Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-25
FITZHERBERT.

FITZIIERBERT.
Ny name is John Smiuh-plaiD Smith.
without change or addition OF vowel-ani
vas in no way discontented with it until
fell in love with Katie Rogers Katie rad
never sneered at 1t, but ner elder sister,
Miranda. had more than once limited that IT
was neither romantic nor uncommon, AMI her
father. in his somewhat lengthy discourse
about the British aristocracy. mad an agra
waiting way Of looking apologericaily al ns
every time be spoke Of "a good narne.n
In ocr commercial community Smith was
counted better name than Rogers, and
Young Smith. the rising cotton broker,
more distinguished member of society than
Old Rogers. ex-calGain Of dragons. who
couIl scarcely pay his ESQ rent and never
wore a decent lat
quite agreed with my neighbors on these
points Till fell in love with Katie and grew
familiar with Miranda's sentiments about
''the ignorance Of Philistine Riverbenk."
Capt Rogers was descended from Fitz-
roger. who came over with the Conqueror,
and as listened reverently 70 the history OF
the family progress through eight centuries,
there was a total collapse Of my once foolish
pfi4t III DsACas-sAAo W "H-s - 'N~-A> N-f~>
called .o.se Of the oldest families in River
bank" For Riyerbank was scarcely as old
as my father. having grown into town
with a speed rarely equaled on this side Of
the Atlantic.
In q general way do not undervalue my
self, but IL was with deep sense Of humility
that iuplored the descendant Of Fitnoser
to become my father-in-law. We were alone
together in the dining room Of the thirty
pound house, he sitting in shabby armchair.
sanding on n still shabbier hearthrug. He
looked up nj the Battle Roll of Hastings
which hung over the mantel piece, and down
at the FIRE, kept low by economical Miranda
{ Thea, having weighed the past glories Of
| FitzroSer against the present price Of coal,
he accepted my proposal with the maSnih-
cent coudescension OF king consentins, for
/ certain STATE reasons, to bestow the hand Of a
royal princess on an aspiring subject
/ So Katie anil | were engaged, and for a
time | was supremacy happy. | was not
| quite vain enough to share my dar.ing's
opinion that |, John Smith, was better worth
worshiping than all Carlyle's Heroes" put
to-e.her; but was rather easily convinced
that was far too fine a fellow to fear any
/ rival So when Katie went on visit to Lon
/ don there was no bitterness in my regret, for
| | believed in her-and myself.
| At first was not disturbed by Mirandas
boasts about tae advantages her sister was
enjoying ia 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 let
tiers, though loving, were not long, and she
more than once apologized for their brevity
by pleading "A particular engagement" the
{ a. ,,~lt Il .4... ,,o1 Nv
confidence sank, my jealousy arose.
+ 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 u wlztful look In her eyes, suggestive of
something on her mind. 1t could not DO
I anxiety about her fathers pecuniary affairs,
because about that time he appeared in u new
/ hat and Miranda kept better fires These
/ outward and visible signs of prosperity
would have given me sinoere pleasure if 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
tho certainty that Miranda's sneers at '.peo-
pie who could not count their grandfathers"
were all for my benefit.
What did this sort Of thing meant Had
Katie been tempted away from me by a lover
with longer pedigreef Would Rogers tell
mo some day, like the father III old fashioned
romance that he had ''other views" for his
daughteri
One evening | called much later than
usual, having been detained by an important
! business matter in the ncighboring city OF
! Shipley Tho outer door of the house was
opcu and /, in my usual way, turned the
/ handle of the vestibule door and walked into
| the drawing room, which appearel to be
empty, was just going to ring the bell for
the servant when heard pleading little
voice behind me;
"Oh, | say, Jack, don't do that"
Il was tie voice of Bob, the youngest OF
Rates many young Others. and, turning
sharply round, | saw IS scared little face
! peepiag between the curtains drawn across
the bow window.
"Co,le here, dear old Jack" he entreated,
lard stay with me till $40 goes past"
"Nb bat shei" | asked as | stepped behind
tho curtains to find Bo5's hitherto invisible
form clad in a nightyown.
IN randa,' be added in tragic whisper
Bob bad blue eyes and golden hair, and in
his white array he looked Ike an angel in a
picture. Dut | rightly guessed that he had
descended from tic upper regions that night
on no angelic mission.
III thought size was safe up in the lumber
room for the next half hour" he explained,
"and | roc out of bed and was slipping down
to tho kltchcl for q taste of the row jam
knew it was my only chance Shes so beastIy
mean about it when it's in pots | Just got
60 tho hail when heard her snealliny down
stairs, 50 ran in hero. Shes in the dining
room now, and don't know whether she's
going up again or down to the kitchen"
Don't be a coward. my boy" | said feel
ing it my duty to DO moral "Of course
Miranda will scolI if she finds you, but you
must bear it Ike man"
"Scold" repeated Bob, with scorn in his
subdued tones. DO you think I'd care If it
was only tdatF
understood the full peril Of the situation
now Miranda prided herself on doing a
mothers duty to the motherless boys. and |
knew that whatever her hand found to do
she did 1t with all her might
And It's Just because amt q coward |
don't want to meet her" went on Bob, evil
IDENTIFY mindful of the traditions of FitnoGer
valor You see, Jack, | could hit back if
she was man, but shc amt. you know, and,
| of course, no fellow who is gentleman ever
| hits woman"
Robert" | murmured, you are the soul
| Of chivalry.'
"Oh, SHUT up Jack Smith, and my small
brothcr-n-llw elect held me with a desperate
| grip "Slc's coming ini'
pcered cautious between the heavy cur
tains and caught glimpse of Miranda's lank
form and lynx eyes The next moment she
was vanishing, but she stopped as Katie APP
pearcd at the door.
Kate" she said, in her thin sharp voice,
Il was looking for YOU | think you might
help ne to pot the jam. Smith may not be
hero 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 Fitzherbcrt"
| stood with freezing blood behind the cur
Gains, wondering what awful revelation was
about to wreck my life's happiness. In a
lightning cash Of jealous Imagination | saw
Ftcherbert. No doubt he was one Of the
sSells Katie had met in London \ military
- 81 49,.