Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-10-11
FITZHERBERT.

FITZllERBERl.
Nv name is John Smith-plain Smith
without change or addition OF vowei-and
| was in no way Disseminated with u until
fell in love with Katie Rogers. katie had
never sneered at it, but her elder sister,
/ Miranda. had more than once hinted that IL
was neither romantic nor uncommon,a ner
father. in his somewhat lengthy discourse
about the British aristocracy. had an aggra-
waiting way of looking apoloSetically at me
every time he spoke of "a good name.
In our commercial community smith was
counted a better name than Rogers, ana
Young Smith, the rising cotton broker
more distinguished member Of society than
old Rogers, ex-captain of Dragons, VINO
could scarcely pay his ESQ rent and never
wore decent hat.
quite agreed with my neighbors on these
points till fell in love with Katie and grew
familiar with Mranda's sentiments about
1.-THE ignorance of Philistine Riverbank."
Cant, Rogers was descended from Fitz-
roger. who came over with the Conqueror,
and as listened reverently to the history Of
the family progress through eight centuries
there was a total collapse Of my once foolish
pride in belonging to what local paper
called zone of tine oldest families in River
bank For Riverbank was scarcely as old
as my father. having grown into town
with speed rarely equaled on this side OF
the Atlantic.
In a general way do not undervalue my
self, 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 shabby armchair,
| standing on a still shabbier hearthrug. He
looked up at the Battle Roll OF Hastings
which hung over the mantel piece, and down
at the fire. kept low by economical Miranda
Then, having weighed the past glories Of
FitzroSer against the present price Of coal,
be accepted my proposal with the magnifi
cent condescension Of a king consentlng, for
certain state reasons, to bestow the hand Of
royal princess on AN aspiring subject.
So Katie and | were engaged, and for a
time | was supremacy happy was rot
quite vain enough to share my dariing's
opinion that |, John Smith, was better worth
worshiping than all Carlyles Heroes put
together; but ! was rather easily convinced
that was far too fine fellow to fear any
rival So when Katie went on a visit TO Lon
don there was no bitterness in my regret, for
/ believed in her-and myself
At first | was not disturbed by Mranda'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 Katies let
tiers, though loving, were not long, and She
more than once apologized for their brevity
by pleading "a particular engagement" the
nature Of which she never explained My
confidence sank, my jealousy arose
At last she came home, and then ! noticed
n change in her that seriously alarmed me.
She was paler and quieter, and at times there
was wistful look in her eyes, suggestive OF
something on her mind. Ii could rot be
anxiety about her fathers pecuniary affairs,
because about that time heappcarel in new
hat and Miranda kept better fires. These
and visible signs Of prosperity
would have given me sincere pleasure if il
bad not been for the suspicion that old
Rogers was more than ever disposed 70 take
the Norman conquest tone with me, and for
the certainty that Miranda's sneers at '.peo-
pie who could not count their grandfathersr
were all for my benefit
What did this sort Of thing meant Had
Katie been tempted away from me by lover
with a longer pedigreel Would Rogers tell
me some day, like the father in old fashioned
that he had 'other views for his
iaughterl
One evening l called much later than
usual, having been detained by an important
business matter in the neighboring city Of
Shipley. The outer door of the house was
open, and l. in my usual way, turned the
handle OF the vestibule door and walked into
he drawing room, which appeared TO be
Empty was just going TO ring the bell for
he servant when | heard pleading little
loice behind me:
"Oh, | say, Jack, don't do that
1t was the voice of Bob, the youngest Of
Aaties many young brothers, and, turning
harply round, | saw his scared little face
,eeping between the curtains drawn across
he bow window
Come here, dear old Jack" he entreated,
and stay with me till she goes past
what shef" asked as l stepped behind
he curtains to find Bob's hitherto invisible
orm clad in a nightgown.
Miranda he added in tragic whisper
Bob had blue eyes and golden hair and in
lis white array he looked like an angel in a |
'icture. But | rightly guessed that he had
descended from the upper regions that night
N no angelic mission
Il thought she was safe up in the lumber
DOM for the next half hour he explained,
and got out of bed and was slipping down
o the kitchen for a taste of the new jam |
new It was my only chance. She's so beastly
mean about it when it's in pots. just got
o the hall when heard her snealxing down
tairs, 50 ran in here. She's in the dining
DOM now, and don't know whether she's
ding up again or down to the kitchen
Don't be a coward, my boy,n said, feel
lg it my duty to be moral "Of course
iiranda viii scold if she finds you, but YOU
aust bear it like a man,
"Scold!" repeated Bob, with scorn in his
nbdued tones do you think I'd care if it
ras only thatn
understood tho full peril Of the situation
ow. Miranda prided herself on doing a
lother's duty TO the motherless BOYS, and
4ltae als,Fss4 -. I u