River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-10-04

/ mOtnerleS1 boys ana knew rnat
whatever her hand found to do she did
it with all her might.
And it's Just because I amt a cow
ard don't want to meet her." went on
Bob, evidently mindful Of the tradi-
tons of FitZrOger valOr. "YOu see,
Jack, could hit back If she was a
man, but she isn't, you know, and of
course no fellow who is a gentleman
ever hits woman"
''Robert. l murmured, ''you are the
soul Of chivalry."
''Oh. shut up. Jack Smith, and m Y
small brother-in-law-elect held ME
with a desperate grip. "She's coming
i'm
/ peered cautiously between the
heavy curtains and caught a glimpse
of Miranda's lank form and lynx eyes.
| The next moment she was vanishing,
but she stopped as Katie appeared at
the door.
Kate, she said. in her thin, sharp
voice, Il was looking for you. think
you might help me pot the jam. Smith
may not be here tonight. and if 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
life's happiness. In a lightning flash
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-
herbert2n
mo, don't" said Miranda, sharply
Il don't see why the interests of our
family are to be risked in a collision
with the narrow middle-class preiu-
dices of Mr.. John Smith"
Katie's voice sounded a little weary
when she spoke again.
"1Ou know. Miranda, you were hor-
rified yourself when first told you
about Fitzherbert's proposal"
Miranda replied in tone of cold
superiority:
II 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 a world of United sepulchersl
l 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 district
on strict charity organization prin-
ciples. and was decorated with the
Order OF the Blue Ribbon. Yet here
was this seemingly virtuOus Miranda
applauding her younger sisters false
/ ness to a true lover. because it was the
| fashion of women in the best society
/ to trample on honest hearts.
II hate concealment." said Katie.
''and Jack is so truthful himself that l
can't bear the idea of deceiving him.
Oh. Miranda. dear. was so happy
/ when Fitzherbert made me the offer
that never stopped to wonder what
/ Jack would think about il, but now
am so miserable that | sometimes think
l must give up Fitzherbert."
Rubbish" said Miranda. land
selfish rubbish too. | wonder, Kate
Rogers. how you can talk in that way,
when you know how useful Either
bert's money is to your poor father.
Oh, this was too awful! Katie not
only false to me, but actually so mean
as TO take money from her new lover.
| could stand it no longer. wrench
ed myself from poor little Bob's grasp
and stood sternly facing the two girls.
Miranda fed 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 Fitzherbert tomorrow,
il you like, and be as 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 to tell me-" I cried
in wild rage. THAT you have not only
accepted love but money from a mar
ried man.
She looked straight into my furious
face with her laughing eyes.
"Fitzherbert is not a married man,
she said.
Il was never good at guessing rid
dies. I" | said lOftily; land as am not
in the mood for them tonight, | give
this one up. II Fitzherbert is not a
married man. what, in Heavens name,
is Fitzherbert?"
Clear came the answer in the sweet,
gay, girlish voice:
'Fitzherbert is a married woman. Z
Then. with the crushing concious-
ness of having made fool of myself.
listened humbly to Katie's little
story.
'Fitzherbert is West End milliner
and was Aunt Clara's maid before her
marriage Her name is not really Fitz-
herbert. but something quite ordinary
like Brown or Smith-oh, beg your
pardon. jack She was always fond of
me. and l often amused myself by
looking through her new fashions.
One day, while / was waiting for Aunt
Clara. who had gone 10 her dentist. a
fussy old lady came into the shop. and
was very angry because none OF the
new Paris bOnnets suited her. She
was one OF the best customers, and
poor Fitzherbert was in despair when
she was leaving the shop in rage.
Well. Jack. have quite genius for
millinery. One of our ancestors was a
painter. and Aunt Clara says l have
his artistic eye for color and form Any