Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-13
FIIZHERBEGT.


Nv name is John Smith-plain Smith,
vitbyut change VI addition of vow ell
and was ia no way Disconnected with IL
tlI fell in love with Kate Rogers. Kate
had never sneered at all, but her elder
slater Miranda, had more than once hint
ID thst it was neither romantic nor un-
cannon; and her father in his somewhat
lergthy discouIse about the British
srstoeraoy, had an aggrevating way of
boxing apologetlcally at me every time
he spoke OF "a 2ood name"
In our commercial community, Smith
was counted a better name than Rogers,
and Young Smith, the rising cotton-brok
samore distinguished IN m6er OF society
than old Rogers, ex captain OF Dragons,
who could scarcely pay his $50 rent and
never wore decent nat.
loute agreed with my neighbor on these
polnts till fell in love with Kate and
grew familiar with Miriam las sentiments
shove "the igt ORANGE of Philistine River.
bank
Captain Rogers was decended from Fitz
roger, who came over with the conqueror,
and, Is listened reverently TO the history
Of the family progress through eight cen
II turtles, there was q total collapse of my
once foolish pride III beloning to what
local paper called zone of the Oldest fam
lilies in Riverbauk." For Riverbank was
scarcely as old as my father, having
grown into a town which speed rarely
lqgalied on his side Of the Atlantic.
IA general way did not urdervalue
myself, but it was with deep SENSE of
humility that | i'm lored the defendant
o. Fitzroger 10 become my fatheT-in-law.
We were alone together IN the dining
ROOM OF the thirty pound-house, he sit
ting ia the shabby armchair, | standing
on a still shabbier hearthrug. He looked
az the Battle Roll of Hastings" which
hung over the mautepieoe, and down at
the FIRE, kept low bylecomical Miranda.
Then, having weighed the past glories of
Flfzroger against the present price of
Goals he accepted my proposal with the
magnificent cord sension of king con
.enting, for certain state REASONS, TO be
stew the hand of = royal princess on an
aspiring subject.
So Katie aud / were engaged. and for
time / WIS supremacy happy. | was not
gaito vain enough to share my darling's
opinion that /, John Smith, Was better
worth Sorshippiug han All CarlYle's
Heroes put together; but | was rather
easily convinced that l was far too fine Il
fellow to fser any rival. So when Katie
wtnt On a visit TO London there was no
bitterness in my regret, for | believe In
htr-epd nyseif.
AZ first l wac not disturbed by Miriam
aas boasts about tho advantages her
sister was enjoying in The best society,""
but sh, L be london visit extended Tor
week. aud months beyond Its original
'iml- I began To feel vag uely unea-y. la
those days Katie's letters, though loving,
vere not long, and she more than once
apo.ogjzed for their brevty by plead
ips "a particular engrSemeDt,' the
nature Os which she never ex claimed.
Ey confidence sank, my jealousy arose.
At last she came home, and then L
noticed a change in her that seriously
aarmed noe. She was paer and quie6er,
aud 40 times there was wistful look IN
Dec eyes, suggestive OF something III her
ulua ID could not be anxiety about
lsi fathers pecuniary affairs, because
aoo1, hat time he appeared ia a new dat,
aha Miranda kept better fires. Taese
outward and visible signs Of prosperity
s1uld ey" given me sincere pleasure If
y had not been for the uspicion that Old
h}gtrs was more than ever disposed to
'aks the Norman Conquest tone with me,
aud for The certainty that Miranda's
slsess at people who could not count
laslt 4--ndfathersn were all fol my bene-
a.
What did this sort of thing mean?
Afd Katie been TEN ptt away from me
" lover with longer peGigreef
Mould Rogers tell me some Gay, like the
Ia'her Ia Old fashioned romance, that he
laa other views for his deughterf"
One evening / called much later than
ssaal, having been detained by an i'm
portaut business matter in the neighbor-
ing city OF Shipley. The outer door of
'1- house was open, and I, In my usual
tay, turned the handle of the yestibule
uoo- and walked ints the drawing room,
"lleA appeared 10 be empty. / was Just
gong 10 ring the bel. for the servant,
s-eu L hearc pleading little voice be
bud me-.
Va say, Jack, don't do thai"
~ was tho voice of Bob, the youngest of
Na'ie.s many brothers and turning sharp
around, ] saw his scared litile face
Fs7hug between the curtains drawn a
'fo- the bow ~iudow.
Come here, dear, old Jack, he en-
'-'se' and stay with me uutil she goes
nat she2' asked, "a / stepped be
ihe curtains 20 fud Bob.s hitherto
.-Il.- form elod in q nj htgUVn.
i f-uda' he added ia tragic
757 lad blue eyes and golden hair ard
1 white array be looked like az angel
] picture, Bar I rightly guessed that
4Al de.cecGed from the upper regions
o'sht On 10 angelic mission.
aought ne vac safe up 10 the lum-
room for 1e next half hour he *
1se "and gos out OF bed and was
.,t!'eg down IN the kitchen for o taste
! .as new sfn. knew il was my cuiy