Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-13

Don't be coward, my boy" l said,
teelirg it ms duty to be moral. "Ot
course Miranda will scold you il she finds
You, hut you must bear it like man"
"Seold," repeated Bob, with SO IN in
his suodued tones. do you tbink I'd
care if it was only thRtfn
understood he full peril of the situa-
ton nov. Miranda prided herself on
doing mcther's duty to the motherless
boys, and l knew that whatever her hand
found to do she did il with ali her might
And it's just because ain't coward
| don't want 10 meet her." went on Bob,
evidently mindful of he traditions Of
Fltzroger valor. "You see, Jack, could
hit back If she was man, but she ain't,
you know, and OF course no fellow who
is gentleman ever hits woman"
Robert" / mugmured, you are the
soul of ohiyalry.',
ooh, shut up, Jack Smith" and my
small brotherin law-elect held me with a
desperate grip. "She's coming in"
| peered cautiously between the heavy
curtains, and cought glimpse OF Miriam
da's lank form and lynx eyes The next
moment she was vanishing, but she stop
| PED as Katie appeared at the door.
] -
voice, 81 was looking for you. think
you might help me to pot the Jam.
/ Smith may not De here tonight, and II he
comes lei him wait How pale you look!
can tell you, my dear, that your appear
anoe has no. Improved since you took up
with Fl i3aerbert."
| stood with freezing blood behind the
cartains, wondering what awful revelati n
naa nh 4.ftf 70
Ia lightning fash of Jealous magma
ton l saw Fuzherbert. No doubt he
was one of the swells Katie bad met in
London. A military swell, one OF those
handsome naughty guardsmen, 1 had
read about in society novels
Miranda" said Kate, don't you think
ought 70 tell Jack about FitzherbertY'.
mo, DON'T said Miranda, sharply.
81 don't see Why the interests of our
family are to be risked in collision with
the narrow middle-cless prejudices of
Mr.. John Smith"
Katie's voice sounded a little weary
when she spoke again.
You know, Miranda, you we're horri-
fed yourself when l told you about Fitz-
herbert's proposal"
Mirandi replied in tone of cold su
periofity:
II was moro open to conviction than
you would find Mr.. John Smith. We who
have been rooted in English soil for EIGHT
Senturies naturally taAe larger views OF
life than mushrooms of yesterday. Be
sides, your conduct in this affair is justi-
fled By the example and approval of
women in the best society,""
What world of whited sepulchers! /
had never loved Mirando, but had always
respected her. However skePtical /
might have been about her personal
charms, had never doubted her prinoi.
pies. Miranda taught a class in the Sun
day-school, worked district on strict
charity, organization principles,sand was
decorated with the order OF the blue rib
bon. YET here was this seemingly virtu-
ons Miranda appaudiug her younger
sisters falseness to q true lover, because
it was the fashion o. women in the best
eociety TO trample on honest hearts.
II hate conceslment," said Katie; and
Jack is so truthful himself, that l can't
bear the idee of deceiviDg him. Oh, Mi
randa, dear, | was so happy when Fig
herbert made me the offer that / never
stopped TO wonder what Jack could think
about it, but now / am sn miserable that
I Sometimes think | must give up Fitz
herbert"
"Rubbi-h!" said Miranda, land selfish
rubbish, too. l wonder, Kate Rogers, now
you can talk in that way, when you know
how useful FitzheIbert's money Is TO your
poor father"
Oh, this was too awful! Katie not Only
false 10 me, brt actually so mean as 10
=. 1 { =
stand it no longer. | wrenched myself
from poor little Bob's grasp, and STOOD
steTnly facing the two guile.
Mirauda fl cd from the room. Katie
stood white and still.
"Pray, do not give up Fnzaerbert on
my humble account l said, soornfnlly.
d. not let my vulgar prejudice IN favor
of truth and honesty interfere with the
wider morality of the best society. Marry
Frzhsrbert to morrow, it yon like, and be
rs happy as you deserve TO be-"
The color rushed back into Kalia's face.
The ligat spsrAled in her eyer. She ac-
tuaily laugh ned.
"rhank you very much, Jack she
snid, "bnt even with your kind permits
sion can't marry Fitzherhert The fact
s." and her blue eyes danced. ~ 21sr-
bert IL married"
"And you dsre to tell ne" I cried in
Wild rage" that you have not ouly ac
cepted love bat money from married
man"
She looked straight into my furious
face with her laughing eyes.
"Fitzhorbert is not married man.' she
said.
81 was never good ct guessing riddles"
said, loftily; "and as L sn not in the
mood for them Tonight, I give this ore
up. If Fiizaerbert is married, and IT
Fuzherbert is not p married man, what in
Heavens name, is Frzherberty'
Clear came the answer il the sweet,
gay. girlisa voice;
"Fitzherbert is a married woman"
Then, with the crushing consciousness
of having made p foot of myself, lie
cd humbly to Katie's little stroy.
"Fitzherbert is a West Eod milliner, and
WAS Aunt Clsrs's maid before her mar
risge. Her name is not really Fitzher
bert, but something quite ordinary, Like
Bro4n or Smiih-Ch, beg your pardon,
Jack! She was always fond of me and