The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-06-04
AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.


AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.
For fiye-and-forty years / have borne
the name of Peter Smith. Though you
have never heard of me, flatter myself
that my family name will be familiar to
YOU l am quiet in my habits, and,
believe, not disposed to interfere with the
rights of other men; yet even this did
not avail to save me some ten years since
from becoming involved in an affair OF
honor. Let me tell you how it happened.
AT the time of which speak / was an
inmate of Mrs. Jones's family. l use the
word inmate advisedly, since it was well
known that Mrs. Jones never took board
ers. In fact, she expressly gave me to
understand that her only inducement in
taking me was the pleasure she expected
to derive from my society; that she was
far above mercenary considerations. Of
course felt fattered by the compliment
thus insinuated, though l confess / was
somewhat surprised, since all mercenary
considerations were disclaimed, to be
charged higher rate for board than Ihad
ever paid. Still did not demur, feeling
certain that l had at length found a
home.
Let me describe Mrs. Jones, my hostess.
Physically speaking, should say that she
came of great family, her proportions
being most asistocratic In her demeanor
towards me she was always very gracious
and condescending, for which / felt prop
erly grateful. She always came to the
table arrayed in a stiff satin, the very
10 Of ,snl, hafra xyoI Iar
and impressed me with my comparative
insignifcance.
Mrs. Jones had daughter, by name
SOphrOnia. In external appearance she
was quite unlike her parent, being ex-
ceedingly tall and slender, while the other
was short and dumpy. In a copy of
verses which she was kind enough to show
me, some enthusiastic young man had the
temerity to call her a sylph. do not
know much about sylphs, never having
seen one to my knowledge but question
much whether sylphs have red hair, or
noses with an upward tendency. / have
my doubts also as to whether sylphs
squint. Still am far from denying that
Miss Sophronia Jones was sylph, since
that belief evidently afforded her salts
faction.
Mrs. Jones's table was admirably
adapted for valitudinarian. There he
would find no dishes of unwholesome
richness; nothing indeed that was cal
culated to induce excessive eating. If
as some physicians have declared, health
is best preserved by always rising from
the table with an appetite, was never
in fairer way to secure its blessings, than
when enjoying the genteel insufficiency
of Mrs. JOnes's hospitality.
About month after my arrival con-
versation turned, at the dinner-table, up
on a concert that was to be given the
same evening by Signora Falfalini. 1
have poor memory for Italian names,
but this is the name, to the best of my
recollection.
"I wish could 60, ma," said the fair
sophronia.
$50 you could, my DEAR" replied Mrs.
Jones, " if you had gentleman protect
or"
Thereupon she began to disclaim against
the customs of society which preclude
lady's attending place of amusement
without gentleman, lamenting that So
phronia had on this account been more
than once debarred from gratifying her
exquisite UaSUe IOr music.
Of course could not i'm pOliteness re-
frain from Offering my escort, although /
should thereby be prevented from attend
ing the weekly meeting of the club of
which / was q member.
Sophronia, in great confusion, said she
could not think Of troubling me.
began to hope that she would not, but
her mother quickly silenced her scruples
by saying that she was silly girl (thirty-
five if she's day., and that she must not
think of refusing.
Sophronia made no more objections,
and ! had the pleasure of paying a high
price for couple of tickets.
Nature not having bestowed on me a
musical ear, could enter but indifferently
into the rapture of my companion, who
pronounced Signora Falfalinis singing
divine, although she considered her quite
devoid of personal attractions. The sig
nora being built after the same model as
Sophronia, quite agreed with her in this
bit of criticism.
"Do you know" simpered my compan-
ion, confidingly, :" have myself thought
at times that was designed by nature
for a prima donna or an opera singer like
Signora FalfaliniT
"Then why do you not become one |"
/ inquired.
because ma had such an objection to
any thing of public character. She
felt that / would be demeaned by 80 doing,
and advised me to content myself with
contributing to the qualification of my
friends at home. You have never heard
me sing, thinkT
had at times heard shrill voice, in
very high key, as sat in my room, which
had struck me as far from agreeable.
thought it best, however, without men,
tioning this, to utter simple negative.
"You must not expect much," contin-
ued Sophronia "my voice is rough and
uncultivated. Ma is always telling me
that ought to devote more attention to
it; but / can never sing except when in
spiration seizes me. If you will come in
tomorrow evening, will sing to you, If
you would like"
Iexpressed my thanks for this disinter-
csted kindness, and, as the concert was
finished, proceeded TO escort the lady
home.
As we were making our way through the
crowd, IL chanced that some one, accident
ally, or otherwise, jostled my companion.
She Immediately seized my arm con-
vulsively, and informed me that she had
been insulted.
"Who did itT stammered /; for I
confess my courage is not Of the highest
order.