheers, and Margaret watched the 
 eagle-like face and the trembling, attenuated form with 
 more than usual interest. There had been many 
 grains of truth in his wild harangue, and they had 
 inspired her conservative breast with an enthusias- 
 tic desire to behold the wide gulf, between the two 
 great opposing forces of the world, narrowed down to 
 the line of arbitration and adjustment, to which all 
 such questions must finally come. But she shuddered 
 with horror at the sanguinary battle which the speaker's 
 inflammatory words had conjured. A second French 
 
224 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 revolution, intolerably bitterer, bloodier, more wide- 
 spread than its prototype! God forbid! There was 
 just then a call from the chairman for volunteer speak- 
 ers, and Margaret's eyes became stony in their wonder 
 and terror, as she saw Gilbert rise from his seat and 
 advance to the front of the platform. Tall, lithe, like 
 a young sapling, with a wealth of dark hair pushed 
 back from a high, straight brow, piercing dark eyes, a 
 square, firmly-set mouth and chin, and fine thin nos- 
 trils expanding with the fire of enthusiasm, he stood 
 before them all. For the first time in her life Mar- 
 garet realized the singular beauty and magnetism of 
 the boy's presence. To her he had been always only 
 Gilbert, to be watched over and taken care of with 
 a mother's unfailing forethought. Now she saw, with 
 a bitter wTenching of her heart-strings, that the 
 chrysalis had burst and her lad had gone away for- 
 ever. Before her stood the man Gilbert, on whose 
 utterances she hung in breathless apprehension. There 
 was something almost wonderful in the boy's self-pos. 
 session as he stood and gazed the noisy crowd into 
 curious silence. 
 
 " Friends and brother toilers, " he began in a rich, 
 sonorous voice that filled the hall. " You have called 
 for volunteer talks, and although I am not yet fully 
 come to man's estate, the impulse to speak is too 
 strong to be resisted. It is time that something was 
 done to lift this burden under which we are groaning, 
 and yet it is the old, old question that for thousands of 
 years before Christ oppressed the bondsmen of the 
 earth. How long, O Lord, how long, before this 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 22 5 
 
 world shall see the fruition of the mighty labors of the 
 millions who have gone clown to death for the good of 
 their brothers ? How long before vengeance shall 
 overtake the insatiable greed of capital, which has no 
 more care for the toiler in its grasp than the tiger in 
 the jungle for the man he has smitten with his paw ? 
 What is it to capital that labor goes unshod, to the 
 well-fed gourmand that the slave who serves him is 
 starving for the crust he despises ? What does the 
 capitalist care for the wails of woe that go up from 
 thousands of infantile throats, for the shiverings of the 
 naked wretches at his door, so that piled higher and 
 higher in his safes he sees the gold these wretched 
 toilers have wrested from the mighty bowels of the 
 earth ? Who cares for the wretched twenty-four thou- 
 sand souls that live in one precinct in this great and 
 wealth-rolling city, within a compass of two small 
 blocks ? Who cares for the nobodies that live in hovels 
 where the water from the street pours in on the floors, 
 and where sixty or seventy people live in eight or ten 
 rooms and exhibit the morality of the dogs they repre- 
 sent ? What millionaire philanthropist goes down into 
 his pocket to pay his men living wages, so that the 
 poverty which shames old-country degradation need 
 not be re-enacted here ? Where is the churchman who, 
 giving largely to conspicuous charities, would be will- 
 ing to turn that charity into specific help in business to 
 the man or men who do his bidding ? It is only a few 
 years back that the * boss ' worked at the same bench 
 with his men. Now this is all changed. Now he has 
 his elegant office, his carriage, his fine attire; but the 
 15 
 
220 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 workmen show no such advance in prosperity. They 
 work for even less wages, wear the same cheap cloth- 
 ing, and toil just as many hours as when they and the 
 ' boss ' were co-workers. What has wrought this change ? 
 What has made these conditions possible ? I will tell 
 you. It is governmental aid. It is because the gov- 
 ernment has fostered the schemes of the rich man and 
 made him a ward of the nation. But it is unjust, and 
 a relic of the old feudality that the government should 
 recognize one son to the exclusion of the others equally 
 well-born, and equally deserving. On this principle, 
 therefore, we demand that we be made wards of the 
 nation. We demand a distributive justice, by pacific 
 means if possible, and if not, then by a retributive jus- 
 tice, by force of arms " 
 
 "Gilbert! Gilbert!" 
 
 A hand laid on the lad's shoulder caused him to 
 turn in wonder and confusion to meet Margaret's 
 pleading face and terror-stricken eyes. 
 
 "You are wrong, Gilbert," she cried earnestly. 
 "Wrong! wrong! You must not incite to violence. 
 Just see what turbulent elements are before you ! " 
 
 There had come an instant hush with her appear- 
 ance on the platform ; men and women had risen to 
 their feet and were peering curiously at the two. 
 Flushed, trembling, intoxicated wi h enthusiasm, Gil- 
 bert cried : " But the terrible wrongs of the poor! You 
 know what they are — you who toil for a daily pittance ! 
 They must be avenged ! " 
 
 " But not in the way you indicate. Not by blood- 
 shed or violence. See! we are attracting attention! 
 Will you let me speak for you ? " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 22/ 
 
 For a moment resentment gleamed in Gilbert's eyes, 
 and then, as he glanced at Margaret's uplifted earnest 
 face, he answered : " Yes, correct me if I am wrong. 
 God speed you ! " 
 
 Gilbert sank back into a chair, his eyes intently fixed 
 upon his sister's face as she advanced to the front of 
 the platform and stood looking out upon the sea of 
 wondering faces. 
 
 '' Friends," she began in a low voice, " I have a 
 story to tell you. The lad who has just addressed you 
 is my brother. For seven years I have been mother, 
 counsellor, friend to him. I promised his dying father 
 to watch over him with unremitting vigilance until his 
 feet should be firmly set in the paths of upright man- 
 hood. That father was a man who believed in and 
 practiced the doctrine of the universal brotherhood of 
 man. He recognized not that all men are created 
 equal mentally and physically, for that is a manifest 
 absurdity, but that there is a principle underneath all 
 conditions of society calling for the respect, venera- 
 tion, and love of man as man. We must respect hu- 
 manity in all its phases, and there is no right, divine 
 or earthly, that permits us to cripple it, enslave it, or 
 destroy it. This idea was one of his ardent beliefs; 
 but it would have cut his gentle heart to the quick to 
 know that his son would ever be misled into uttering 
 words that could in any way incite to violence or 
 wrong-doing. I have listened to-night to words that 
 made my heart bleed; not only for the evils afflicting 
 labor, not only for the misguided ideas of the so-called 
 upper classes, but for the deeper wrongs you are in- 
 flicting on yourselves." 
 
228 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 A stir among the audience and a few hisses for a 
 moment disturbed Margaret's equanimity, but gather- 
 ing heart again she went on in a voice of deep and 
 commanding earnestness: "Nay! hear me out. I 
 premise here that I am not against you ; indeed, I am 
 one of you. I toil for my daily bread, and I receive 
 but a pittance for my work. I take slop-work from 
 the factories, and make men's shirts for forty-five cents 
 per dozen, and men's overalls for fifty cents per dozen 
 pairs. So you see I know what labor has to contend 
 with." 
 
 Shouts of "You're a good one! " "Goon!" encour- 
 aged the increasing tide of thought that surged to her 
 lips. She stood before them pale, earnest, like a 
 prophet, and forgetting time, self, place, she swept the 
 now listening throng with the full force of the unselfish 
 convictions which had made her mistress of herself and 
 untoward circumstance. 
 
 " Once more I say to you, O my brothers and sis- 
 ters, you are wrong, and I repeat it with the facts of 
 history as a bulwark of defence. Let us go back a 
 little to the dim days of which we catch but faint 
 shadows, two thousand years and more before the 
 Christian era, when there were but two classes of men, 
 feudal lords and bondsmen. Let us trace up through 
 the freedom given the slaves under Moses, fourteen 
 hundred years before Christ, and through all the 
 struggles of the toiler up to the present day, the re- 
 sults of violent uprisings of brute force. History gives 
 but two evidences where such uprisings on the part of 
 labor's slaves were not terribl)- disastrous to the insur- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY 
 
 229 
 
 gents. Thousands of years have passed away, men 
 have fought with the desperation of tigers for their 
 rights, and still these rights are in a measure denied, 
 and the millennium of labor is not yet in sight. You 
 may strike the torch to the factory, aim the shot-gun 
 at your fellow-workman because he refuses to listen 
 to your dictation, put your bombs on railroad tracks 
 before the midnight express, leave the ship without 
 sailors or the printing press without workers, because 
 any or all of these are not conducted with a true re- 
 gard for mutual welfare, and you will only find your- 
 selves still deeper in the mire ®f dissatisfaction and 
 wrong. You cripple your own resources and injure 
 your own prospects when you preach the doctrine of 
 physical force. Leave the development of that doc- 
 trine to the brute whose only resource it is, and lift 
 yourselves up to the higher plane where exists the 
 reason of man. But you are no doubt asking where 
 that reason must begin. Back of all sophistries, back 
 of all calculation, on that primitive plane of the newly 
 awakened— the conscience! This, in the age of intri- 
 cate reasoning and perplexing sophistries, may seem 
 to you but the utterance of a sim^ple-minded woman; 
 but history proves, through experience, that the great 
 and seemingly complex problems of the day never can 
 be and never will be solved on any other basis. It 
 was not indeed until the gentle Nazarene walked the 
 earth that its toilers began to grope upward toward 
 the light of reason and conscience. He it was who 
 first took the taint from the grimy hand of the worker; 
 He it is who ought to-day to be the sole advocate and 
 
230 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 mediator in all your wrongs and suffering. I am not 
 talking to you of the religion that the occupants of 
 velvet pulpits preach to the occupants of velvet pews, 
 nor of the Christianity, so called, that is reserved for 
 the rich man who builds churches where he and his 
 class may worship in unsullied seclusion ; but of that 
 fundamental principle which led the Carpenter of Naza- 
 reth to render absolute justice to all men and which 
 prompted the good Samaritan to do a generous deed 
 to his fallen neighbor. Yes, you say all this would do 
 very well if men could be made over on a higher basis; 
 but they' are greedy, avaricious, and prompted more 
 by self-interest than brotherly love. True; but there 
 is always the acorn before there is the oak. Social re- 
 forms must begin with the individual. In order to 
 have an upright community it must be largely com- 
 posed of upright individuals, and if every man reformed 
 himself the proposition of a reformed society would 
 be of very simple solution. It is wonderful indeed 
 how the little leaven leavens the whole lump. Won- 
 derful how the gulf between classes is already being 
 widened by these injudicious threats of violence. Let 
 us beware, then, of incendiary words ! We are all of 
 us, Dives and Lazarus alike, striving for the same goal ; 
 we would all be rich, prosperous, happy if we could. 
 We are indignant because Dives gets in our way and 
 hinders our advancement, when he ought, by all the 
 laws of good-fellowship, to give us fair play and equal 
 chances. But when Ave as Lazarus, by a fortunate 
 conjunction of circumstances, come at last to Dives' 
 importance, how is it that we take the same mean 
 
A NEW AklsroCRACY. 23 1 
 
 advantage of some less capable or lucky mortal ? Ah, 
 my friends, until we learn tliat all these great problems 
 lie partially at least within ourselves, and, like Atlas, 
 are willing to bear the world on our shoulders, we 
 shall never 'gain the object we are seeking. In the 
 conscience of every individual lies the hope of the 
 world's progress. Let us seek, therefore, to cultivate 
 that light within our own breasts, so that, feeble ray 
 though it may be, it shall illumine the pathway of 
 some weaker brother and help him toward the diviner 
 light of the gentle Nazarene. I protest against the 
 indiscriminate and wordy assaults upon rich men. 
 Not alone in the poor man's breast are all the virtues. 
 Much of the poverty of the world is the fault of the 
 individual. Natural thrift and industry have their 
 reward even in the present untoward industrial condi- 
 tions. You cannot smoke away, and drink up your 
 income, and justly blame the bloated capitalist who 
 employs you if your children are shoeless and the 
 table stands empty. But you can use your reason, 
 you can be thrifty, careful, and educate yourselves on 
 the side of conscience and humanity. I look upon 
 this talk of reform which is in the air as excellent for 
 the great cause of" universal brotherhood. This is the 
 tendency of the times; the cardinal truth underlying 
 the welfare of the w^orld. Capital is identical in 
 interest with us, and must recognize sooner or later 
 the trite truth that we are only the fulfilment and 
 complement of each other. Let us beware, then, my 
 friends, how we antagonize those wdiose help we need. 
 Let us make capital feel, by reason of our foresight, 
 
232 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 our fiaeiity, our judgment, our generosity, that it 
 cannot afford to ignore our rights and must open wide 
 the doors to human progress or fall a victim to its 
 own inertia. With you I believe in organization; 
 organization upheld by, and upholding, the rights 
 of the people, irrespective of class; organization 
 prompted by the still small voice of conscience, which 
 abridges no man's freedom while seeking its own. In 
 this way only can your wrongs and mine be righted. 
 But before we mend the steps of those who oppress 
 us, let us as individuals sweep the inner chambers of 
 the heart, and garnish them anew for the long-waited 
 guest of universal justice." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 23, 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The night of Margaret's meeting with the anar- 
 chists was an eventful one for the three members of the 
 Murchison family. Elsie, tired of waiting for Gilbert's 
 appearance, and strenuous in her desire to spend her 
 nights at home, had been again compelled to ask Wil- 
 liam's escort, a fact which raised the spirits of the 
 mercurial young Irishman to a point of emphatic self- 
 gratulation. He felt sure, to use his own phraseology, 
 that " Elsie was getting soft on him," and while prepar- 
 ing him.self for the walk he resolved to put into defi- 
 nite shape his growing fondness for her. It so hap- 
 pened that when he and Elsie left the area door, Her- 
 bert Lynn, violin case in hand, walked down the front 
 steps of the Mason mansion and leisurely followed 
 them up the street. As William possessed the native 
 wat of his race, together with an abundant fund of good- 
 humor, Elsie's laugh was frequent at the droll remarks 
 and anecdotes he poured into her ear. This only in- 
 creased the self -elation with which he viewed his pros- 
 pects, but lacking the finesse of language wherewith 
 to proclaim his passion, he allowed the precious mo- 
 ments to slip by, until, having reached the dimly-lighted 
 entrance to Elsie's home, he felt that decisive action 
 alone could serve his purpose. 
 
 " Good-night, and thank you," said Elsie as they 
 stepped within the narrow hall. 
 
234 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Not so fast," he cried, clutching at Elsie's dress 
 and detaining her. " I must be better paid." 
 
 '' To be sure," answered Elsie, reaching into the 
 depths of a woman's long pocket and bringing her 
 purse to view. " How careless I am." 
 
 " No, you don't! Put that pocket-book up. Sure 
 an' this is what I mean," and grasping Elsie round the 
 waist he strove to imprint a kiss upon her lips. 
 
 ''Let me go! Let me go!" cried frightened and 
 struggling Elsie. 
 
 "Sure an' I'll not, then! I'll jest have a kiss and 
 maybe more from the swate girl of my heart," and his 
 strong arms were just about to bring the flushed and 
 frightened face within range of his lips, when a firm 
 hand clutched his coat collar and sent him spinning 
 into the street. Glancing up he met the indignant 
 eyes of Herbert Lynn. 
 
 " It isn't a very safe thing, young man, for you to 
 
 insult ladies in this manner, and you may congratulate 
 
 yourself on getting off with scant justice. The best 
 
 . thing you can do is to go home and reform some of 
 
 your free-and-easy habits." 
 
 William shuffled off maddened and revengeful. 
 ''Ah, but I'll fix him and the girl too. Sure and the 
 high hand isn't always for the mighty millionaire. 
 And it's him, is it, that's stealing my girl's heart away ? 
 Well, then, an' I'll 'umble 'em, sure. I'm after thinking 
 the mistress with her fine airs will not be as swate as 
 the summer when she finds her brother is comin' it 
 asy over the purty cook." 
 
 Elsie, released from William's grasp, darted up the 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 235 
 
 stairs, but half-way up the first flight she sank down in 
 fright and exhaustion. Springing up two steps at a 
 time, Herbert followed and bent over her. ''Elsie! 
 Elsie ! " he cried, '' what is it ? Are you faint ? Here, 
 let me steady you," and with the same audacity which 
 he had indignantly rebuked in William, he slipped 
 an arm round Elsie's waist and endeavored to lift 
 her up. 
 
 " I don't need any help," she said, struggling to her 
 feet and making frantic efforts to free herself from tlie 
 detaining arm. '' I can go alone a good deal better 
 Please take your arm away." 
 
 " No, thank you ; it is quite too comfortable," replier 
 Herbert composedly. 
 
 ''And succeeds in making me very uncomfortable. 
 I entreat you to release me." Elsie glanced up into 
 a pair of blue eyes, in whose depths lay a light so 
 warm and tender, that she staggered dizzily against 
 the wall when Herbert's encircling arm was removed. 
 
 " There, I knew you couldn't go alone. Now I insist 
 upon being permitted to help you up the stairs. I 
 therefore offer you, in the most decorous manner pos- 
 sible, the despised and rejected arm." 
 
 Herbert stood before her w^ith crooked elbow and 
 attitude so ludicrously stiff, that in the laugh which 
 rose to her lips the constraint of the situation passed 
 away, and she not only accepted the arm, but made 
 no remonstrance when, before the third flight had been 
 reached, the despised member, by some legerdermain 
 best known to lovers perhaps, had been restored to its 
 original offensive position. It still lay supine and sat- 
 
236 A NEW ARISTOCRACY, 
 
 isfied around the slender waist when the two reached 
 Margaret's door and found it locked. 
 
 '* Here's a go ! " exclaimed Herbert slangily. 
 
 ** No," said Elsie, attempting to remove his arm, '* it 
 seems to be a stay! " 
 
 Herbert caught at the word instantly, even while 
 his laugh echoed along the corridor. "A stay!" he 
 echoed, tightening his grasp. " Elsie, darling " 
 
 No one will know quite just how it happened, but 
 drawn by an overmastering impulse, he drew the dark 
 head to his breast and pressed a fervent kiss upon, I 
 grieve to state, a pair of unresisting lips. 
 
 *' For shame!" cried Elsie when she found breath. 
 *'A second William. Young man, go and reform some 
 of your free-and-easy habits! You're infinitely more 
 cruel than he, because you know better. I am ashamed, 
 indignant, heart-broken," and Elsie burst into tears. 
 
 *' My darling," cried Herbert for the second time, 
 as he prepared to do penance by repeating the crime 
 of which he was accused, ''you may be just as indig- 
 nant as you choose so that indignation does not take 
 you away from me. Here, take your kiss back again ! 
 I am perfectly willing to return the jewel I stole," and 
 grasping the flushed face in both hands, he held it in a 
 vise-like grip while he bestowed upon the ripe lips the 
 principal with usurious interest. There was no time 
 for protest or further explanation. There was some 
 one coming up the stairs, and it was a hurried assump- 
 tion of composure that greeted Margaret and Gilbert 
 as they reached their door. 
 
 "We have been waiting for you," cried Herbert, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 237 
 
 adding audaciously, " It seemed to Miss Elsie, I've no 
 doubt, as if you never would come." 
 
 " Margaret, dear," exclaimed Elsie, '^ how pale you 
 are! What has happened ? " 
 
 ** Come in and I will tell you," wearily ansv^ered 
 Margaret as she unlocked the door. 
 
 "As it is late," said Herbert hesitatingly, " with your 
 permission I will leave my violin here and come for 
 our music to-morrow evening. Good-night." 
 
 Elsie could not raise her eyes to his, such a tumult 
 of wounded feeling, love, shame, and regret surged 
 through her breast, and Herbert was obliged to de- 
 part without the glance he coveted. Elsie listened to 
 his merry whistle as he ran down the stairs, and cow- 
 ered, shame-faced and despairing, in the shadow of 
 the window curtain. How weak she had been ! She 
 had struggled so hard not to notice him, not to 
 think of him, and all the time the victim of a re- 
 lentless fate, had at last yielded to his kiss and let him 
 see she had given her love unasked ! What a state of 
 moral degradation she had reached! How Margaret 
 would despise her if she knew it! How everybody 
 with any fine moral sense would be contaminated 
 with her presence if it was known how really bad 
 she was ! 
 
 Sleep did not visit the perturbed brain that night. 
 In dry-eyed misery she lay through the long hours of 
 darkness by Margaret's side, and when at the first 
 break of dawn she returned to her work, she carried a 
 pale, conscience-stricken face. The other servants 
 eyed her curiously, giving her' already crushed spirit 
 
238 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 unmistakable evidence that William had heralded the 
 evening's adventure. It was with lagging footsteps 
 and a colorless face that she dragged through her 
 morning's duties, and finally mounted the stairs to her 
 usual conference with her mistress. 
 
 Mrs. Mason was alone when Elsie entered the morn- 
 ing-room, but she did not look up. She was appar- 
 ently busied over a small account-book, in which, with 
 the gold pencil attached to it, she now and then jotted 
 down figures or memoranda. The coals in the grate 
 glowed warmly; the mocking-bird in his gilded cage 
 chirped cheerily; the flowers and potted plants in the 
 windows seemed to smile a welcome to the disheart- 
 ened girl, but the fair mistress had no greeting for her. 
 Elsie waited some moments, and then, seeing that Mrs. 
 Mason was purposely silent, she asked, but with a note 
 of despondency in her voice that was only too appar- 
 ent, *' What orders, Mrs. Mason, have you for me this 
 morning ? " 
 
 " Only one," replied the lady, for the first time turn- 
 ing a darkened face upon Elsie. " Take this envelope, 
 containing your week's wages, and leave my house at 
 once. I have no further need of your services." 
 
 The room grew so dark to Elsie that she reeled and 
 clutched at the door-post. Mrs. Mason watched her, 
 secretly glad to see the shaft strike home. 
 
 " Will you tell me why you dismiss me ? " asked Elsie 
 faintly. 
 
 "Why? How innocent you are! You know very 
 well why I will not keep such a dissembler in my house. 
 Attempting to deceive me with your assumption of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 239 
 
 flawless honor, and then using all your arts and graces 
 to ensnare the fancy of my brother, who " 
 
 ''Stop! " cried Elsie, all her strength returning un- 
 der the sting of Mrs. Mason's words, and with indigna- 
 tion firing voice and attitude. " You make unjust 
 accusations. I never have deceived you in any partic- 
 ular. I never sought to ensnare the fancy of your 
 brother. Instead, I have begged him to let me alone. 
 I told him I did not want his acquaintance, and I re- 
 peat it to you, his proud and aristocratic sister. I 
 have my own life to live irrespective of your creeds 
 and caste, and I have endeavored to keep both of you 
 at arm's-length." 
 
 "You are as brazen as the generality of your class. 
 It is useless to attempt any justification. The fact 
 remains that you have accepted the attentions of a 
 man infinitely above you in station, good-breeding, 
 blood " 
 
 " I deny i't ! Neither in blood nor breeding are you 
 any better than the girl you despise. In station— you 
 bu-t emphasize the arrogance of your nature and stand- 
 ing when you attempt to herp unmerited abuse upon 
 one whom you know to be defenceless ; a thing which 
 ' E'lsie the cook ' would scorn to do." 
 
 "You insolent thing! Leave the room at once, and 
 if you ever dare to speak to my brother again. Til pub- 
 lish you from one end of the city to the other, and 
 then we'll see whether ' Elsie the cook ' will continue 
 to flaunt her good breeding in the face of her betters." 
 
 The hot blood-surged to Elsie's face until the pur- 
 ple veins threatened to burst. "Have no fear!" she 
 cried. " I despise " 
 
240 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 At that moment the door opened and Herbert en- 
 tered the room. He glanced at the flushed faces and 
 turned to his sister for explanation. Elsie, trembling 
 in every limb, rushed through the open door, heedless 
 of Herbert's earnest entreaty to remain. How she 
 gained the street and flew up the long flights of stairs 
 and buried her head in Margaret's lap, she never re- 
 alized until long after. What a tumult of anger, 
 shame, and wounded love raged in the girl's breast. 
 How black her sky seemicd, and how pitiful the story 
 was when, by snatches of incoherent words and bursts 
 of passionate tears, Margaret finally became possessed 
 of it. She could only bend over the writhing form 
 and press kisses upon the disordered hair, while en- 
 deavoring to soothe by touch and voice the violent 
 storm of sobs and tears. Calmness had not yet come 
 back to them and reason could only dimly see its way 
 through the darkness, when there came an imperative 
 rap at the door, followed almost instantly by Herbert's 
 appearance. 
 
 " Elsie," he cried, tossing his hat into a chair and 
 coming up to her as she lay v/ith her head buried in 
 Margaret's lap, " I have come to make reparation for 
 all that you have suffered this morning. I have learned 
 the whole disgraceful story, and I have come to offer 
 the hand with the heart that has been yours for 
 months. Look up, Elsie, and answer me. Margaret 
 knows that I have loved you long." 
 
 *' Oh, go away and leave me," moaned Elsie. " I 
 cannot bear any more." 
 
 " Come ! " exclaimed Herbert, bending over her and 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 24 1 
 
 attempting to lift her from Margaret's lap. " I am 
 impatient. I want a decisive answer." 
 
 ''You shall have it," said Elsie, pulling herself away 
 from him and raising a tear-stained and mutinous face 
 to his. " It is a most unqualified No." 
 
 Herbert staggered back a few steps and gazed with 
 evident surprise at Elsie's resolute face. "You can- 
 not surely mean it," he cried. '' I thought you loved 
 me, or would love me." 
 
 "Over-confidence is sometimes disastrous, even to 
 young men who fancy the world is ' mine oyster.' " 
 
 " Dear child, you are hurt, unstrung by thfe distress- 
 ing events of the morning. I wish I could make you 
 see how pained I am that you should have been made 
 to suffer so. I wish you would let me make reparation." 
 
 " I do not need any," said Elsie proudly. " I find 
 myself able to survive even your sister's insults." 
 
 " Do not refer to them. Helen has a great many 
 false ideas, but you ought not to punish me for them. 
 I have never willingly harmed you." 
 
 "Yes, you have!" Elsie broke out impetuously. 
 " Did not I beg of you to let me alone, to keep to your 
 own devices and let ' Elsie the cook * go her own way ? " 
 
 A pained look overspread Herbert's face as he an- 
 swered : " If I have wronged you, Elsie, I offer you as 
 honorable a reparation as any man can offer a woman." 
 
 "And do you think because, to, please your own fan- 
 cies, you have despoiled me of a chance to earn my 
 bread, I can accept so great a condescension ? I had 
 rather starve than be made the recipient of any man's 
 tardy sense of honor." 
 
242 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Stung, but not baffled, Herbert answered: "I loved 
 you almost from the first time I saw you. I sought 
 to win your regard with a scrupulous sense of honor, 
 and if this offer of my hand is tardy, it is only because 
 you have so persistently kept me at bay. Elsie, I beg 
 you to forget my sister's taunts and let me prove how 
 devotedly I can make amends for the suffering I have 
 caused you. Margaret, help me to prove how true 
 my statements are." 
 
 Herbert turned, only to find that Margaret had 
 slipped away. '* Elsie, darling," he added, going up to 
 her and attempting to take her in his arms, " I can- 
 not believe, after last night, that you do not, at least 
 cannot, love me. I was the happiest man last night 
 that ever sat in the glow of the fire-light and drew pic- 
 tures of the future. If we had not been interrupted I 
 should have told you then all that I tell you now. 
 Elsie! Elsie! trust me to make you happy." 
 
 But Elsie drew herself away from the outstretched 
 arms and sheltered herself behind an intervening rocker. 
 *' I cannot," she said resolutely, although the pleading 
 tones no less than the supplicating eyes had well-nigh 
 broken her composure. " Even could I so compose 
 my heart as to contemplate the possibility which you 
 picture, there is an insurmountable obstacle in the 
 way." 
 
 "And that is?' , 
 
 "Your sister! Never will I enter a family, were it 
 ten times mightier than the one you represent, where 
 I could be the object of such undeserved scorn as was 
 heaped upon me this morning." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 243 
 
 " My poor child ! I will put the globe between us." 
 
 "And let me be the naeans of separating an only 
 brother and sister ?^ No! Go back to your sister, and 
 marry some one who represents her idea of respecta- 
 bility — Miss Houghton, for instance — and be sure that 
 family approval and society will bless you forever 
 after." 
 
 '' Thank you for the suggestion," said Herbert dryly. 
 " I am, however, neither marrying my sister nor her 
 ideas." 
 
 " No, I don't think you're marrying anybody at 
 present." 
 
 "And am not likely to, you doubtless mean to sug- 
 gest ? Elsie, what makes you punish me so ? " 
 
 " I am only paying you what I owe you." 
 
 " That is honest; now give me back the heart you've 
 stolen." 
 
 " I have no heart to give." 
 
 " Elsie Murchison! " exclaimed Herbert with a new 
 sternness, " I have one question more to ask you, and 
 I demand a straightforward answer. Tell me by all 
 the truth in your nature — do you love me ? " 
 
 Driven to bay, Elsie stood alternately flushing and 
 paling, and with her frame in such a quiver of excite- 
 m.ent that the hand which rested on the rocker shook 
 perceptibly. " I decline to answer," she finally fal- 
 tered. " You have no right to question a foregone 
 conclusion. I have told you I will not marry you." 
 
 " Is that decision final ? " asked Herbert as he picked 
 up his hat. " Can no pleading, no proof of devotion 
 change it ? " 
 
244 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 White to the very lips, Elsie answered : " It is final 
 and absolute." 
 
 "Then God pity us both! " cried Herbert as, with a 
 face as white as Elsie's own, he left the room. 
 
 Elsie threw herself on the floor and writhed in the 
 agony of mental torture. 
 
 " Love him ? Love him ? " asked the tumultuous 
 heart. Did she not rather idolize him. And now she 
 had signed her own death-warrant. " God keep him 
 wherever he went — how could she live Vvdthout him ? " 
 A tempest of tears answered this question as she 
 saw days stretch into months and months into years 
 without one glimpse of the sunny blue eyes, one 
 sound of the melodious voice, or touch of the kindly 
 hands that had been so glad to anticipate any need or 
 desire of hers. ** How can I live, how can I live with- 
 out him ? " she sobbed aloud, writhing in absolute phys- 
 ical pain. " Oh, I shall die! I shall die! It will be too 
 dreadful to live now! " 
 
 A second later a pair of strong arms gathered her 
 within their embrace, and Herbert's lips were raining 
 kisses upon brow, cheek, and lips. *' I knew it, Elsie," 
 he whispered. '^ I couldn't give it up so easily. You 
 do love me, I know you do. You dare not deny it." 
 
 With sudden impetuosity a pair of lithe arms crept 
 around his neck, and hiding her face in his bosom Elsie 
 sobbed : " I don't want to deny it now, for it has almost 
 killed me. But truly I'll never marry you." 
 
 Herbert laughed. " Tell me the reason." 
 
 "Well, it wouldn't be right, and not even my love 
 for you will make me do what is not fair and just." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 245 
 
 "That's right, my little girl," answered Herbert be- 
 tween kisses. " We'll try to remove the wrong. Now 
 that I know I'm held fast in the stronghold of your 
 heart, I can conquer the world." 
 
 " Can you ? " asked Elsie, the old mischief coming 
 quickly back. '' Can you make your sister, Mrs. 
 Mason, get down on her knees and beg me to marry 
 you to save you from a decline ? " 
 
 '' ril try," said Herbert with a grimace, " although I 
 beg to be delivered from the decline." 
 
246 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Like Byron, Margaret awoke one day and found 
 herself famous. The daily press, in keeping close 
 watch of ^the anarchist movement, had reported nearly 
 verbatim the speeches of both Gilbert and Margaret. 
 Editorials had been written upon Margaret's utteran- 
 ces, and one enterprising daily had printed a supposed 
 portrait of her and given a brief account of her 
 work in the tenement-house, wherein she had been 
 glorified beyond her just deserts and made to wear 
 the mantle of the professional reformer. Margaret 
 was by no means pleased with this unexpected noto- 
 riety, and particularly displeasing to her sensitive na- 
 ture was the attitude in which she had been made to 
 stand with reference to those whom she had sought to 
 aid in the quietness and sympathy of her home life. 
 As a friend, she was sure of their appreciation and co- 
 operation ; as a reformer, she felt fearful of their mis- 
 trust and the gradual withdrawal of the sympathies 
 she had grown to depend upon for her own guidance 
 and happiness. It was, therefore, with no little vexa- 
 tion of spirit that she found herself waited upon one 
 day by a committee of ladies who urged her going 
 upon the platform as the advance agent of a board of 
 foreign missions. 
 
 " It is impossible," cried Margaret when the object 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 247 
 
 of the visit had been explained. *' I am not fitted for 
 such work. Indeed, it was a mere accident which 
 caused my appearance in public, and I hope never to 
 repeat it." 
 
 The ladies looked at each other aghast. Here was 
 good timber obviously going to waste. Something 
 must be done to secure it. " But," they argued, " you 
 must have the interests of our work at heart, as your 
 utterances gave evidence and as your work in your 
 own home circle proves. Why not be willing to 
 broaden it and bring the suffering ones of earth, whom 
 you evidently pity, a little relief ? " 
 
 " Because," said Margaret, smiling, " I believe, in the 
 truest sense, in the old saying that * Charity begins at 
 home.' I have a home to make, first of all, for a 
 young brother and sister who look upon me as mother 
 and guardian. So long as they have need of me I 
 shall always keep for them the one spot where home 
 ties may reign supreme. In the next place, I shall 
 doubtless horrify you by saying that I do not believe 
 in charity." 
 
 A look of wide-eyed dismay went around the little 
 circle. 
 
 '' But let me qualify the ruggedness of so bare a 
 statement," said Margaret as a look of quiet amuse- 
 ment crept over her face. *' I have reference only to 
 the charity which is practised under present condi- 
 tions. In the first place, I think we have heathen 
 enough to convert at home; in the second, if there 
 were more of the genuine charity which was taught by 
 our great Preceptor, there would be scant need of the 
 
248 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 various forms of associated charity. Modern charity 
 belittles and robs men of the God-given sense of inde- 
 pendent manhood which should be cultivated and re- 
 spected in every one. The helping hand that is given 
 by associated charity fosters a national laziness and 
 sloth which grows every year more wide-spread and 
 disgraceful." 
 
 *' That is a most astounding statement," cried her 
 hearers. 
 
 " I think you will find it true," replied Margaret 
 quietly. " Charity that is bestowed with the air of 
 patronage which such organizations can scarcely fail 
 to exhibit, must make its wards feel that independent 
 effort is not respected as it should be. We do not 
 give any more from a fraternal desire to see our fallen 
 brother rise to his feet and work steadily toward the 
 goal which we have reached or are Hearing; but we 
 give perhaps from a desire to display our importance, 
 or from a philanthropy which expects to find its way 
 into the newspapers and be talked about, or because 
 it is fashionable to 'assume a virtue if we have it not.' 
 If we gave from the standpoint of humanity and a 
 desire to see all men on an equal footing before the 
 law, do you suppose it would be necessary to announce 
 such themes from the pulpits of elegant and exclusive 
 churches as * How to reach the masses ? * The masses 
 would be there to be reached. They would not be 
 outside, because an exclusive sexton had found that 
 he must look to the best interests of his patrons. The 
 church is every day growing richer and more influen- 
 tial. How is it with the heaven-born principles of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 249 
 
 Him who toiled at the carpenter's bench and proved 
 to the fishermen of GaHlee that a common bond of 
 divine and human love held them together ? What is 
 the church to-day in a great measure but a business 
 institution ? How much of the old faith clings to the 
 embroidered garment that has displaced the simple 
 white robe of the Messiah of all men ? It is useless to 
 offer charity to a man whose rights you have denied, 
 and expect thereby to build up a prosperous and God- 
 fearing commonwealth. Ladies, I must forego the 
 generous offer you make me, for the bread would be bit- 
 ter in my mouth which I earned by upholding a belief 
 that I felt to be fundamentally wrong. I ask nothing 
 more than to be given strength to help wherever I can 
 in the humblest way and with the sincerest love." 
 
 It was a silent and crestfallen committee that bowed 
 itself from Margaret's presence and whispered " quix- 
 otic," '' cranky," " absurd," when it reached the side- 
 walk. Margaret sank into a chair, after the commit- 
 tee had left her, with a feeling of vague discomfort 
 and unrest. Did this invasion of her private work 
 bear any occult meaning ? Was there really a broader 
 field of action awaiting her helping hand wherein she 
 could better fulfill the principles she loved to dissemi- 
 nate ? Suddenly, as if in revelation, she saw Gilbert's 
 impassioned face as he pleaded so eloquently for his 
 brother toilers at the anarchist meeting. Here was 
 work for Gilbert, stretching out into an indefinite and 
 glowing future. A society of universal brotherhood ! 
 She remembered that once a stranger had preached in 
 her father's pulpit on that very topic, and she had 
 
250 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 never forgotten the five great principles he had enun- 
 ciated. She had jotted them down in her note-book 
 as truths worth remembering, and now they came 
 back to her with the vividness and force with which a 
 thinking brain is often overtaken by. the ideas of the 
 great minds of the world. 
 
 1. ''A society of universal brotherhood must be 
 founded on eternal truth." 
 
 2. *' It must permit full and free development to 
 every member of the human race." 
 
 3. " There must be perfect harmony between all its 
 members." 
 
 4. ** It must attempt to secure happiness in this 
 w^orld. Here, now, on this planet, in this day and gen- 
 eration, it must give justice to all mankind." 
 
 5. " It must make not only men, but nations, free." - 
 She well remembered how the eloquent clergyman 
 
 had enlarged upon this declaration of principles in 
 glowing words. 
 
 "Tell me," he had said, "would not such a society 
 meet your desires ? Yet such was the organization 
 founded by Jesus Christ. Men have found occasion 
 to depart a long way from it, but not till they retrace 
 their steps and take up the work as He planned it, 
 can they enjoy the fruits of the wisest law-giver the 
 world ever beheld. " He was the true leader of men. 
 He was born in a manger and brought up in poverty. 
 He preached the purest and truest democracy the 
 world has ever listened to. The tramp, the outcast, 
 
 * These principles were recently enunciated by Father Huntington. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 25 I 
 
 the beggar were with Him the equals before the law 
 of the richest man on the face of the earth. There 
 was nothing narrow in His creed. But how shall men 
 establish the new order ? We must take the kingdom 
 of heaven by storm; we must convert the boodlers 
 and the aristocrats who now dominate the church. 
 Let me tell you the rich are getting tired of the life 
 they are living. They are beginning to see its falsity, 
 and many of them are anxious to see some means 
 adopted by which greater justice can be rendered to 
 all. Work, then, my brothers, in behalf of the rich as 
 well as the poor, and make the society of universal 
 brotherhood the grand factor in a new civilization." 
 
 These impassioned words had burned themselves on 
 Margaret's memory, and in the light of later events 
 seemed to have a peculiar force and significance. A 
 society of universal brotherhood! How beautiful it 
 seemed in theory; how easily, even on the basis of an 
 eighteen-hundred-years-old truth, the theory might be 
 evolved into established fact. Yet that mighty and 
 eternal truth had been all these years, through innu- 
 merable persecutions and conflicts, vainly seeking its 
 perfect flower and fruit. Where lay the difficulty? 
 Why were its life-giving branches so persistently 
 lopped, its trunk gashed and riven, its healing leaves 
 stripped and torn, and its fruition hindered and ob- 
 structed ? Margaret pondered long over the puzzling 
 questions. It was a fundamental truth that mankind 
 was seeking happiness and had the same general na- 
 ture and desires. What, then, made the great diver- 
 gence ? The casusist and sophist might find deep within 
 
252 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 the logic of history and the philosophy of man a more 
 lofty reason ; but Margaret's primitive nature saw only 
 the main truth that men had departed from the under- 
 lying principle on which Christ had founded His church 
 of the living gospel. Primitive ideas had been ig- 
 nored, scoffed at, trampled in the dust, and yet the 
 great Master had made those ideas the whole sum and 
 substance of life when He enjoined upon man to love 
 God and his neighbor, live soberly and righteously, 
 visit the fatherless and widows in affliction, and keep 
 himself unspotted from the world. Setting aside the 
 divine emanation of such laws, they were the truest in- 
 terpretation of natural law, for what is vicious is inju- 
 rious. The divine virtues of truth and equity are the 
 bulwarks of society ; if they are transgressed, the whole 
 body politic suffers, even as the transgression of natu- 
 ral law causes disease and dissolution. Surely, here 
 " the steps are not straightened and he that runneth 
 stumbleth not." 
 
 To Gilbert, Margaret communicated all her doubts 
 and fears as well as hopes upon this theme, and with 
 the eagerness Avith which an awakened spirit seizes 
 upon ideas, he followed her reasoning to a conclusion 
 which would have been remarkable in one so young, if 
 it had not been the logical result of Margaret's train- 
 ing and practice. 
 
 "I can only work on the plan you outline by first 
 finding out how those I desire to reach are striving 
 for the happiness that is their aim. It will be a long 
 and laborious effort, for I must truly prove myself the 
 friend of every man. No thief, thug, criminal, outcast, 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 253 
 
 or harlot must be too vile and degraded to receive 
 the warm clasp of my hand and the hearty utterance 
 of my good-will. Am I equal to it ? " Gilbert buried 
 his head in his hands with a sob that was v.Tung from 
 the consciousness of a lifelong sacrifice. Margaret 
 knelt beside his chair and softly slipped an arm around 
 his neck. 
 
 "A second Jean Valjean! " she whispered. 
 
 " It is at most an experiment," said Gilbert later, 
 " and even in the event of failure must do more good 
 than harm. I will try it." 
 
 The loss of Elsie's abundant wages had been a try- 
 ing matter to the little household. Gilbert's attend- 
 ance at the manual-training school had been perforce 
 curtailed, and the question of subsistence became a 
 serious one. Herbert had begged to be allowed to 
 supply their needs, since his indiscretion had been the 
 cause of their loss, but the ingrained independence of 
 both sisters rebelled at the suggestion. 
 
 *' No," exclaimed Elsie emphatically, "not until I 
 say ' yes * at the altar — and that day is still so remote 
 as to be almost nebulous — shall I permit any expendi- 
 ture of your money on my behalf." 
 
 " Not even for this ? " and Herbert drew from his 
 pocket a small velvet case and flashed a brilliant dia- 
 mond ring before Elsie's eyes. She took it, flushing 
 with pleasure over its beauty, and held it up over her 
 head to watch the play of translucent light on its pol- 
 ished surface. 
 
 " Oh, what beautiful things God makes in His labor- 
 atory!" she cried, *' and how I do love beauty! But 
 
254 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 take it back, Herbert ; it would be out of place on the 
 hand of a working girl." 
 
 " I'm tempted to quarrel with you all the time," said 
 Herbert petulantly. " What shall I get you — an iron 
 ring?" 
 
 "'You might have it silver-plated," suggested Elsie 
 soberly, "so that, like the majority of my sex, I would 
 not know it was iron until after marriage." 
 
 "You are incorrigible! But what are you going to 
 do with yourself, anyway, while you are waiting for 
 that haughty sister of mine to come under my sooth- 
 ing ministrations ? " 
 
 " Something new — work! " 
 
 *' At what ? " 
 
 " Slop-work, like Margaret. I've already bought a 
 new sewing-machine — on part payments, of course — 
 and I am going to break the record on hickory shirts 
 and blue jeans overalls." 
 
 "Absurd! quixotic! outrageous!" exclaimed Her- 
 bert, springing to his feet and pacing the room with 
 an excited air. " I tell you, Elsie, you and Margaret 
 will kill yourselves in endeavoring to uphold the dig- 
 nity of woman or labor or some other foolish notion." 
 
 "Herbert!" Elsie's eyes flashed ominously. "If 
 the whole world were like you — Supreme Sultans of 
 Gilded Leisure — you might make your uncomplimen- 
 tary classifications; but under existing conditions, I 
 think — well, I think you ought to be ashamed of your- 
 self ; so there! " 
 
 " I am," said Herbert contritely, as he took her in 
 his arms. " I don't in the least question the nobility of 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 255 
 
 motive that inspires all this heroism, but I do question 
 its result. Do you think the fate of the world is hang- 
 ing on the struggles of two such admittedly unselfish 
 and uplifted slips of girls ? " 
 
 ''You're just like the old heathen masters of moral- 
 ity] " ejaculated Elsie. " They gave such excellent 
 rules for other men's guidance, but they hadn't the 
 courage to try their arguments on themselves. Of 
 course Margaret and I are very heroic in trying to live 
 up to our principles — but very silly! " 
 
 Herbert's laugh was so contagious that even Elsie 
 joined in it. 
 
 "I am afraid I'm a heathen," he said dubiously, ''if 
 in this day and age, when the air is blue with reforms, 
 I object to seeing the girl I love wearing her life away 
 for a mere chimera." 
 
 "Herbert Lynn!" exclaimed Elsie impetuously as 
 she drew away from his embrace and looked him ear- 
 nestly in the face. " Do you look upon the question 
 of the day, the question that occupies all tongues and 
 speaks a heart-rending language in every half-starved 
 wretch that walks the street, as a chimera ? " 
 
 " It is a phantom that has been chased a good many 
 thousand years," he answered, "and the end is not 
 yet." 
 
 " Have you no interest in the question ? " 
 
 "Specifically, yes; generally, no." 
 
 " Then you have no heart ! " exclaimed Elsie warmly. 
 
 " I confess that it has left me and is in the keeping 
 of a fierce little radical." 
 
 " Who wishes your judgment was with it, for I think 
 
256 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 such conservatism as yours is dangerous and — yes, 
 positively wicked ! " 
 
 ''You are charming when you wear that look," said 
 Herbert critically. 
 
 ''Just wait till I find you are as obstinate as you are 
 evasive, and I shall not look so charming. But really 
 I wish you would go away. Do you see that pile of 
 blue jeans ? Every moment wasted on you is just so 
 much stolen from my beauty sleep, and of course you 
 care more for that than for any purpose of mine." 
 
 " Well, then, if you'll remember that all I shall ask 
 of you at our next meeting will be to look pretty and 
 talk nonsense I'll go." Suiting the action to the word, 
 he left the room. 
 
 " Elsie," he called a moment later as he put his head 
 in the open door, " may I send you a violet if it's a 
 very small and stingy one ? " 
 
 Herbert dodged just in time to escape the pin-cush- 
 ion Elsie threw at his head, but the supper-table that 
 night was graced with a generous bouquet of Parme- 
 san violets, and' they nestled lovingly in Elsie's dark 
 locks, under her plump chin, and in the cincture of 
 her slender waist. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 257 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 For some weeks Gilbert had been perfecting a num- 
 ber of handsomely finished medicine cabinets (which 
 were furnished with racks for bottles and drawers for 
 boxes, sponges, and all the various healing parapher- 
 nalia which every well-regulated household keeps at 
 hand for emergencies), and now that the question of 
 subsistence was so seriously confronting them once 
 more, he determined to canvass from house to house 
 and endeavor to sell them. Knowing that the homes 
 of the rich would be closed against him, he could only 
 hope to gain access to those of the middle and poorer 
 classes, among whom he meant to provoke what 
 thought and inquiry he could regarding the establish- 
 ment of a society of universal brotherhood. Beyond 
 the five great principles enunciated by the eloquent 
 clergyman, all ideas were as yet in a nebulous state. 
 Having established the fact of a desire for the pro- 
 posed reform, the three instigators — for Elsie was al- 
 ready heart and hand in the projected work — believed 
 that wisdom would be given them for the rounding 
 and perfecting of details. " There is one thing to be 
 remembered," said Margaret, ''that to-day no less 
 than yesterday a tree is known by its fruit, and love 
 to God can only be reached in the minds of the op- 
 pressed through love to man. First prove to men that 
 
258 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 you love their souls because you love the God that 
 created them, and you will then be able to convey to 
 them some of the greater truths of a divine and spirit- 
 ual love." 
 
 " Is not that material doctrine ?" asked Elsie. 
 
 " No, I do not think so. The world has been mysti- 
 fied too long. The plain and simple doctrine of a 
 human, interested, generous love even a child can un- 
 derstand, and God does not despise the day of small 
 things." 
 
 '' How otherwise can you reach a material nature 
 than by material symbols ? " asked Gilbert. 
 
 '' Even as a child learns to rely upon love and grad- 
 ually reaches back to the motive and inspiration of 
 that love, so back of this earthly brotherhood men will 
 come to see the radiance and truth of divinity over- 
 shadowing it." 
 
 "Ah, if mankind can only be made to look at it in 
 that light ! But what are we going to do, Gilbert, in 
 this new order with the besotted and brutish natures 
 that live only for self ? " 
 
 " Give them all the personal friendliness we can and 
 help them to outgrow their evil natures." 
 
 *' It will take generations of refining influences to do 
 that, I am afraid. So much clings to the flesh that is 
 bred in the bone." 
 
 "True; but we are to-day only small factors in the 
 great scheme of human civilization. What we leave 
 unfinished other hands may take up. In any event, 
 whether of failure or success, we three, weird fates 
 maybe," said Gilbert with a smile, " we know that for 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 259 
 
 US happiness lies in doing what we can to h'ghten the 
 heavy load of oppression and injustice under which our 
 brothers are groaning." 
 
 *'Amen!" exclaimed Elsie, printing a resounding 
 kiss upon Gilbert's cheek. *'You look like another 
 Savonarola, only a trifle handsomer, I must admit." 
 
 "Give me the inspiration of his genius and the force 
 of his eloquence, and I'll will you my good looks." 
 
 ''Thanks! Herbert says I'll do as I am," she ex- 
 claimed, drawing herself up to her full height and 
 flushing and dimpling as roguishly as a mischievous 
 child. 
 
 " By the way, Elsie, how are you and your million- 
 aire lover going to reconcile the very opposite views 
 you hold on various vital questions ? " 
 
 Elsie's face grew sober instantly. " I don't like to 
 think about it, Gilbert. I'm so happy now that I'm 
 only waiting. Perhaps — some time— God knows ! " 
 and tears routed the smiles on the volatile face. 
 
 "There! don't worry about it," said Gilbert. "He's 
 a jolly good fellow, anyhow, and we wouldn't be any 
 worse than a number of well-known personages of his- 
 tory if we let conscience succumb to the narcotizing 
 influence of his pieces of silver." 
 
 There was an unusual twinkle in the eyes of the 
 sober Gilbert, which provoked Elsie to say: "Go to, 
 thou reformer! What need hast thou of any man's 
 silver ? " 
 
 With Elsie's return home, her faculty for turning off 
 work, and her fund of good-humor, the circumference 
 of the Busy Fingers Club was constantly increasing. 
 
26o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Now that Gilbert was away so much, she took his 
 place at the bench on the Saturdays allotted to the 
 Club, and if she did not exhibit his dexterity in direct- 
 ing and executing work, she yet preserved order and 
 made fast friends of the boys under her charge. She 
 was so fertile in suggestion that a good many new 
 ideas took shape in inventive heads and found expres- 
 sion in beautiful and useful things in wood. " Some 
 day," said Elsie sagely, " we'll have a bazaar and sell 
 these things, and oh, won't we be rich! " 
 
 ''What'll we do with our money ? " cried the boys. 
 
 *' Put it in the bank until we can find some great 
 and glorious need for it." 
 
 ''Like buying me a bicycle!" shouted one of the 
 lads. 
 
 "And me a base-ball outfit ! " 
 
 ''And me a fiddle!" 
 
 "And me a musical top! " 
 
 "And me a white elephant!" cried Elsie. But the 
 laugh did not rout the idea of doing something in the 
 way of a bazaar. It spread among the girls and in- 
 cited them to renewed effort ; and it grew to be an 
 open secret in the neighborhood that in the glowing 
 but indefinite sometime, great things were to be 
 achieved by the now well-known Busy Fingers Club. 
 
 It was the last of November and Antoine had re- 
 turned from the hospital, able to walk with the aid of 
 one crutch and the promise of discarding that when 
 exercise and development had perfected the cure. 
 A happier woman than Lizzette Minaud seldom walked 
 the earth. All her dreams and anticipations of good 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 26 1 
 
 fortune seemed to be winging their way to realization. 
 Antoine was getting well ; for now that the lad had 
 been lifted to his full stature, the deformed shoulders 
 seemed to be straightening, the color came and went 
 in the once pale cheeks, and the laughter in his heart 
 made a constant music for her. 
 
 '* Oh, eet ees all von blessed Providence, mon Her- 
 beart," she cried as he sat at her right hand, the hon- 
 ored guest at the little banquet she had prepared at 
 Idlewild to welcome Antoine's hom.e-coming. '' Surely 
 le bon Dieu direct ze noble heart to help my boy, 
 and " 
 
 " Fall in love with Elsie," suggested Herbert, who 
 felt a little fearful of a lachrymose scene in which he 
 might be called upon to play actor. 
 
 ''Certainement! " laughed Lizzette. ''Eet ees ze 
 match made in heaven." 
 
 '* Occasional sulphurous fumes about it when I scold, 
 eh, Herbert?" cried Elsie. 
 
 " Oh, just enough as yet to light the flame of a 
 ready wit. Whether there'll ever be any greater com- 
 bustion remains to be seen." 
 
 "Well, I couldn't be any happier over it if I stood 
 in Herbert's place," ejaculated Antoine, which grave 
 announcement, in view of his twelve years of maturity, 
 was met with marked hilarity by the little circle. ''And 
 I'm sure," added Antoine, in no way abashed, " if Her- 
 bert is never blown up until Elsie lights the fuse he'll 
 walk the earth a good while; for I don't believe she 
 knows how to scold." 
 
 "Antoine, my lad, six months of seclusion have 
 
262 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 made you singularly trustful. Elsie has scolded me 
 ever since I knew her, and I've grown so used to it in 
 the last few weeks that I regard it in the light of a 
 tonic — like quinine or any other excellent bitter." 
 
 *'Antoine," said Elsie in a stage whisper, ''have you 
 noticed how improved in health and appearance our 
 mutual friend Mr. Lynn seems to be ? It is all the 
 result of the exercise induced by trying to ward off 
 some home truths I've been thrusting at him." 
 
 " Ze fumes of sulphur! " cried Lizzette. " I protest 
 zey rise no higher. I fear ze combustion." 
 
 "They are a somewhat singular pair of lovers," in- 
 terposed Margaret. '' It is a rare thing when they are 
 not sparring, but as they seem to enjoy it and Her- 
 bert has not yet asked for a body-guard, I seldom in- 
 terpose an objection." 
 
 " Which, in view of the young man's unprotected sit- 
 uation, is very considerate of you," said Elsie with a 
 defiant toss of her head, " It is my opinion, however, 
 that there are more entertaining themes than the pe- 
 culiarities of a couple of commonplace individuals. 
 Mr. Lynn, will you please give us a lecture on good 
 manners ? " 
 
 " I shall be most happy to do so when my audience 
 narrows to one listener." 
 
 ''And he is before the mirror," retorted Elsie. 
 
 "Hush!" said Antoine ; "stop that quarrelling! 
 I'm going to sing." And closing his eyes and crossing 
 his hands before him, he began to croon, in well-por- 
 trayed negro accent and intonation, the lines of a little 
 dialect song: 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 263 
 
 " De way is dark an' rough an' long, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 Doan't git too deep in de slew ob wrong, 
 Co slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 
 " Dey's cross-roads heah an' cross-roads dar, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 But hope is de sign-board shinin' like a star. 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 
 " Jes* keep a-joggin' tru' de san' an' clay, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 Dar's lub at de eend ob de "arthly way, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 
 " De eyes some time mighty full ob teahs, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 But lub is de lawd ob de slabe ob feahs, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 
 " So jes' keep smilin' in de face ob woe, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! 
 Dar's a happy Ian' whar de good shall go, 
 Go slow, hoi' hard, chillun ! " 
 
 The clear soprano voice rolled out the words and 
 notes with the abandon of his Ethiopian prototype, 
 and Elsie turned and laid an arm around the lad's 
 neck as she exclaimed : ''Antoine Minaud ! Where in 
 the world did you find that song ? " 
 
 ** In here," said Antoine, significantly tapping his 
 temple. 
 
 "An improvisator ! " cried Elsie ecstatically. *' Her- 
 bert, we're in the presence of genius." 
 
 " So I perceive. Where did you discover the fac- 
 ulty, Antoine ? " 
 
 ''At the hospital." 
 
 '* Can you improvise instantly ? " 
 
 " Give me a theme and see." 
 
264 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 "Well, take my lady's eyes," said Herbert with a 
 low bow to Elsie. 
 
 "Her nose rather! That would be more in keep- 
 ing," retorted Elsie. 
 
 "All right," laughed Antoine, and scarcely a mo- 
 ment later he was carolling a rollicking Irish jig to 
 words that seemed to follow the tune as if they had 
 been fitted with the utmost carefulness. 
 
 " My lady's nose — 
 
 You wouldn't suppose 
 A poet could rave about it, 
 
 But as it lies 
 
 Between her eyes, 
 She wouldn't look well without it ! 
 
 ' ' An ' ornery ' nose 
 
 Can smell a rose, 
 But hers has more to do, sir ! 
 
 It scornful tips 
 
 Above her lips, 
 At follies she finds in you, sir ! " 
 
 "Bravo, Antoine!" cried Elsie, jumping up and 
 bringing his violin. " Now play it." 
 
 And as the violin dashed into the abandon of the 
 melody, she grasped Gilbert by the shoulders and the 
 two went whirling off into a jig. 
 
 " That's inspiring," cried Herbert, catching up Liz- 
 zette and dashing after them. The dishes rattled, the 
 pictures shook, the stove trembled, the floors creaked, 
 but on they danced, madder and merrier as the violin 
 actually shrieked in glee, until Margaret cried aghast : 
 
 "Ho! 'Tom the Piper's Son!' Stop! Stop! I 
 beg. It is a veritable witches' dance." 
 
 " Come on, my solemn sister," and Elsie caught 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 265 
 
 Margaret around the waist and dragged her into the 
 merry scramble. 
 
 " My poor old bones! " cried Lizzette, sinking into a 
 chair. "Antoine's a necromancer! I almost grow 
 young again." The fiddle stopped, but only for a 
 moment, for by a sudden transition it swept away into 
 an old-time melody: 
 
 " Sleep on thy pillow, 
 Happy and light, 
 As the moon on the billow 
 Reposes at night." 
 
 The old fiddle seemed to have awakened to new life 
 under the touch of the new Antoine, and Herbert 
 could scarcely repress a glow of satisfaction as he 
 looked at the lad. "Specific kindness does vastly 
 more for the world than general good-will. If I might 
 be permitted to spend the better part of my income 
 on this little circle, I should feel that I had done enough 
 for humanity; but the worst part of it is, this little 
 circle has such exalted ideas of independence, and 
 Elsie— bless her and bother her!— shuts the door in 
 my face continually. I don't more than half like the 
 muddle, anyway! " 
 
 The winter wore away with but few radical changes. 
 Mrs. Mason's opposition to Herbert's marriage to 
 Elsie showed no diminution, and after numberless and 
 fruitless intercessions on his part he finally took up 
 his quarters at a hotel, and Mrs. Mason closed her 
 house and went to Europe. His sister's opposition 
 and Elsie's persistent refusal to marry him as long as 
 the present bitterness remained between them, kept 
 
266 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Herbert in a constant state of dissatisfaction. The 
 world was quite too much upside down with the con- 
 flict of ideas, and men no longer seemed to be per- 
 mitted to work out their own lines of happiness with 
 out treading on somebody's toes. Helen's sole 
 objection to Elsie had been the capacity in which she 
 had served them, and the consequent fear of society's 
 verdict. He didn't care a bit more for Helen's narrow 
 world, than he did for Elsie's quixotic schemes for a 
 regenerated humanity. He wanted simply to be happy 
 in his own way and according to his highest light. 
 Helen and Elsie had both called him selfish, and both 
 from opposite standpoints. As to the truth of their 
 judgments, he didn't care. He only knew that an over- 
 mastering love for Elsie as the sweetest-natured, most 
 piquant, and original woman he had ever met held 
 him fast in an irrevocable bondage, and but for an ob- 
 stinacy on Elsie's part, as settled as it was difficult to 
 understand, he would have cut the Gordian knot by an 
 immediate marriage and absolute defiance of Helen. 
 Lizzette had been right when she told Herbert he did 
 not know Elsie's nature. It was developing a faculty 
 for self-abnegation that alarmed him. There were 
 times when the sweetest and most sacred love shone 
 in her eyes, and the barriers of restraint were broken 
 down by the utmost sympathy of thought and feeling; 
 at others the spirit of a martyr looked out from their 
 translucent depths and an invisible yet conscious wall 
 seemed to separate them. Herbert trembled in vague 
 alarm whenever he encountered this look, lying but 
 thinly veiled beneath the mobile face. But with a 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 267 
 
 man's blindness he could not see that the love which 
 he arrogated to himself and which shut out the world 
 as of little moment, was only broadening her sympa- 
 thies and making divine revelations of its beauty and 
 value. Love with all its sacredness and possibilities, 
 holding close to the one dear image enshrined in the 
 holy of holies of her heart, had opened wide its door 
 to suffering mankind. So vividly burned the fire on 
 the altar of her love that she turned as if with out- 
 stretched arms, crying: " O ye who are cold and hun- 
 gry! Here ye will find warmth and shelter." 
 
 It is rarely that a man understands either the mo- 
 tive or development of a love like this, and he is quite 
 apt through ignorance or jealousy to quarrel with any 
 of its various manifestations. To Herbert many of 
 Elsie's ideas on the great and vexed social questions 
 of the day seemed the acme of absurdity, and he cher- 
 ished the fond hope that when she was once trans- 
 planted to regions of luxurious ease, they would die 
 from inanition. He looked upon them as the natural 
 outgrowth of a circumscribed horizon and constant 
 association with the seamy side of life. " When she 
 sees what art, science, culture, and wealth can do for 
 those she loves, her sympathies will not wander so far, 
 but will narrow down to an area wherein we can walk 
 hand in hand." 
 
 Thus Herbert often assured himself as he became 
 daily more conscious of the undercurrent of feeling 
 and belief that was gradually widening in her nature. 
 
 The winter had been an unusually long and severe 
 one, and the resources of the little family had often 
 
268 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 been severely taxed to keep the wolf from the door. 
 Herbert's alert eyes had discovered this fact, and he 
 had taken to leaving sundry packages of groceries and 
 provisions of various kinds in the most unheard-of 
 places, trusting to time to discover them and good 
 sense to appropriate and say nothing Margaret had 
 found them stuffed under the cushions of the chairs, 
 behind pictures, tucked under the book-rack, and im- 
 pelled by a need sharper than even Elsie had guessed, 
 since into Margaret's hands had been transferred the 
 domestic machinery, had, as Herbert hoped, used them 
 without inquiry. " It is one of God's balances," she 
 said to herself, '' that may one day even up. It is a 
 delicate and generous act for which I can onlv be 
 thankful and keep silent." 
 
 To Gilbert the winter had been a revelation of suf- 
 fering and vice that had only stirred deeper the pool 
 of the living faith within his heart. In his vocation 
 as peddler he had found access to much of the hidden 
 life of poverty and crime which escapes even the most 
 far-sighted general observers. Wherever he had been 
 able to pierce the strata of callousness Avhich the sever- 
 est forms of poverty invariably create, he had found 
 the same helpless appeal that has for so many genera- 
 tions sounded dov/n the aisles of time — give us some- 
 thing to hope for, believe in, trust in ! Something 
 palpable that we can touch, feel, and know. Inquiry as 
 to churches surrounding them usually elicited a shrug 
 of the shoulders and the reply : " They are not for such 
 as me. If I dares to go, they talks about a far-off 
 God that I doesn't understand, and hitches their fine 
 clothes away from me as if my rags would pisen 'em! " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY 269 
 
 The more that Gilbert came to know the impulses 
 stirring in these benumbed hearts, the more he and 
 Margaret felt the need of establishing a ground of inter- 
 communication between them. To be able to meet 
 these wretched mortals upon their own plane and lead 
 them along, by paths they could understand, up to the 
 great truths of time and eternity, and to make palpa- 
 ble to them that God's love is not a mere abstraction, 
 but a revivifying, humanizing influence— what dearer 
 work could one ask? And yet how was it possible in 
 their straightened circumstances to make even a be- 
 ginning of this work? Elsie's fertility of resource 
 solved the problem. 
 
 '' Make the Busy Fingers Club a factor in the case. 
 Let them hold their long-talked-of bazaar, rent the 
 necessary room, and christen the project ' The Chil- 
 dren's Home Meeting.' Then let Gilbert go among 
 his poor, tell them of the wonderful violinist and im- 
 provisator, Antoine Minaud, and promise them a 
 free concert on some Sunday night. After the con- 
 cert, have a few moments for social intercourse, in 
 which all four of the principal instigators and abet- 
 tors in the scheme endeavor to make the acquaintance 
 of those in the room, and then let Gilbert or Margaret 
 give them a few— only a few— of the simple truths of 
 every-day living and learning. It is a very simple be- 
 ginning," added Elsie dubiously. 
 
 ''And for that reason the best," said Margaret de- 
 cidedly. 
 
 The members of the little club were enthusiastic 
 abettors of the scheme as outlined to them by Mar- 
 
270 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 garet and Elsie. The name which Elsie had so hap- 
 pily bestowed upon the project instantly won upon 
 their regard and made them noisy advertisers of their 
 work throughout the neighborhood. The rooms of a 
 member occupying the lower floor of the tenement- 
 house were secured for the use of the bazaar, and 
 what audience the handiwork of the little folks did 
 not attract, the music of Antoine's violin succeeded in 
 catching and holding. Altogether the bazaar was 
 pronounced a success by its delighted originators, and 
 at its close there was money enough to pay the rent 
 of the hall for one night and possibly two. Then 
 came the work of training the children for the concert. 
 Elsie took especial care that every song should breathe 
 the tenderness, the mercy, the helpfulness of divine 
 love, and the sweet, clear voices of the children, trained 
 to the subtile sympathy of expression by her innate 
 appreciation, made many of the songs long to be re- 
 membered. 
 
 It was a curious and motley throng that assem- 
 bled in the hall one Sunday night in response to Gil- 
 bert's invitation, as he stood at the door and took 
 every comer by the hand. Women with shawls over 
 their heads, with babies asleep on their breasts, men 
 with hats pulled low over eyes that cast furtive glances 
 of unrest and suspicion, brazen-faced and gaudily- 
 dressed creatures with their calling stamped upon their 
 countenances, ragged and barefooted children, pale- 
 faced and distorted cripples, came slowly and half- 
 reluctantly into the room. It was something so new, 
 so unlike anything they had ever been offered, that 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 2/ 1 
 
 they were more than half afraid it was a trap, and 
 that it would end in their being preached at, told how 
 vile they were, and warned to flee from the wrath of 
 an angry and a jealous God. They had heard these 
 words so many times and had felt, deep within dis- 
 quieted and tumultuous bosoms, the wide gulf between 
 the prosperous promulgators of the church and their 
 own degraded and unhappy condition. Yet somehow 
 they all trusted Gilbert ; there was something in the 
 clear, earnest, boyish face that won the most suspi- 
 cious nature, and it was because they had felt that he 
 was truly their friend that they had ventured to come. 
 The hall was a barren, smoke-begrimed, illy-ventilated 
 room, but Elsie and the children had made what effort 
 they could with meagreness of material to brighten it 
 up. Above the platform, where stood Elsie's organ 
 and where the semicircle of children was ranged, 
 those in the audience who could read beheld in large 
 letters, '' Whatsoever ye would that men should do to 
 you, do ye even so unto them." Over the windows 
 hung gay cotton banners bearing such inscriptions as 
 *' Love is lord of all." '*A cup of cold water to the 
 thirsty." "A kind word maketh the heart glad." ''A 
 true heart is one of earth's jewels." *'A little child 
 shall lead them." 
 
 Antoine's violin caught the inspiration of the hour 
 and spoke in almost human tones the pathos, the 
 prayer, and the hope of each bosom. The airs were 
 those of simple, well-known hymns, many of them so 
 familiar as to be almost household words, and when 
 in response to Gilbert's invitation the audience arose 
 
2^2 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 and sang the choruses, there were not many lips that 
 remained motionless. They had doubtless heretofore 
 been hummed many times by the same careless, un- 
 thinking voices; now they seemed to strike deep into 
 some inner fibre of feeling, and many a furtive tear 
 rolled from beneath quivering and down-cast lashes. 
 The children sang, as Elsie declared, '' like little 
 angels;" but the crowning event of the evening was 
 Antoine's improvisation. Advancing to the center of 
 the platform on his one crutch, he began in a low, 
 plaintive, and touchingly-sweet voice: 
 
 " My heart is sair wi' muckle woe, 
 
 God knows! God knows! 
 
 I ken nae mair the way to go, 
 
 God knows ! 
 
 " My feet are cut, my shoon are gane, 
 God knows! God knows! 
 And every step is hurt wi' pain, 
 
 God knows ! 
 
 ** Nae light is roun' aboot my way, 
 God knows! God knows! 
 I canna see the sun of day, . . 
 
 God knows ! 
 
 I faint and fall in sairest need, 
 
 God knows! God knows! 
 And men go by wi' little heed, 
 
 God knows ! 
 
 " Sae little costs the kindly word, 
 
 God knows ! God knows ! 
 
 Sae sad it is sae seldom heard, 
 
 God knows ! 
 
 " Sae bitter is the thirsting lip, 
 God knows! God knows! 
 Some time mayhap love's cup we'll sip, 
 God knows ! " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 273 
 
 Before Antoine had finished, men and women were 
 
 rocking back and forth and sobbing like children, and 
 
 when the last strains of the song died away, it seemed 
 
 minutes before any one spoke, and then a woman, who an 
 
 hour before had entered the room with a brazen face and 
 
 a foul-mouthed ejaculation, cried out in heart-broken 
 
 tones: '' Oh, sing it again— God knows! God knows! '* 
 
 Softly, as if taken up and echoed by angel voices, 
 
 Antoine sang once more the last stanza, and before 
 
 the lingering notes were lost on the air, he was at the 
 
 woman's side clasping her hand in his. 
 
 Instantly Gilbert, with Margaret and Elsie on either 
 
 side and Lizzette and the children following, left the 
 
 platform to mingle with and take the hands of those 
 
 present. They passed among them with words of 
 
 cheer and good-will, and when order was again called, 
 
 there was an unmistakable look of eager expectancy 
 
 upon the faces that was balm to the watchful eyes of 
 
 Margaret and Gilbert. Advancing to the front of the 
 
 platform, the latter said simply: 
 
 " My friends: I am glad you trusted me sufficiently 
 
 to come here to-night. We hope to have many more 
 
 such nights together, and I only ask you in going away 
 
 to remember that, sad as is the pathway of life for 
 
 many of us, there is light ahead. The soul of man 
 
 through which God seeks to work the salvation of the 
 
 world is not dead but sleepeth. Slowly it is awaking, 
 
 and love that abides in the world shall some time teach 
 
 men that its universal practice must be "Whatsoever 
 
 ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so 
 
 unto them.' " 
 18 
 
2/4 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 As the winter grew into early spring, the fame of 
 the Children's Home Meetings spread so rapidly that a 
 larger audience-room became an imperative necessity. 
 The churches began to inquire into the matter, and 
 Margaret and Gilbert were beset with questions as to 
 their creed and purpose. To all such they gave an- 
 swer, " Our only creed is love, and our only purpose 
 to help each other." 
 
 "Too vague and indefinite; the structure will fall 
 for lack of proper support. You ought at least to 
 have a set of rules." 
 
 "So we have," replied Margaret, "but they spring 
 from the need of the hour. We have order at our 
 meetings because even disorderly natures find that to 
 keep the peace best subserves the interest they feel in 
 the all-pervading friendship we are seeking to estab- 
 lish. Beyond this we keep in sight, although not ob- 
 trusively, the axiom, if such it may be called, that the 
 interest of one is the interest of all, and transversely, 
 that the interest of all is the interest of one. When 
 these simple truths have become the bone and sinew 
 of belief and practice, then we may go a few steps 
 farther as the way opens and light dawms." 
 
 "You must have an ultimate line of procedure 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 2/5 
 
 marked out— some plan as to its religious aspect, have 
 you not ? " 
 
 '' We teach no so-called system of theology. Since 
 atheists, infidels, deists, and trinitarians all meet upon 
 the common ground that the civilized world has never 
 beheld a grander epitome of what is called ' living ' 
 than that afforded by Jesus of Nazareth, we are con- 
 tent to forego modern complications of creeds and 
 isms and establish among ourselves the fundamental 
 truths taught by Jesus and, better yet, practised by 
 Him. In doing this we think we shall better both 
 man's desires and surroundings. This idea, carried to 
 its logical conclusion, is so far-reaching that inequali- 
 ties of opportunity will fall away as if by magic and 
 the now unceasing mutterings of discontent and strife 
 will be one day relegated to a past age of unconscion- 
 able greed and injustice." 
 
 " The church has been striving to accomplish this 
 for eighteen hundred years. How can you expect, 
 with no trained organization, to reach so beatific a 
 state of society ? " 
 
 " Because we shall not do as the church does and 
 partition the goats from the sheep. We shall practice 
 no exclusion, no worship of mammon, and shall ac- 
 knowledge no caste except that of heart and brain. 
 Personally I do not look beyond the good of the pres- 
 ent hour; if that is rightfully spent the future will take 
 care of itself. Indeed, our effort is much like guiding 
 the first steps of the child ; development must come 
 with years and growth." 
 
 " Well, you have a good motive and are an earnest 
 
2/6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 advocate. We shall watch your progress with interest 
 and wish you God-speed." 
 
 These words were but a type of the interest the 
 movement aroused among cultured and progressive 
 thinkers who came to watch and listen and went away 
 to ponder. Margaret and Gilbert, ever watchful of 
 the trend of current thought, smiled hopefully at each 
 other when, in the columns of their daily paper, they 
 read the announcement of sermons on such topics as 
 "The Era of Religious Harmony: What Signs of its 
 Approach ? What can we do to Hasten it ? ' " The 
 Co-operative Principle in Morals." " The Ethics of 
 the Eieht-hour Movement." " Religious Commu- 
 
 nism." 
 
 " The way is clearing for us," said Margaret eagerly. 
 *' Thought is awake and we are only followers in the 
 march of progress; we are not even forerunners." 
 
 "And yet we are looked upon with suspicion by a 
 great many well-meaning people. The conservative 
 element in the church regards our ideas as subversive 
 and dangerous." 
 
 " So thought the money-changers in the temple when 
 Jesus drove them out. What are we attempting to 
 do, indeed, but re-establish the line of faith on which 
 the church has built itself ? And if in doing this we 
 brush some of our plebeian, homespun ideas against a 
 shocked silken-coated aristocratic culture, we may ad- 
 vance the price of homespun in the market, if nothing 
 more. I am not afraid for our cause, since it is iden- 
 tical with everlasting truth." 
 
 "Yes, and walks hand in hand with the heart-hun- 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 2// 
 
 gry and soul-begging mortal ! Margaret, every time 
 I stretch out my hand to one who has need of a 
 friend, I feel that the grandeur of that Life which is 
 enthroned in my conscience and teaches me to aspire 
 to the highest development, is something infinitely 
 greater than the same truth could have been as a mere 
 abstraction. Jesus, the Nazarene, a man among men, 
 makes possible all that is highest in human endeavor. 
 A philosophy as old as the earliest time and as funda- 
 mentally true as God himself, that * Nobility arises 
 from individual virtue and not from Abraham's blood,' 
 and which Jesus made so potent when He walked the 
 earth, needs now, as then, apostles who fear not to 
 preach the truth. It underlies in all its simplicity 
 every system of religion and statecraft, and yet it is 
 ignored, brow-beaten, trampled under foot, and sneered 
 at by those who seek power at the expense of all that 
 is noblest in man. Oh, had I a thousand tongues I 
 could not hurl these old truths at the world fast 
 enough! " 
 
 Flushed and tremulous with feeling, Gilbert walked 
 up arid down the room, pouring out the flood of ideas 
 which his work called into activity. 
 
 " Social well-being, industrial thrift, active con- 
 sciences — let us place these in the corner-stone of the 
 new structure. Religion has been ' set apart * too 
 long; so long, indeed, that within its doors have crept 
 the monsters of greed, gold-worship, and place-hunt- 
 ing, until its higher and holier meanings have been 
 well-nigh crowded out. What, indeed, does man want 
 of a religion that does not permeate every hope, de- 
 
2/8 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 sire, and action of life ? We must bring it down from 
 its idealized height and make it common as the air we 
 breathe and the bread we eat. Then indeed may man, 
 glancing upward, behold the dawn of a new and hap- 
 pier day I " 
 
 It was a day or two later that Herbert and Elsie 
 were at the organ trying a new piece of music, which 
 accidentally slipping from its rack fell behind the organ 
 as it stood diagonally across the room. In rolling the 
 organ out Elsie discovered a market basket full of 
 groceries hidden in the corner. 
 
 " Where in the world did that basket come from, and 
 what a strange place to put it I " cried Elsie in amaze- 
 m.ent. As she glanced at Herbert his flushed, uneasy 
 face told the whole story. 
 
 " I am exceedingly obliged to your estimate of us as 
 objects of charity! " she exclaimed, placing the basket 
 in the middle of the room, and standing over it with 
 the air of a queen of tragedy. 
 
 Herbert could not forbear a laugh, and there was 
 a trifle of malice in the tone with which he said : " It 
 seems to me there is a striking conflict of ideas be- 
 tween the democracy you preach and practice at the 
 Children's Home Meetings I hear so much about, and 
 the aristocracy of pride you practice at home and 
 toward those whom you ought to trust." 
 
 Elsie winced under the home thrust, and with the 
 quickness with which she could judge herself, answered 
 contritely: " I know I am proud, Herbert; but I think 
 it is an honorable pride. At least so I have always 
 considered pride of character, and it always <^2^ hurt 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 279 
 
 when anything struck at my independence. It isn't as 
 if I were sick, or incapable, or " 
 
 " Exhibited a proper humility of spirit, instead of an 
 obstinate and irritating pride," interrupted Herbert. 
 
 **Am I irritating?" asked Elsie simply. *' In what 
 way ? " 
 
 " In ever so many ways/' answered Herbert, evi- 
 dently bent on fault-finding. '^ I seem to count but a 
 cipher in your estimation beside some of these over- 
 mastering ideas of yours. If I exhibit a generous mo- 
 tive toward you, you smother it " 
 
 '' In kisses," she cried, throwing her arms around his 
 neck and proceeding to stop further explanation. 
 " Herbert Lynn," she added, drawing a long breath 
 after the bit of violent exercise above recorded, "you're 
 a most ungrateful man ! Now don't bluster, for it 
 won't do one bit of good. I'm going to tell you some- 
 thing new. I love you more than any man in the 
 world — that is, any I've met so far! Keep still! and 
 I'm going to do an exceedingly generous action; I'm 
 going to keep the groceries, and drop you a courtesy 
 of the properly humble kind, and say, * Thank you 
 
 kindly, sir ! May heaven's blessings shower ' Why, 
 
 what is the matter ? You won't even wait for the 
 proper ending of the performance." 
 
 Herbert shook himself loose from her detaining arm 
 and walked to the window with a highly-ofTended air. 
 
 The laugh on Elsie's lips and in her eyes died away, 
 and after a moment's pondering she followed him and 
 said penitently: " Forgive me, Herbert; you know I 
 love you more than " 
 
28o A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 *' What ? " asked Herbert suspiciously. 
 
 '' Money," said Elsie sententiously. 
 
 *'Bah!" exclaimed Herbert, angrily. 
 
 '' Be calm, my friend ! Now look me squarely in the 
 eyes and behold your image reflected there as — I'm in 
 earnest now — truly it is engraven on my heart, never 
 to be erased as long as I live." 
 
 Herbert's reply was that speech of silence so elo- 
 quent to the ears of all lovers, and for the time being 
 it bridged over the tide of their differences. 
 
 " Herbert," said Elsie, when the silence had been 
 effectively disposed of, *' why do you never come to the 
 Children's Home Meetings ? " 
 
 " In the first place, because I've never been asked, 
 and in the second place, I'm not altogether in sym- 
 pathy with the movement." 
 
 A sudden pang shot through Elsie's heart. '' Please 
 explain," she said quietly. 
 
 ** Well, probably my reasons are selfish awd personal. 
 I believe you know that I am somewhat generous at 
 heart, that I am in the main humanity's well-wisher, 
 and that I am ever ready to relieve a specific case of 
 distress ; but I do not feel as if I wanted the girl who 
 is to be my wife hand in glove with the riff-raff of 
 society." 
 
 " The riff-raff of society ! " repeated Elsie wonder- 
 ingly. ''Who are they? How am I hand in glove 
 with them ? " 
 
 ''Well, from what I hear," answered Herbert uneas- 
 ily, " you not only talk the gospel of love in its broad- 
 est sense to women of the vilest stamp, but you take 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 28 1 
 
 their hands when it is pollution to touch them, you sit 
 beside them and try to teach them truths they are too 
 dulled and besotted to learn, and while you are, I must 
 admit, an angel of light, you are but a mock for their vile 
 tongues, and make, I fear, only questionable progress." 
 
 "Go on," said Elsie faintly as Herbert paused. 
 
 " There is a spirit of unrest and dissatisfaction abroad 
 which I think your efforts will do much to incite in- 
 stead of quell. I do not question your motives, but 
 I do question your methods. Let them alone, Elsie, 
 darling, and be content to shine at the hearth-stone of 
 those who love you. Intensify your light for me, in- 
 stead of diffusing it until it is as thin and almost as 
 cold as moonshine." 
 
 There was no fire of playful fancy in the eyes that 
 met Herbert's as Elsie raised her head from his 
 shoulder. He started as he saw the dull, cold hope- 
 lessness beneath the heavily-fringed eyelids. 
 
 "O Herbert! Herbert!" she cried despairingly. 
 ''Why do you ask this? Why did you ever learn to 
 love me ? I told you it was a mistake! I am one of 
 these common people whom you despise. I can no 
 more shut out my aspirations, hopes, dreams, and 
 efforts for them than I can cut off my right hand. I 
 have fed on these thoughts until they have become 
 bone and sinew. You knew us, you knew our methods 
 — why, oh, why did you learn to love me ? " 
 
 " For the very reason that you are not one of the 
 common people. I have, I think, told you several 
 times before that I am not so blind I cannot tell a 
 jewel regardless of its environment. I loved you de- 
 
282 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 Spite education, surroundings, social pride, everything. 
 I swept away every obstacle to call you mine, and I 
 care nothing for the world's verdict. I only want you 
 for myself, queen of my heart and home, adored as Its 
 sovereign light, surrounded by all that the eye delights 
 in or the heart can ask." 
 
 '' No, not all," said Elsie quietly. 
 
 "What else?" asked Herbert eagerly. "You shall 
 have everything that love or wealth can procure." 
 
 " Can they buy a quiet conscience ? " 
 
 Herbert shrank back. " I think you exaggerate the 
 matter," he said hastily. " I cannot see that the con- 
 science is called into question." 
 
 " I can," said Elsie decidedly. " I had a heritage 
 left me, here," and she placed her hand upon her breast 
 as she spoke, " and daily and hourly It tells me that if 
 I selfishly lock up my God-given sympathies and turn 
 away from the Impulses of my better nature, I am 
 committing a crime whose punishment is no less 
 severe because eternity shall judge It." 
 
 " Elsie ! Elsie ! " cried Herbert, awed Into a great fear 
 by the solemnity of her words, "you shall be the 
 dispenser of charity as bounteous as you desire." 
 
 "And yet be forbidden to soil my hands by contact 
 with poverty or crime. No, we have too much of that 
 sort of charity already. Besides, do you not see, Her- 
 bert, that there could be no happiness for us holding 
 such opposite views as we do ? Marriage Is too holy 
 to admit a division of sentiment and endeavor between 
 husband and wife. Ah, T have been so weak to per- 
 mit a love that I knew could only bring disaster ! " 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 283 
 
 *' It is only a few moments ago that you assured 
 me you loved me for all time." 
 
 "I do." 
 
 ''And yet you can throw me over for a disordered 
 society that never will appreciate an iota of your sac- 
 rifice." 
 
 *' You are mistaken ! The sacrifice appeases a deeper 
 and holier feeling." 
 
 '' You have a very strange way of reasoning, it seems 
 to me," said Herbert bitterly. ''You rob Peter to 
 pay Paul with surprising alacrity." 
 
 The look that Elsie turned upon him was so filled 
 with agony that he cried remorsefully as he caught 
 her hand and endeavored to draw her toward him : 
 " Forgive me, Elsie, darling! I am not worthy of your 
 love, I know; but I hunger so for it — I can't give it 
 up ! " 
 
 Elsie drew back with the despairing cry, "We are 
 so wide apart, Herbert." 
 
 "We needn't be if you would trust more to me and 
 less to that hypersensitive soul of yours." 
 
 A look of scorn not usual to Elsie's face met Her- 
 bert's appealing gaze. She rose to her feet and stood 
 stiffly before him. 
 
 "You are centuries too late. My hypersensitive 
 soul has a right to its own distinct existence. Your 
 prescience should have told you how little I could strike 
 palms with you in utter self-annihilation." 
 
 A faint smile crossed Herbert's face at Elsie's gran- 
 diloquent words and air, but it died quickly away as 
 she swept haughtily from the room and would not 
 
284 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 come back, though he called her repeatedly. Angrily 
 he snatched his hat and left the house. Abused, in- 
 sulted, hurt, misunderstood, he felt himself to be, and 
 the more he reviewed the situation the more he felt 
 that Elsie's obstinacy, as he termed it, had raised an 
 impassible barrier between them. Still his heart would 
 not be stifled, and it was not till after dispatching a 
 note to her and despairingly reading her answer — that 
 marriage between people so distinctly at variance could 
 never bring happiness — that he wholly lost hope. It 
 was but the work of a few hours to make arrange- 
 ments to join his sister abroad. At the last moment 
 he dispatched a note to Elsie containing these words: 
 '' I have placed the sum of five thousand dollars in the 
 
 C National Bank, subject to your call. If you 
 
 love me as devotedly as I can assure you I shall ever 
 cherish your memory, you cannot do less than make me 
 happy by using it. You owe me this small recom- 
 pense for the suffering that will be mine to the day of 
 my death." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. ' 285 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 To Margaret alone Elsie opened the flood-gates of 
 her heart, and it was only after days of overwhelming 
 grief that she could again take up the burden of life. 
 Margaret's tears of sisterly sympathy and words of 
 counsel could not at first still the torrent of heart- 
 broken tears with which she mourned her lost love. 
 Not even Herbert had known how precious it had been 
 to her — how everything high and holy had seemed to 
 be the offspring of that vitalizing force in her heart. 
 Now, because having lived up to its highest revela- 
 tions and endeavored to be true to its holiest pur- 
 poses, she had crossed a counter-current of thought 
 and will, this love had been taken from her. Had she 
 been wrong, opinionated, obstinate, as Herbert called 
 her ? Had she forgotten the sweet submission of the 
 weaker unto the stronger in that natural order of di- 
 vine and human love which popular clamor voices as 
 the proper sphere of woman ? Often as she asked her- 
 self these questions — and with the not unnatural hope 
 of finding herself in the wrong, since her heart prompted 
 the slave-like humility of a perfect love— just so often 
 conscience answered, ''No!" Stronger still, as she 
 reasoned, grew the feeling that her soul had a right to 
 its ovv'n individuality, and that whatever it cost her, 
 she had no right to bind its wings, even though the 
 
286 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 fetters were silken and lightly held by the hand of 
 love. Neither Margaret, Lizzette, Antoine, nor Gilbert 
 dared offer a verbal sympathy to the sore heart behind 
 the white, set face that confronted them when Elsie 
 had fought her battle alone. The sparkle was irre- 
 trievably gone from the dark eyes, and the curved lips 
 drooped pitifully at times; but in all the earnestness 
 of purpose, the kindliness of spirit, she was still the 
 same Elsie. 
 
 The work of the Children's Home Meetings grew 
 almost hourly under her efforts; for now that she had 
 sacrificed her heart on the altar of this work, she meant 
 to make the sacrifice acceptable in its good results. 
 Every hour that she and Margaret could snatch from 
 the demands of their daily work, they spent in forming 
 what they called '' Conscience Classes." The system of 
 ethics taught was as simple as the minds with which 
 they came in contact, and bore the stamp of the ever- 
 living truth. The magnetic presence of the four chief 
 workers grew to be a living delight to all who came 
 from motives of curiosity or interest within its circle. 
 Beginning at first only with what Herbert had been 
 pleased to term ''the riff-raff of society," the circum- 
 ference of the circle had gradually widened until a 
 better-educated and more self-respecting class had 
 found its way among them. Yet even with intelli- 
 gence gaining upon them, the one great need of basing 
 all reform, all happiness, all prosperity upon the code 
 of ethics which, while it demands the highest develop- 
 ment of the individual, yet takes its inspiration from 
 the thought of a common welfare, was never lost sight 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 28/ 
 
 of. Earnestness is the great lever of the world, and 
 while there were many to oppose the idea as of dis- 
 proportionate value to the need and development of 
 the times, the effort still found many adherents. To 
 be called cranks, laughed at by unbelievers, and de- 
 rided by the class for which nothing is holy but suc- 
 cess, came to be, as Elsie said, " normal as the air they 
 breathed ; " but after the first sharp sting these shafts 
 remained unnoticed, and the one or two perishing 
 ones uplifted, helped into the light and warmed by 
 the sunshine of human kindliness into a knowledge of 
 the great inspirer of their work, was balm enough to 
 heal all the wounds of a scoffing world. 
 
 Margaret had also formed a Mother's Class, in which 
 everything pertaining to motherhood and its duties, 
 was thoughtfully discussed. This class came in time 
 to be presided over by Mrs. Carson, who, partially re- 
 covered, found no greater delight than in seconding 
 the good work which had saved her in her hour of 
 need. The Daughters of the Carpenter was a class 
 headed by Elsie and especially devoted to helpfulness 
 wherever it was needed. A list of the regular at- 
 tendants of the meeting was kept, and if a mother was 
 found to be sick or overworked, some one of the 
 Daughters was appointed to render the needed assist- 
 ance. Among the men and elder boys Gilbert formed 
 a reading class, in which history and the science of 
 government were brought down to the comprehension 
 of the illiterate, and men were shown that if they were 
 dissatisfied with existing social conditions, the remedy 
 lay in their own hands in a rightful use of the ballot, 
 
288 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 and that if they sold that ballot to a ring or combina- 
 tion they only forged new links in the chains that 
 bound them to a slavery against which they were con- 
 stantly rebelling. Nor were the children forgotten in 
 this work. Every original " Busy Fingers " boy and 
 girl had a new class, in which were resown the good 
 seeds implanted by Margaret and Gilbert. Thought 
 and action were growing slowly but surely in the little 
 community; but already a serious question was con- 
 fronting them. The rental of the hall had easily been 
 effected by the subscription of a few cents from every 
 regular attendant ; but the work, especially among the 
 mothers' and children's classes, required money to pros- 
 ecute it. They were all poor, living from hand to 
 mouth, and while the work was growing there was no 
 money to help the growth. 
 
 '' O Margaret," moaned Elsie, ''if the money Her- 
 bert left me had only been left to our beloved work, 
 how gladly I would use it ! Now, knowing how he 
 feels about it, I can never touch it." 
 
 It was nearing midsummer, and the work among 
 their members was increasing fast, by reason of sick- 
 ness brought on by living in noisome atmospheres and 
 without proper food and care. Gilbert had come 
 home from his daily rounds one evening, the most of 
 his cases unsold, and with an unusual dejection of face 
 and manner. 
 
 " I am comfortless," he said, " for lack of the dross 
 of earth. I have seen such realization of human suf- 
 fering to-day without the power to alleviate that I am 
 in despair. I gained admittance to one room, where 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 289 
 
 a mother and her new-born babe lay dead for lack of 
 care, while a couple of little ones were begging her to 
 give them something to eat. I had but ten cents in 
 my pocket that I had saved for street car-fare ; but I 
 rushed out, got the children some buns, and aroused 
 the other inmates of the house, who were themselves 
 too poor to do more than care for the children tem- 
 porarily, while I called in the authorities and had the 
 body disposed of in the potter's field. How are we 
 going to make this work of ours reach such cases vvith- 
 out money ? I shall have to go begging to-morrow. 
 I had hoped that our work would so speak for itself 
 that we would not need to beg; but to-morrow I must 
 endeavor to start a fund of some kind." 
 
 As Gilbert ceased speaking, the open door was 
 darkened by the form of a tall, handsome woman 
 dressed in deep mourning, whom Elsie at once recog- 
 nized as Alice Houghton. She turned with out- 
 stretched hand to Elsie. ''There is no need of intro- 
 ducing myself to you," she said, smiling, "but as I 
 came to see your sister, will you make me known to 
 her, and your brother also ? " 
 
 The introductions over, Miss Houghton at once en- 
 tered upon the object of her visit. '' I have come to 
 you, Miss Murchison, for help. I have recently been 
 sadly bereaved in the loss of one I loved, and life has 
 very nearly lost its charms for me. I have been hear- 
 ing a good deal of your work lately, and I want you 
 to teach me to find forgetfulness in what is evidently 
 very great happiness to you." 
 
 " Do you mean that you wish to become one of us ? " 
 19 
 
290 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 '' That is my meaning. I shall gladly be your ser 
 vant in any work you may have for me." 
 
 '* To have a servant would be something new in my 
 experience," said Margaret, smiling; "but we shall all 
 be glad of help. Have you any knowledge of our 
 work ? It is not agreeable only from one standpoint. 
 There isn't the least aestheticism, superficially speak- 
 ing, about it." 
 
 " I do not believe I shall be afraid to try it. I know 
 you three alone, unaided, without money or friends, 
 have been doing a work that is already forcing its way 
 into notice by reason of its unselfishness. I have 
 money, much beyond my needs, and as I learn of the 
 help you have given to many sufferers, I feel sure that 
 I can abet your efforts, with money if not judgment." 
 
 Elsie sprang from her chair and impulsively held out 
 her hand to Miss Houghton. " We have such need of 
 money," she cried, " and you seem like a providence of 
 God." 
 
 ''You are more willing to accept money from me 
 now than you were once before," laughed Miss Hough- 
 ton." 
 
 ''That was unearned; this is for the bettering of 
 God's poor." 
 
 " Your pride struck me as strange then. I under- 
 stand it better now." 
 
 " And appreciate its motive, I hope," said Elsie wist- 
 fully. 
 
 " Indeed I do, my dear child ; and if the pride of the 
 world had a similar foundation there would not be 
 such a war of caste as afflicts society to-day." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 29 1 
 
 Fearful from Elsie's flushed face and her knowledge 
 of Helen Mason's opposition to Herbert's marriage 
 that in her last words she had unwittingly trenched 
 upon delicate ground, she slipped an arm around Elsie's 
 waist, saying : " Tell me, my dear, why did you send 
 Herbert away ? " 
 
 It was a difificult matter for Elsie to summon self- 
 command enough to reply; but with a face from which 
 the color quickly receded she faltered: "We differed 
 so much in our views that there was no reconciling 
 them." 
 
 "Then Helen was not wholly responsible?" 
 
 " No, she was not responsible at all. Mr. Lynn's 
 education and mine had been from such widely-differ- 
 ent standpoints that the wonder is our ideas ever 
 came into conflict. It has always been a mystery to 
 me why Mr. Lynn ever chose to think — '- — " 
 
 " It is a wonder," interrupted Alice Houghton dryly 
 as she bent down and kissed Elsie's cheek. " I 
 wouldn't mourn, my dear, for a man vvdio couldn't 
 pocket a fev/ whims to make me happy." 
 
 " But you don't know," said Elsie seriously; " it was 
 no whim on my part, for I seemed to belong here to 
 this work. I could not give it up and be happy." 
 
 " Ah, well, Herbert Lynn has lost the best of his life, 
 and yet it is only a few months ago that I looked 
 through his spectacles. It is strange how contact with 
 sorrow opens our eyes to the true value of qualities 
 we did not notice before. Elsie, you must let me work 
 beside you, under the guidance of this wise sister of 
 yours, and try to find the same peace you are seeking. 
 
292 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 We seem to have met here from widely-different paths. 
 I gave up all for love — you, dear child, gave up love 
 for all humanity, and now we join hands in the same 
 search for the peace that passeth understanding. Will 
 you show me the way, my little girl ? " 
 
 It needed no words from Elsie, Margaret, or Gil- 
 bert to prove how heartily and gladly they welcomed 
 the proffered aid, even as they strove to recompense 
 in some measure the faltering and hungering spirit of 
 their benefactress. With intuitive quickness she be- 
 came one of them in the earnestness of her efforts, and 
 the line of distinction so often made apparent in the 
 manner of those who seek the welfare of the oppressed 
 was entirely absent. Side by side with Margaret and 
 Elsie she walked among that class of women whose 
 hands Herbert had said it was pollution to touch; but 
 when she saw the glow of appreciation lighting up the 
 dulled, imbruted faces, and heard the wails of peni- 
 tence from sore hearts, and the promises to gather up 
 the remnants of shattered lives and dedicate them 
 henceforth to righteous living, she felt something of 
 the joy of the Master who thought it no disgrace to 
 eat with publicans and sinners. She was not long in 
 following Gilbert from door to door and inspecting 
 the homes where, Gilbert said, a self-respecting man 
 would be ashamed to house his cattle. The absolute 
 disregard of sanitation in many of these herding places 
 — for they were little else — shamed with a burning 
 blush the boasted nineteenth-century civilization. The 
 names of the owners of these tenement hovels were 
 listed by Alice Houghton and found in the majority 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 293 
 
 of cases to be those of men of wealth and prom- 
 inence in the community, who never gave any thought 
 to their property except as regarded its monthly in- 
 come. Ordering her carriage and horses and dressing 
 herself in her finest raiment, Alice presented herself 
 at the doors of these men. Without any preliminaries 
 she told them of her discoveries, the deplorable con- 
 dition of their tenants, and begged that something be 
 done to improve their condition. Her handsome pres- 
 ence, her dress, equipage, all bespeaking her a person 
 of consequence, she met with the usual courtesy which 
 such externals command ; but in the majority of cases 
 she was listened to with that air of constraint beto- 
 kened by elevated eyebrows and idly drumming fingers. 
 More than once she was given to understand, some- 
 times broadly and sometimes indirectly, that she might 
 better be minding her own business. For all such she 
 had a parting shot in saying: '' I am preparing for pub- 
 lication in the city press a series of articles on the con- 
 dition of our poor. I really hope, sir, I shall not be 
 compelled to include your name in the list of inhuman 
 landlords." 
 
 The stroke told, and invariably elicited a promise 
 of looking into the matter, supplemented with at least 
 some slight attempt at repairs. With Alice Houghton 
 conspicuous in such work, society became at once 
 interested. It might be a delightful fad to investigate 
 this labor question and exploit one's charity in behalf 
 of these poor dear creatures. But whenever this de- 
 sire was submitted, it met ignominious and instant 
 death. Only those who felt the earnestness of the 
 
294 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 work were permitted any share in it. It soon became 
 apparent, however, that the latent impulses of human 
 nature, veneered as they may be by false ideas as to 
 wealth and social position, are in the main generous 
 and humane ones. Under the influence of Alice 
 Houghton wealth came to the succor of the newly- 
 formed and still chaotic society. Gilbert's reading 
 class became possessed of a room for its exclusive use, 
 where all the current periodicals and papers and some 
 of the best books could be found and read by any one. 
 It became a sort of poor man's club-room where living 
 topics were discussed, and where twice a year a ban- 
 quet was given at which the speeches and toasts em- 
 anated from the growing minds of those who had risen 
 from the ranks. 
 
 The parlors of several well-known society ladies 
 were also thrown open once a week to the orchestra 
 formed by Antoine, but now placed under the tutelage 
 of a more proficient master. The Mother's Class, the 
 Daughters of the Carpenter, and the Busy Fingers 
 Club had each a fund from which to draw in emer- 
 gencies, and better than all else, it seemed to Gilbert, 
 the five great principles lying back of all these efforts 
 had been submitted to a council and a code of rules 
 drawn up under the general plan, which bade fair to 
 make the society cohesive and enduring. Yet it was 
 by no means free from turbulent elements, nor had it 
 come to its present prosperity without encountering 
 many well-nigh overwhelming obstacles. As long as 
 human nature is content to remain on the low plane 
 of self-indulgence, just so long will every good and 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 295 
 
 unselfish impulse find a bitter warfare waged against 
 it, and not every one of those who were to be most 
 benefited by the movement was in favor of it. There 
 seems to exist in some natures a wolfish opposition to 
 everything high and holy, and Gilbert had long been 
 aware, without in the least understanding the reason, 
 that he had incurred the enmity of one of their num- 
 ber known as ''Red Handed Mike." If the fellow 
 possessed any patronymic it had long since passed in- 
 to oblivion, and he was known only by his sobriquet, 
 and feared accordingly. Gilbert had been warned 
 that Mike was only waiting an opportunity to " make 
 it hot for him " ; but thinking the threat, for lack of 
 cause, merely the idle boast of a bully, he passed it un- 
 noticed. 
 
 It was the morning of a day in early autumn. Mar- 
 garet was made glad by the sight of Aunt Liza and 
 Eph, who, climbing to her sky-parlor with many " oh's" 
 and " ah's " and rheumatic squeaks of the joints, had 
 greeted her n^ith the old-time effusion and affection 
 which absence had not dulled. 
 
 " I was jes longin' so fer de sight ob your face, Miss 
 Margaret, I couldn't stay away no longer, and Eph 
 heah has been a heap wuss'n me," exclaimed Aunt Liza. 
 
 ''Sho! " said Eph, fumbling with his hat and trying 
 to hide his feet under the rounds of his chair. '' I only 
 jes wanted to tell yer we'uns has done a heap ob 
 savin' this heah summ.er. Mammy heah's got a new 
 red gown, an' I's got a whole suit of store clothes, 
 and besides. Ma'am Minaud's banked money fo' us, 
 too." 
 
296 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 " Well done ! " cried Margaret. " I couldn't hear 
 better news." 
 
 "I knowed you'd be tickled!" exclaimed Eph, de- 
 lightedly displaying a couple of rows of ivory teeth. 
 *' T done tol' mammy dar wa'n't no use backshdin' in 
 this yere business when all you'uns had got to be jes 
 perfeck angels." 
 
 " Angels ? " queried Margaret. 
 
 " Why, don't yer know we'uns has hearn tell all 'bout 
 de society out to Idlewild ? And eberybody done says 
 you'uns is saints and no mistake," exclaimed Aunt 
 Liza. 
 
 '* Everybody is very kind," said Margaret soberly, 
 ''but we are far from saints. We are only trying to 
 find the best side of human nature." 
 
 " Yo' done it — yo' done it fo' shuah. Miss Margaret ! " 
 exclaimed Eph excitedly. " Yo' jest took us po' trash 
 and made us 'sponsible bein's, and showed us how to 
 be 'spectable if we is brack." 
 
 '' Deed yo' did. Miss Margaret," chimed in Aunt 
 Liza. "And de bestest part ob it is, as Eph's a-sayin', 
 dar wa'n't no ornery mission 'bout it." 
 
 " I's jes been wonderin'. Miss Margaret," interrupted 
 Eph, " eber since I hearn 'bout Antoine's singin' and 
 de way de home meetin's is callin' de po' sinners, ef 
 dar's any reason why mammy an' me couldn't come 
 jes once, anyway. It's white folkses' meetin', I know, 
 but I jes like mighty well ter heah some ob Antoine's 
 singin'. Day do say he jes 'lectrify de aujience." 
 
 " Come and welcome," said Margaret, who could 
 not forbear a smile at Eph's rendering of popular 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 297 
 
 phraseology. " We have room always for those who 
 are trying to find the way up." 
 
 '* Deed'n I's so glad, Miss Margaret," said Aunt Liza 
 effusively. '' 'Pears like sometimes dey's a dreffle pre- 
 jice 'gainst folks jes cause de Lawd made deir skin 
 brack." 
 
 That evening, as Aunt Liza and Eph mounted the 
 stairs of the Home Hall, as it had come to be called, 
 Red Handed Mike stood in the doorway and blurted 
 out as they passed : " We don't want none o' them 
 
 d d niggers here. If Brother Gib 'lows 'em to 
 
 stay I'll break up the meetin' ! " 
 
 Just then Gilbert, accompanied by his sisters and 
 Alice Houghton, entered the hall. 
 
 " Say," called Mike, '' do you see them niggers ? 
 Goln' to let 'em stay ? " 
 
 " Certainly," answered Gilbert. " They are friends 
 of ours." 
 
 " No, they hain't," growled Mike. '' I hain't got no 
 such devilish taste as that." 
 
 Gilbert paused for a second, and said quietly as he 
 faced the offender with a steady glance : " I hope your 
 good taste will prevent your making any disturbance." 
 
 " Hush, Mike ! " " Keep still, for God's sake ! " whis- 
 pered several of his companions as he turned to Gil- 
 bert threateningly. 
 
 " Never fear, men," said Gilbert reassuringly. " Mike 
 knows this isn't any place for a mill," and without say- 
 ing anything further he passed on to the platform. 
 
 Under the entreaties of his companions the bully 
 sank into a corner and s-ulkily watched the proceed- 
 
298 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 ings. A little later Antoine stepped to the front of 
 the platform and began one of his inimitable impro- 
 visations. Catching sight of Eph's interested face in 
 the audience, the impulse to give a song in negro dia- 
 lect came over him with irresistible force. With 
 scarcely a moment's waiting the clear young voice 
 rang out in a lively carol. 
 
 ' ' What if some troubles yo' do know ? 
 Jes doan min' 'em, let 'em go ! 
 It only makes de bigger hill, 
 A-pilin' up ob ebery ill, 
 
 So jes let trouble go ! 
 
 Chorus. 
 * Git a HI' sunshine in yo' heart, 
 Whateber grief yo's knowin', 
 Git a lil' sunshine in yo' heart, 
 
 An' set de smiles a-growin'. 
 
 ** De stranges' thing is when yo' smile, 
 Yo' done forgit yo'sef a while ! 
 Yo' doan' no mo' remember pain. 
 Till yo' forgits to smile again, 
 
 vSo jes let trouble go ! 
 
 Eph s feet had been strangely uneasy during the 
 rendering of the preceding stanzas, and Aunt Liza 
 had pulled at his coat and whispered warningly : ''Doan 
 yo' forgit, Eph, dis yere's white folkses' meetin'. Dey 
 doan 'low no shuffle heah." 
 
 *' Cain't help it, mammy," returned Eph. *' It do jes 
 go clar through my toes." 
 
 ' ' Dar's mighty lil' dat we fm' 
 Dat's like a nice contented min' ; 
 It makes de worl' de fines' place 
 To lib dis side ob heabenly grace ; 
 So jes let trouble go ! " 
 
 " * Git a HI' sunshine in )'o' heart 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 299 
 
 **Yes do!" responded Eph fervently. 
 
 " ' Whateber grief yo's knowin' ! ' 
 
 " Neber min' it! Neber min' it!" interposed Eph, 
 growing more and more excited. 
 
 " ' Git a HI' sunshine in yo' heart ! ' 
 
 " Send it, Lawd! Send it, Lawd! " cried Eph, rock- 
 ing to and fro, heedless of the wondering glances be- 
 stowed upon him and Aunt Liza's frantic clutches at 
 his coat. 
 
 " An' set de smiles a-growin','' 
 
 sang Antoine's clear voice. 
 
 " Yes, Lawd, we needs 'em ! 'Deed we does," 
 groaned Eph half-aloud. A wave of applause greeted 
 the singer as he turned to leave the platform. It 
 swelled louder and louder and would not be stilled. 
 In the midst of the excitement Eph half-rose to his 
 feet and called out : " Come back, Antoine, honey ! It's 
 jes like hearin' ob de angels sing!" 
 
 Only Antoine's instant compliance quelled the rising 
 flood of laughter and hisses. Clasping his hands be- 
 fore him and half drooping on his crutch in the pa- 
 thetic attitude of old age and decrepitude, Antoine 
 began in a broken voice : 
 
 " What ef my face is old an' brack, 
 An' hard my han's, an' bent my back, 
 An' mos'ly shadows on de way 
 Hab followed dis yere form ob clay ? 
 What ef, despised by brudder man, 
 I jes works on de bes' I can, 
 An' toilin' airly, toilin' late, 
 For arthly joys I's long to wait? 
 
300 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 I knows some time dis face ob min' 
 As white as Jesus' robe will shine, 
 For He, oh, He's my Mahstah ! 
 
 " O Jesus, my Mahstah ! 
 
 De frien' ob de poah, 
 Deah Jesus, my Mahstah, 
 
 Yo' sorrows will cuah; 
 O Jesus, my Mahstah. 
 
 He's callin', I come ! 
 O brudder, my brudder. 
 
 Why Stan' yo' dar dumb ? " 
 
 There was an unsurpassed tenderness and sweetness 
 in Antoine's rendition of the words, and an unusual 
 hush fell upon the audience, which was broken now 
 and then by the audible sighs and incoherent ejacu- 
 lations of Eph, and when, as it seemed to Eph's 
 agitated bosom, Antoine's voice soared, in its fresh- 
 ness and simplicity, to the very verge of the eternal, 
 he could no longer restrain himself, but threw up 
 his arms in an ecstasy of self-abandonment and 
 shouted: '' I's comin', Lawd! I's comin' ! I's heah! 
 Take me, po' mis'able sinnah, take me home to 
 glory!" 
 
 Instantly all was confusion. Men, women, and chil- 
 dren craned their necks for a view of the excited Af- 
 rican whom Aunt Liza's frantic efforts could not calm, 
 Eph had become possessed of the *' power," and was 
 deaf to his mother's intercessions. " I's knowed it 
 long, Lawd," he moaned. " I's been a dreffle sinnah. 
 Jesus, my Mahstah, de fr'en' ob de poah ! O Jesus, my 
 Mahstah, yo' sorrows will cuah " 
 
 " Come, Eph," said Gilbert, who had quickly left the 
 platform. Eph rose at once, whispering as he did so : 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 301 
 
 " I neber mean no harm, Mars Gilbert. I's jes a feel- 
 in' de force ob conviction." 
 
 " I know," answered Gilbert soothingly. " Antoine's 
 singing was evidently too much for you. You'll feel 
 better in the open air." 
 
 " 'Deed I'll neber feel any bettah till I knows de 
 Lawd's forgiben de mis'ble sinnah Eph Blackburn ! I's 
 jes got to be convarted. Mars Gilbert." 
 
 Eph was growing excited again as they neared the 
 door where Red Handed Mike stood among a knot of 
 his fellows. As Gilbert and Eph passed them, Mike 
 exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be heard throucrl- 
 out the hall : " I told Brother Gib he'd better not let 
 them d d niggers in here." 
 
 Gilbert turned and faced him. ''That is not fit 
 language for this place, and I don't want any more of 
 it." 
 
 " You don't, eh ? " cried Mike with a sneer. " I 
 rather guess I've as good a right to say what I please 
 as any d d nigger." 
 
 " Leave the room at once, or I shall be compelled 
 to have you put out." 
 
 ''You will ? Take a little of that first, won't you ?" 
 and drawing back the bully, flaming with passion, sent 
 a heavy blow of his fist into Gilbert's face. With a 
 panther-like leap Gilbert evaded the blow, and in- 
 stantly closed his fingers in a vise-like grip around his 
 opponent's throat. Struggling and clutching with the 
 fierceness of a tiger at the long, lithe fingers closing in 
 upon his throat like bands of steel, with his tongue 
 lolling on his chin, his face growing black, and his eyes 
 
302 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 starting from their sockets, Mike was forced by Gilbert 
 against the wall, who held him there as he cried, " Call 
 the cops, boys! " 
 
 '' Hold him fast ! " " Bully for you, Brother Gib ! " 
 '^ Make him ax yer parding! " yelled the crowd. 
 
 " I shall some other day," answered Gilbert. " Just 
 now I'll keep my fingers on him till the cops get him." 
 
 A moment later " Red Handed Mike," crest-fallen 
 and sulky, was passed over to the care of a couple of 
 policemen, and Gilbert turned to the men who had 
 gathered around him and said, with a grim apprecia- 
 tion of its underlying humo^: 
 
 ''Boys, I am going to talk to you to-night on the 
 beauty of peace." 
 
 He walked quietly and quickly up the aisle, but had 
 not yet mounted the platform when a tremendous 
 cheer broke from the audience. Men threw their hats 
 in the air, and women waved their handkerchiefs as 
 the story of " the fighting parson," as they then and 
 there dubbed him, passed from lip to lip. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 303 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Two years passed by; years that brought increas- 
 ing strength and prosperity to the Society of Universal 
 Brotherhood, and gave it a recognized standing as an 
 important factor in the structure of social reform. 
 Dealing primarily with the fundamental truth of hu- 
 man relationship, and resolutely adhering to the appli- 
 cation of those principles to all the conduct of life, it 
 soon established a method of reason which, if primi- 
 tive, still satisfied the highest aspirations of the 
 heart. In Red Handed Mike Gilbert had won, after 
 long proof of the value of brotherly kindness and for- 
 bearance, one of his most earnest co-workers, and it 
 was no uncommon sight to behold the two side by 
 side at political, social, and semi-religious gatherings, 
 endeavoring to promulgate in quiet ways the truths 
 which had become inherent parts of their daily thought 
 and work. To Antoine alone, of all the members of 
 the little circle, the years had brought apparent 
 change. Increasing stature and added health had 
 given him greater comeliness of form, while the once 
 pale, thoughtful face was now enlivened by the glow 
 of color and sparkle of happiness. The parting of 
 Herbert and Elsie had been a great grief to the lad, 
 for love and gratitude to both had built in fancy a 
 glowing future for them. In numberless little ways 
 
304 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 he had enaeavored to show his sympathy and appre- 
 ciation, and to Herbert he had taken to writing long 
 letters descriptive of the lives and pursuits of the old 
 circle; but avoiding with intuitive delicacy any direct 
 reference to Elsie. The progress of the society was 
 therefore an open book to Herbert, who, wandering- 
 restlessly over the continent of Europe, hungrily 
 awaited the coming of Antoine's letters in the fond 
 hope of gleaning even in imagination some news of 
 Elsie. The two years of his wanderings had been but 
 a record of growing discontent. His prosperous life 
 had never before known a serious rebuff, and his love 
 for Elsie had been the one and only love of his life. 
 Try as he might in his anger and disapproval, he 
 could never shut out the memory of the dark eyes and 
 the piquant face, now sparkling with gayety or quiver- 
 ing with the pathos of grief. All her little crudities of 
 speech, her high-tragedy airs, her inimitable mimicry, 
 and her tender flower-like caresses, dwelt so deep with- 
 in his heart that they were constant companions of his 
 waking and sleeping hours. He grew old and irritable 
 under the pressure of grief and disappointment, and 
 Helen Mason declared that " a mummy from the Cata- 
 combs couldn't be more unsociable." They wandered 
 together up the Nile, Herbert declaring his intention 
 of tracing it to its source and joining Stanley in the 
 heart of the Dark Continent. 
 
 "I'm tired," he said, "of civilization, and think of 
 returning to savagery, where ' labor strikes ' and 
 'bloated capitalists' are unknown quantities." 
 
 " I think you've already reached that state," Helen 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 305 
 
 retorted, '' for I live in almost constant fear of hav- 
 ing my head snapped off." 
 
 "Well, since I'm so nearly on the confines of canni- 
 balism, I think, to insure your safety, we will go back 
 to Paris." 
 
 To Paris they accordingly directed their steps, 
 but the gay capital had no attractions for Herbert. 
 Indeed, he was more at peace lazily dreaming in the 
 land of the Pharaohs, for in the new republic he could 
 not altogether shut his ears to the cry of the people. 
 Thought seemed to be teeming, even in the effete 
 monarchies of the Old World, and when he and Helen, 
 in despair of enjoyment fled to the Russian capital, 
 even there nihilism and nationalism, dogged by the 
 visions of Siberian prisons and infuriated with the cry 
 of slaves in mine and factory, were in the very air they 
 breathed. It was in Russia that Herbert first set him- 
 self to studying the conditions so productive of up- 
 heaval as well as the worst forms of human cruelty. 
 To Helen's intense fear he took to mingling with the 
 common people, and learning the reason for the 
 scarcely breathed, but only too apparent discontent 
 and rebellion. 
 
 ''The people! The people! Away with the divine 
 right of kings!" This was the whispered shibbo- 
 leth of nihilists and nationalists alike in the courts 
 and wilds of Russia, and it swelled into a modu- 
 lated but Vvxll-defined chorus along the banks of the 
 Rhine, until it rang resonant and clear in the heart of 
 the new republic. At home, abroad, wherever he 
 journeyed, the echo of the world's suffering and de- 
 20 
 
3o6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 spair was sure to reach him. But after all what was it 
 to him more than an episode of history, interesting as 
 a study of the conflict of ideas, the upheavals by revo- 
 lution and evolution ? What part had he in forming 
 history, only as one of the many on whom the mantle 
 of existing orders must inevitably fall ? With a good 
 deal of impatience he shook off the obtrusive question. 
 Every man must be his own savior and avenger in the 
 battle of existence. Elsie herself had preached the 
 independence of the individual. '* True," said Con- 
 science, ''but did she preach that alone? Did she 
 not also believe in the fullest co-operation as a prop 
 and encouragement to individual effort? Was not her 
 life an epitome of the highest personal development, 
 morally at least, combined with the most unselfish de- 
 sire for the prosperity of others ? " 
 
 It was a long battle between a selfishness born of his 
 environment, as well as what he considered the inher- 
 ent rights of individuals and classes, and conscience and 
 conviction. But the latter finally won the day, and 
 with an eagerness out of all proportion to his former 
 weariness and disgust with life, he set out for Paris 
 and London with the determination to investigate this 
 industrial question to its farthest limit. He was in 
 London on that great first of May, when over two 
 millions of men throughout the world laid down their 
 tools and quietly awaited the declaration of advancing 
 reason. He began to see that the principle of co- 
 operation, based, as it must ever be, on the simple lines 
 of equal opportunity and equal footing before the law, 
 held within its embracing bosom the solution of many 
 of the vexed and complex problems of sociology. It 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 307 
 
 was while in Paris, however, that he made the vital 
 discovery which gave direction and concentration to 
 his study of the industrial question. While rambling 
 with Helen in the purlieus of the great city, he chanced 
 upon a small community of neat flower-enveloped cot- 
 tages contiguous to an immense factory, and of which 
 they were evidently a part. Inquiry developed the 
 fact that the little village belonged to a manufacturer, 
 who had organized a colony of workingmen on an en- 
 tirely original plan, in which their comfort was co- 
 ordinate with the profits to be gained. The cottages 
 were rented to men with families at from one dollar and 
 a half to three dollars per month, with the result that 
 after long service they finally fell into the hands of the 
 occupants. The workingmen were insured against ac- 
 cident, and their savings invested in the works at a 
 guaranteed six per cent per annum. Work was paid 
 for by the piece at remunerative wages, thus giving 
 the skilled workman the opportunity to realize on his 
 ability, and stimulating the unskilled to greater activ- 
 ity. Imperfect work was rigidly rejected at the ex- 
 pense of the employee, thereby insuring the greatest 
 carefulness and exactness. The streets of the little 
 village were handsomely paved, an ornate concert hall 
 and good school-houses adding to the attractiveness of 
 the picture. The unmarried workmen were able to 
 secure comfortable lodgings at three cents per day, 
 and a restaurant provided meals at prices just paying 
 expenses. Discontent was an unknown quantity, 
 while rosy-cheeked children and plump matrons were 
 living proof of the beneficence of the system. In fact. 
 
308 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 situations were eagerly sought after and rarely va- 
 cated save by death or disaster. The profits of the 
 establishment were not, of course, enormous, like so 
 many similar institutions where human lives are sacri- 
 ficed on the altar of greed; but being moderate yet 
 afforded a safe permanent investment, which was never 
 affected by strikes or lockouts, and which in the zeal 
 and affection of the community for its employer re- 
 lieved the burden of care and anxiety under which 
 capital so often groans in less favored circles. After 
 weeks of investigation, Herbert concluded that here 
 was the middle ground on which capital and labor 
 must meet before either can achieve an unbroken line 
 of progress. Making himself and Helen acquainted 
 with the owner and promulgator of all this thrift and 
 contentment, and beholding him in his charming home, 
 surrounded by luxuries, and with his daily comings 
 and goings lighted by the smiles and affection of his 
 people, Herbert found his own ambition fired to be 
 the originator and center of a similar community. He 
 realized that the outlay at first would be enormous, 
 involving his whole fortune, and that the most arduous 
 and exacting labor would be demanded of him in its 
 execution. But here under the balmy skies of France 
 was the living prosperous proof that business and sen- 
 timent, so universally divorced by popular clamor, may 
 be united in a harmonious and prolific marriage. For 
 the first time within the last two years, Herbert 
 dropped his taciturnity and discussed the project with 
 Helen, who strangely enough had become as infatu- 
 ated with the little community as had Herbert himself. 
 
A NEW x\RISTOCRACY. 309 
 
 " After all, Herbert," she said plaintively one day, 
 " I believe having your own way all the time is like 
 living on honey— it palls on the appetite very soon." 
 
 Herbert glanced up quickly. '* Are you turning phi- 
 lanthropist too ? " he asked with a touch of satire in 
 his tone 
 
 " Well, it is in the air," she answered resignedly, 
 "and I don't see how one can help being infected." 
 
 ''Bravo! Helen, you take the disease charmingly! 
 Shall we go back to America to establish a new Eden ? " 
 
 " On one condition, and that is — to take me in as 
 equal parter." 
 
 '* My sweet sister!" cried Herbert ecstatically as 
 he sprang from his chair and caught her around the 
 waist. " Do you really mean it ? " 
 
 "Truly; and, Herbert," and w^ith tears in the eyes 
 upraised to his she added brokenly, "if — if that little 
 saint, Elsie, Alice Houghton writes me about, can be 
 induced " 
 
 "There!" Herbert's face hardened as he placed 
 his hand on his sister's lips. " Say no more on that 
 subject. I appreciate your generosity, but hope died 
 long ago." 
 
 Two days later they were on the ocean homeward 
 bound, and with the zeal of new-born ambition were 
 deep in their project almost before they returned the 
 greeting of their friends. Some two weeks after their 
 
 arrival the C Sunday Herald contained a notice of 
 
 the purchase of a large tract of land in the northwest- 
 ern part of the city, including the subdivision known 
 as " Idlewild," by Herbert Lynn, Esq., who proposed 
 
3IO A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 the erection of a mammoth shoe factory to be managed 
 after a method which he had investigated abroad, and 
 beheved to be not only the safest investment for capi 
 tal, but one yielding the largest returns from the 
 standpoint of the philanthropist. 
 
 " Mr. Lynn," the article went on to say, " is the 
 pioneer in this form of enterprise, and feeling that 
 there is no reason other than inexcusable greed for 
 the occurrence of so much idleness, suffering, destitu- 
 tion, vice, ignorance, and penury in so many depart- 
 ments of American labor, he proposes a plan of co- 
 operation, now working harmoniously and profitably 
 in France, which will no doubt do much toward solv- 
 ing some vexed industrial conflicts." 
 
 Following this was a short history of the colony on 
 the edge of Paris and its plan of operations. Elsie 
 read the article with swimming eyes, and impulsively 
 kissed the insensate bearer of such good news. She 
 had not seen Herbert since his return, and this was 
 the first intimation of his project which she had re- 
 ceived from any one. How beautiful the world grew 
 all at once! How much there was in life to hope for, 
 work for, enjoy! Suffering humanity under Herbert's 
 fostering care — ah, how could it be other than happy ? 
 To live in the light of those sunny blue eyes — how she 
 envied the prospective inhabitants of that social para- 
 dise. But the weeks grew into months, and Herbert 
 made no effort to renew his old standing in the little 
 circle. His name was rarely mentioned to Elsie, al- 
 though she learned from Lizzette that he had appro- 
 priated one of the handsomest residences included in 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 31I 
 
 his purchase of Idlewild, and had taken Lizzettc from 
 her market gardening to preside over his bachelor es- 
 tabHshment. Voluble as Lizzette had always been, 
 she was now suspiciously silent, unless she had a bit 
 of gossip to offer regarding the interest taken in the 
 proposed work by Alice Houghton. Antoine, happy 
 as a bird in the new home and the exceptional prog- 
 ress he was making in music, took especial care to 
 avoid the mention of Herbert's name, although Elsie 
 often intercepted a wistful glance of commiseration 
 in his dark eyes. Why were they all so silent ? she 
 often asked her longing heart. Did they think she 
 had no courage ? Did they fancy her a Lily Maid of 
 Astolat who needs must die for love ? Well, they 
 should see she could be brave and work on through a 
 long life, and make no sign of heart-break! So Avith 
 renewed earnestness, never sparing a moment for 
 much-needed rest, she toiled on, earning her daily bread 
 and giving the helping hand to all who needed it. 
 Margaret's watchful eyes noted with pain how thin 
 and transparent the once rounded face was growing, 
 what an intent light burned within the old laughter- 
 loving eyes, and how feverish was her application to 
 her work. 
 
 It was a year before the great co-operative shoe 
 factory was in running order, and on the evening of 
 the first day of regular work, Herbert, flushed and 
 elated over the promised success of his plan, was driv- 
 ing hurriedly along the street, on his way to visit 
 Helen and report progress. Glancing up suddenly he 
 encountered the gaze of Elsie's eyes as she paused for 
 
312 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 a second on the crossing. Heavens ! How white 
 and frail she looked! What caverns those great dark 
 eyes had grown to be I Was she dying and nobody 
 to tell him ? 
 
 So preoccupied was he with these hurried thoughts 
 that he passed on, failing to return the slight salutation 
 she had made. A moment later he drew rein, but 
 Elsie had disppeared from view. He turned and fol- 
 lowed in the direction she had taken, but she was no- 
 where to be seen. He had been working of late like 
 the traditional galley-slave, curbing his impatience in 
 the thought of the offering he could one day lay at 
 her feet, and now, like a phantom of her old blithe, 
 rosy-cheeked .self, she had crossed his path, and the 
 dark eyes had seemed to speak the despairing words, 
 ''Too late! Too late!" 
 
 Lashing his horse into a white foam, in absolute de- 
 fiance of the ordinance against fast driving, he rushed 
 a few moments later in upon Margaret with the fright- 
 ened question : 
 
 " Where is Elsie ? Why has nobody told me she 
 was dying ? " 
 
 The question seemed almost brutal in its abrupt- 
 ness, and Margaret staggered as if struck by a blow. 
 
 '' Forgive me, Margaret," cried Herbert piteously. 
 '' I passed her just now, but lost her again, looking 
 so frail and wan — did you not know? Have you not 
 seen ? " 
 
 '' Ah, yes," moaned Margaret. " But I had no medi- 
 cine for a breaking heart. A spirit like hers soon 
 burns out the fires of a frail body." 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 313 
 
 It was some time later that the door opened sud- 
 denly and Elsie, pale, trembling with the exertion 
 of climbing the stairs, and with eyes veiled in the 
 shadow of utter despair, stood on the threshold. 
 
 Herbert was at her side in an instant. '' Elsie ! 
 Elsie!" he cried. " Love is master. I've come back 
 to you, strengthened, purified, ennobled at your hands. 
 Do not scorn the gift now. It is richer than all else 
 I ever offered you." 
 
 But Elsie had no answer to make. For the first 
 time in her life she fainted, and lay a veritable picture 
 of death in Herbert's arms. ''Dear God," he cried, 
 "not this! Not now with our work all before us! 
 Let me keep her lest I grow slothful in the service of 
 her dear Master! " 
 
 Down on his knees beside the frail form, chafing 
 the thin hands and with the tears chasing each other 
 in torrents over his face, Herbert knelt, too frightened, 
 too heart-broken to be of any service in Margaret's 
 hasty efforts at resuscitation. 
 
 Joy seldom kills, and Elsie slowly came back to life 
 and love with the shadow of the old smile on her lips. 
 
 " Herbert," she whispered as, still faint, but su- 
 premely happy, she rested her head on his shoulder, 
 " the old wilful, independent Elsie is dead, and I want 
 to prove to you hereafter how patient and submissive 
 I can be." 
 
 "Well, then," said Herbert, after one of those elo- 
 quent silences which " the world that dearly loves a 
 lover" can readily interpret — " well, then, I'm going to 
 take you at your word ; for to-morrow at high noon. 
 
314 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 in society vernacular, I shall be here with license, 
 priest, Helen, and all the rest of us, prepared to hear 
 a very meek ' I will ' from those white lips." 
 
 *' But I have no wedding-gown I " 
 
 "Put on your best calico," said Herbert compos- 
 edly. *' So long as I can see you wear that glad light in 
 your eyes and the old happy smile on your lips, I shall 
 always feel that you are clothed in radiant attire." 
 
 One evening several days after the wedding, Gilbert 
 came home to Margaret with an inscrutable smile on his 
 face. " Margaret," he said composedly, " I have come 
 to the conclusion that your occupation as home-maker 
 is about gone." 
 
 "What do you mean ? " she cried aghast. 
 
 " Well, Herbert has given me a place in the fac- 
 tory, and he and Elsie insist that I make my future 
 home with them. It rather strikes me that you are 
 left out in the cold in consequence." 
 
 Tears sprang to Margaret's eyes, and with a heart- 
 breaking sob she buried her head in her arms as she 
 leaned against the table. 
 
 " My dear sister," cried Gilbert quickly. " My joke 
 is rather rough I'll admit; but I've a little excuse 
 for it." And stepping to the hall door, he beckoned 
 mysteriously to some one standing there. Margaret 
 raised her head apprehensively, and saw Dr. Ely with 
 smiling face standing upon the threshold. 
 
 ''Here is a gentleman," said Gilbert soberly, "who 
 thinks he would like to have a home made for him." 
 And with an ostentatious bang to the door he slipped 
 away. 
 
A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 315 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Of the remaining members of the Httle circle there 
 are but few words to speak. In AHce Houghton and 
 Helen Mason the Society of Universal Brotherhood 
 finds able coadjutors. Life becomes broader and 
 fairer to them as they realize the existence of a com- 
 mon bond in humanity and a universal creed of 
 brotherly love. 
 
 Slowly, but surely, the seed sown in doubt, darkness, 
 'and tribulation has begun to bear fruit, and Gilbert, 
 the powerful leader of the new movement, often 
 blesses the memory of the hours of sorrow and trial 
 which have made these helping influences spring from 
 a soil watered by tears and harrowed by privation. 
 Antoine's violin and marvellous gift of improvisation 
 are the delight of an enthusiastic public, and Lizzette's 
 brown face, with the wrinkles growing a little deeper 
 as the years go by, wears a look of supreme pride and 
 contentment as she comtemplates his progress, A 
 cherished member of Herbert's home, she is at once 
 housekeeper, friend, and companion. 
 
 The marriage of Herbert and Elsie is one of those 
 perfect unions in which oneness of spirit, heart, and 
 effort keep an unbroken bond. They have, seen their 
 endeavors paying them a tenfold increase in the grow- 
 ing tide of thought and prosperity overtaking the 
 
3l6 A NEW ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 workingmen and women and widening out into an ir- 
 resistible current of human kindness. Children have 
 come to them, endowed with the same warm, gener 
 ous natures, who are never so happy as when smooth- 
 ing a wrinkle out of papa's tired brow, or making a 
 dimple come in mamma's pretty cheek. Elsie, the 
 idol of her home, and beloved alike by the prosperous 
 circle of universal brotherhood, and the thrifty, con- 
 tented colony at Idlewild, often delights, with children 
 clinging to her skirts, and a crowing baby perched on 
 Herbert's shoulder, half-laughingly, half-earnestly, to 
 proclaim him the founder and father of America's 
 New Aristocracy of heart and brain. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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