West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-09-20
FITZHERBERT.


My name is John Smith-plain Smith
without change or addition of vowel
and was in no way discontcnted with
u till fell in love with Katie Rogers
Katie had never snecred at IL. bur bor
oder sister, Miranda, had moro than
. once limited that it was neither romantic
nor uncommon; and her father. in his
somewhat lengthy discourses about the
British aristocracy, had an aggravating
way OF looking apologetcally at me
every time he spoke Of ga good name.~
In our commercial community Smith
was counted better name than Rogers
ana young Smith, the rising cotton.
broker, more distinguished member of
society than old Rogers, ex-Captain of
Dragons, who could scarcely nav his
thirty pound rent, and never wore a de-
cent hat.
quite agreed with my neighbors on
these points till fell in live with Katie
ana grew familiar with BIiranda's senti.
ments about "the ignorance of Philisti1e G
Riverbank.
Captain Rogers was descended from
fltZroger, who came over with the
Conqueror, and, as listened reyerently
70 the history of the family propre ,s
through eight centuries. there was a
total collapse of my once foolish pride
IN belonging to what local paper called
lone Of tho oldest families in River.
bank" For Iiiverbank was scarcely as
old as my father having grown into a
town with n speed rarely eoualed on
this side of the Atlantic.
In general way did not underyalue
myself, but it was with deep sense of
humility that implorcd the descendant
OF Fitzroger to become my father-in-
law: We were alone together in the
dining, room of the thirty pound house.
nc sitting in shabby nrlnchair, / stand
ing on still shabbier hearthrug. He
looked up at The "Battic Roll OF Hast
lngs,p which hung over the mantelpiece,
ana down at tire fro kept low by eco.
nomicai Miranda Then, having ap.
parcntly weighed tho past glories of
Fitzfoger against the present price of
Goals, he accepted my proposal with the
magnificent condcscension of king
con enting, for certain State reasons. to
bestow the hand Of a royal princess on
an aspiring subject,
so Katie and / were engaged, and, for
TIME, ! was supremcly happy. / was
not quite vain enough to share my dar.
Iing's opinion. that J., John Smith, was
better worth worshipiug than all Car
yves Heroes" put together; but was
Iather easll ly convinced that i was far
TOO hnc q fellow to fear any rival. So,
when Katie went on visit to london
there was no bitterness in my regret, for
beloved in her-and myself.
At first ] was not disturbed bv Mi
randa's boasts about the advantages her
sister was enjoying in ''thc best society. -
but when Tho ondon visit extended for
weeks and months beyond its ORIGINAL
limit, ! began 10 feel vaguely uneasy. In
those days katie's letters. though loving.
were not lorg and She more thar once
apologizcd for their brevity by pleading
"a particular engagement" the nature
OF which size never explained Ny con
fdenoe sank, my jealousy rose.
At last she came home, and then I
noticed change in her that seriously
alarmed me. She was pa'er aud quieter,
ana at times there was q wistful look in
heT eyes suggestive Of something on her
mind. II could not be anxiety about
her iatEers pecuniary affairs. because
about that time he appeared in a new
hat, and Miranda kept better fires
These outwnrd and visible signs of pros.
perity would have given me sincere
pleasure IL il had not been for the sus
picion that old fogors was more than
ever disposed TO take the Norman Con
guest tone with me, aud for the Ger.
tainty that Mitandas sneers at ''people
who could not count r'grandfathers. -
where nh for my benefit.
One evening I called much later than
usual, having been detained by an inn
portaut business matter I'm tho neiQhbor-
ing city OF Shiplcy. The outer door Of
the house was open, and i. in my u.ual
way turned The handle of the vestibule
door and walked into the drawing room,
which appeared TO be empty. was lust
going 20 ring the bell for the servant,
whcu heard a pleading little voice be-.
hind me.
"Oh, say, Jack, don't do thatw
10 was the voice 0f Bob, the Youngest
Of katic's many young brothers, and
turning sharply round, / saw his scared
little face peeping between the curtains
drawn across the bow window.
"Como here dear old Jack" he en-.
treated "aud stuy with me till she goes
past n
What shoW J. asked, a. ] stepped be-
hind Tie curtains TO find B0b's hitherto
invisible form clad in n'ghtgown.
Miranda he added in q tragic
whisper
Ho) had blue eyes and golden hair.
and SRI his white array d looked like au
angel in picture But 7 rightly
guessed that be had descended from tho
upper cgions chat nighf on no angelic
mission
81 thought sho wos mfi up IN the lrm
Der room for ihc next haf hour" be OK
plainea. iand ] got out Of bed end was