Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-11-28

again or down TO the Kitchen"
Don't be coward, my boy"
said, feeling II my duty TO be neral.
"Of course Miranda will scold II she
finds you, but you must bear IL like a
man."
'Scoldr' repeated Bob, with scorn
In his subdued tones. do you think
I'd care II It was only thatP"
understood the full peril OF the
situation now. Miranda prided her.
self on doing mothers duty to the
motherless boys, and | knew that
whatever her hand found to do she did
IL with all her might.
"And it's just because | amt a cow
ard don't want TO meet her." went on
Bob, evidently mindful OF the tradi-
tions OF Fitzroger valor. "You see,
Jack, could hit back IL she was a
man, but she isn't, you know, and Of
course no fellow who is gentleman
ever hits woman"
Robert" murmured, "you are the
soul OF chivalry."
"
small Observation-Disclosures held me
with desperate grip. "She's coming
I'M"
i peered cautiously between the
heavy curtains and caught glimpse
OF Miranda's lank form and lynx eyes.
The next moment she was vanishing,
but she stopped rs Katie appeared at
the door.
"Kate, she said, In her thin, sharp
voice, 81 was looking for you. think
you might help me pot the jam. Smith
may not be here tonight, and IL he
comes let him wait. How pale you
look! / can tell you, my dear, that
your appearance has not improved
since you took up with Fitzherbert.
stood with freezing blood behind
the curtains, wondering what awful
revelation was about to wreck my
LIES happiness. In lightning fash
Of jealous imagination saw Fitzher-
bert. No doubt he was one OF the
swells Katie had met in London-a
military swell, one of those handsome,
naughty guardsmen | had read about
in society novels.
Miranda" said Kite, don't you
think ought TO tell Jack about Fitz-
herbertp"
mo, i don't" said Miranda, sharply.
81 don't see why the interests OF our
family are to be riskcd in a collision
with the narrow middle-class prcju-
dices of Mr.. John Smith"
Katie's voice sounded little weary
when she spoke again.
"You know, Miranda, you were hor-
rified yourself when | first told you
about Fitzherberts proposal"
Miranda replied in tone of cold
superiority:
~ was more open to conviction than
you'd would find Mr.. John Smith. We
who have been rooted in English soil
for eight centuries naturally take
larger views OF life than mushrooms
OF yesterday. Besides, your conduct
in this affair is justified by the example
and approval of women in the best
society"
What world Of whited sepulchers!
had never loved Miranda, but / had
always respected her. However
skeptical / might have been about her
personal charms, / had never doubted
her principles. Miranda taught class
in the Sunday-school, worked a distric.
on strict charity organization prin-
ciples, and was decorated with tho
Order OF the Blue Ribbon. Yet here
was this seemingly virtuous Miranda
applauding her younger sisters false
ness to true lover, because IL was tho
fashion of women in the best society
TO trample on honest hearts.
al hate conceslment," said Katie,
'and Jack is so truthful himself that /
can't bear the idea of deceiving him
Oh, Miranda, dear, ! was so happy
when Fitzherbert made me the offos
that never stopped to wonder what
Jack would think about il, but now /
am so miserable that sometimes think
| must give up Fitzherbert."
Rubbish said Miranda, "ar.d
selfish rubbish too. | wonder, Kate
Rogers, how you can talk in that why,
when you know how useful Fitzher-
bert's money is to your poor father"
Oh, this was too awful! Katie not
only false to me, but actually so mean
rs to take money from her new lover.
I could stand it no longer wrench
cd myself from poor little Bob's grasp
and stood sternly facing the two girls.
Miranda fled from the room. Katie
stood white and still.
pray do not give up Fitzherbert on
my humble account said, scorn-
fully. 'Do not let my vulgar prejudice
in favor Of truth and honesty interfere
with the wider morality of the best So
ciety. Marry Fitzherber tomorrow,
II you like, and be AZ happy as you de-
serve to be-"
The color rushed back into Katie's
face. The light sparkled in her eyes.
She actually laughed.
Thank you very much, jack" she
said, "but even with your kind per-
mission | can't marry Fitzherbert. The
fact is" and her blue eyes danced,
"Fitzherbert is married.
"And you dare 20 tell me-" cried
in wild rage, THAT you have not only
accepted love but money from mar
ried man."
She looked straight into my furious
face with her laughing eyes.
''Fitzherbert is not married man,"
she said.
81 was never good at guessing rid
dies" l said loftily; land as | am not
in the mood for them tonight, give
this one up. II Fitzherbert is not
married man, what, in Heavens name,
Is Fitzherbertp"
Clear came the answer in the sweet,
gay, girlish voice:
"Fitzherbert Ia a. ,narried Woman "A