The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-10-10
FITZHER BERT.

My name is John Smth-plain Smith,
without change or addition of vowel
and | was in no way discontentcd with
1t till | fell in love with Katie Rogers.
Katie had never sneered at it, but her
elder sister, Miranda, had more 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 apologetically at me
every time he spoke of "a good name"
In our commercial community Smith
was counted a better name than Rogers,
and young Smith, the rising cotton.
broker, q more distinguished member of
society than old Rogers, ex.Captain of
dragons, who could scarcely pay his
thirty pound rent, and never wore de-
cent hat
quite agreed With my neighbors on
these points till fell in live with Katie.
ana grew familiar with Miranda's senti-
ments about ''the ignorance of Philistine
Riverbauk.
Captain Rogers was descended from
Fitzroger, who came over, with the
Conqueror, and, as | listened reverently
to the history of the family progress
through eight centuries, there was
total collapse of my once foolish pride
in belonging to what a local paper called
zone of the oldest families in River.
bank" For Riverbank was scarcely as
old rs my father, having grown into a
town with n speed rarely equaled on
this side of the Atlantic.
In a general way did not undervalue
myself, but it was with deep sense of
humility that implored the descendant
of Fitzroger to become my father-in-
law. We were alone together in the
dining room of the thirty pound house.
he sitting in a shabby armchair, stand
ing on still shabber hearthrug. He
looked up at the BATTLE Roll of Hast
ings, which hung over the mantelpiece,
and down at the fire kept low by eco.
nomical Miranda. Then, having ap-
parently weighed the past glories of
litzroger against the present price of
Goals, he accepted my proposal with the
magnificent condescension Of king
( cons enting, for certain State reasons, to
bestow the hand of royal princess on
an aspiring subject.
So Eatic and | were engaged, and, for
time, | was supremely happy. 1 was
not quite vain enough to share my dar-
ling's opinion, that l. John Smith, was
better worth worshiping than all Car
lyle's "Heroes" put together; but l was
rather easily convinced that | was far
too fine fellow to fear any rival So,
when Katie went on visit to London,
there was no bitterness in my regret, for
believed in her-and myself
AT first was not disturbed by Mi
randa'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 brevitv by pleading
"a particular engagement" tho nature
OF which she mover explained. My con
/ hdence sank, my jealousy rose.
At last she came home, and then l
noticed change in her that seriously
alarmed me. She was pa!er aud quieter,
and at times there was a wistful look in
her eyes, suggestive of something on her
mind. IL could not be anxiety about
her father pecuniary affairs, because
about that time he appeared in q new
/ hat, and Miranda kept better fires.
These outward aud visible signs of pros
| perity would have given me sincere
| pleasure il il had not been for the sus-
| picion that old Rogers was more than
ever disposed to take the Norman Con-
| quest tone with me, and for the GER
| tainty that Nliranda's sneers at ''people
who could not count their ,grandfathers, I"
where all for my benefit.
One evening called much later than
| usual, having been detained by an i'm
| portant business matter in the neighbor-
/ ing 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 pleading little voice be-
hind me:
ooh, say, Jack, don't do that"
1t was the voice of Bob, the youngest
| of Katie's many young brothers, and
turning sharply round, saw his scared
| little face peepiug 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 sheln l asked, as l stepped be-
hind the curtains to find Bob's hitherto
invisible form clad in a nightgown.
Miranda" he added in a tragic
whisper.
Bob had blue eyes and golden hair,
and in his white array he looked like an
angel in a picture, But l rightly
guessed that he had descended from the
upper regions that night on no angelic
mission.
al thought she was safe up in the lum
Der room for the next half hour" he ex-
planned, ''aud got out of bed and was