River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-10-04
FITZHERBERT.
The Love Affair of Plain John
Smith, and How It Ended.

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Smith, without a change or addition
Of vowel. and was in no way discon-
tented with it till / fell in love with
Katie Rogers. Katie had never
sneered az il. but her elder sister.
Miranda, had more than once limited
that il was neither romantic nor I'M
common: and her father. in his some
what lengthy discourses about the
British aristOcracy, had an aggrayat-
ing way Of looking apOlogetically at
me every time he spoke Of "a good
name"
In our commercial community Smith
was counted = better name than ROg-
. ers. and young Smith. the rising cot
ton broker. a more distinguished menu
Der Of society than old Rogers, ex-
Captain Of dragons. who could scarce
" pay his thirty pounds rent and
never wore decent hat.
quite agreed with my neighbOrs on
these points till fell in love with Katie
and grew familiar with Miranda :
sentiments about 1.-THE ignorance of
Philistine Riyerbank
Captain Rogers was descended from
Fitzrogcr. who came over with the
COnquerOr. aud as I listened reverent-
IL TO the history Of the family progress
through eight centuries. there was n
total collapse of my Oace-foolish pride
in belonging tO what a local paper call
cd zone Of the oldest families in River
bank" For Riverbank was scarcely
as old as nv father. having grown into
town with a speed rarely equaled on
this side OF the Atlantic.
In general way | do not under
value myself. but il was with a deep
sense Of humility that ! implored the
descendant Of Fitzroger to become my
father-in-law. We were alone to-
gethcr in the dining-roOm of the thir-
ty-pOund house. he sitting in a shabby
armchair. ! standing on still shah
bier hearthru-. lie looked up at the
Battle Roll Of Hastings, which hung
over the nantelpiece, and down at the
fire. kept low by economical Miranda.
Then. having weighed the past glOries
of FitzrOger against the present price
OF Goals, he accepted my proposal with
the magnificent cOndescensiOn of a
King conserving. for certain state
reasons. To bestOw the hand of a royal
Princess on an aspiring subject.
So Kate and / were engaged. and for
= time I was supremacy happy | was
not quite vain enough to share my
darlings opinion that /. john Smith.
was better worth wOrshiping than all
Carlyle's Heroes" put together; but
was rather easily convinced that | was
far too fine p. fellow to fear any rival.
80 when Katie went on a visit to Lon
don therc was no bitterness in my re-
gret. for l believed in her-and my
self
At first was not disturbed BY
Miranda's boasts about the advantages
her sister was enjoying in 1.-THE best
society" but when the London
visit extended for weeks and
months beyond its original limit
began To feel vaguely uneasy. In those
days katic's letters. though loving,
were not long. and she more than once
apOlOgized for their brevity by plead
ing "a particular engagement" the
nature of which she never explained.
My confidence sank, my jealousy
rose.
At last she came home. and then !
noticed change in her that seriously
alarmed me. She was paler and
QJsieter. and at times there was a wist-
full look in her eyes. suggestive OF
something in her mind. II could not
be anxiety about her fathers pecuni-
airy affairs, because about that time he
appeared in new hat, and Miranda
kept better fires. These outward and
visible signs Of prosperity would have
given me sincere pleasure il it had not
been for the suspicion that old Rogers
was more than ever disposed to take
the Norman Conquest tone with me,
and for the certainty that Miranda's
sneers AT people who could rot count
their grandfathers" were all Cor my
benefit.
What did this sort Of thing mean?
Had Katie been tempted away from
me by a lover with "A longer pedigree?
Would Rogers tell me some day. like
the father in old-fashioned romance.
that he had other views" for his
daughter?
One evening | called much later than
usual. having been detained 10y an i'm
pOrtant business matter in the neigh
boring city OF Shipley- The outer
door OF the house WAS open, and !. in
my usual way. turned the handle Of
the vestibule door and walked into the
drawing-room. which appeared to be
empty | was just going to ring the
bell for the servant when | heard a
pleading little voice behind me;
.'Oh. say. Jack, don't do THAR
1t was the voice of Bob. the young
est Of Katie's many young brothers,
and. turning sharply around. saw
his scared little face peeping between
the curtains drawn across the bow
window.
Come here. dear old Jack he en-
treated; '.aud stay with me till she goes
past
What she2" | asked. aS / stepped
behind the curtain TO find BOb's
nUnerLu luNl-luLt form tlsi0 III a mig nj
gown.
..Mairand.~ he added. in tragic
whisper.
Bon had blue eyes and golden hair.
and in his white array he looked like
au angel in a picture But l rightly
guessed chat he had descended from
the upper regions that night on no
angelic mission.
II thought she was safe up in the
lumber room for the next halt-hour. -
he explained. ''and l got out OF bed
and was slipping down 70 the kitchen
or a taste OF the new Jam. | knew i;
was nv only chance. She's 50 beastly
mean about it when it's IN pots. just
got to the hall when 1 heard her sneak
ing downstairs. SO / ran in here.
She's in he dining-room now. and
don't know whether shes going up
again or down to the kitchen
Don't be a coward. my boy,
sail. feeling it my duty 20 be moral.
.'Of course Miranda win scold II she
finds you. but you must bear Il like q
man."