Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-11-28
FITZHERBERT.
The Love Affair of Plain John
Smith, and How 1t Ended.


OF vowel, and was in no way discon-
tented with IL till ] fell in love with
Katie Rogers. Katie had never
sneered at it, 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 aggravat-
ing way OF looking alphabetically 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, more distinguished men,
Der OF society than old Rogers, ex-
Captain OF dragons, who could scarce
~ pay his thirty pounds rent and
never wore a decent hat.
quite agreed with my neighbors on
these points till fell in love with Katie
and grew familiar with Miranda's
sentiments about 1.-The ignorance OF
Philistine Riverbank."
Captain Rogers was descended from
Fitzroger, who came over with the
Conqueror, and as | listened reverent-
ly to the history Of the family progress
through eight centuries, there was a
total collapse OF my once-foolish pride
in belonging to what a local paper call
ed lone OF the Oldest families in River
bank" For Riverbank was scarcely
as old as my father, having grown into
a town with speed rarely equaled on
this side OF the Atlantic.
In general way | do not under
value myself. but it was with deep
sense of humility that | implored the
descendant of Fitzroger to become my
father-in-law. We were alone to-
gether in the dining-room of the thir-
ty-pound house, he sitting in shabby
armchair, | standing on IA still shah
bier hearthrug. He looked up at the
Battle Roll of Hastings" which hung
over the mantelpiece, 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 bcstow the hand of royal
Princess on an aspiring subject.
So Kate and ! were engaged, and for
n time ] was supremely happy. l was
not quite vain enough to share my
darling's 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 fellow to fear any rival
don there was no bitterness in my re-
greet, for believed in her-and N.Y.
self.
At first I was not disturbed by
Miranda's boasts about the advantages
her sister was enjoying in "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 Katie'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
quieter, and at times there was visit
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 not count
their grandfathers" were all for my
benefit.
What did this sort of thing meanp
Had Katie been tempted away from
me by lover with longer pedigreep
Would Rogers tell me some day, like
the father in old-fashioned romance,
that he had "other views" for his
daughterp
One evening called much later than
usual, having been detained by an inn
portant business matter in the neigh
boring city OF Shipley. The outer
door OF the house was open, and I, 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 that!''
IL 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; ''and stay with me till she goes
past"
what shep" | asked, as stepped
behind the curtain TO find Bob's
hitherto invisible form clad in n night
gown.
"Mairand." he added, In tragic
whisper. l
Bob had blue eyes and golden hair,
and 10 hie white array he looked like
an angel in picture. But rightly
guessed that he had descended from
the upper regions that night on no
angelic mission.
81 thought she was safe up in the
lumber room for the next half-hour."
he explained, ''and | got out OF bed
and was slipping down to the kitchen