The Arizona sentinel., 1888-10-06
"Oh, 1 say. Jack. don't do that!''

est of Katie's many young brothers, and, turning sharply around, saw his scared little face peeping between the curtains drawn across the bow window.
 "Come here, dear old Jack" he en- treated; ''and stay with me till she goes past"
 ''What she?" I asked, as I stepped behind the curtain to find Bob's hitherto invisible form clad in night gown.
 Miranda" he added, in a tragic whisper.
 Bob had blue eyes and golden hair, and in his white array he looked like an angel in a picture. But rightly guessed that he had descended from the upper regions that night on no angelic mission.
 ''1 thought she was safe up in the lumber room for the next half-hOur, J he explained, ''and I got out of bed and was slipping down to the kitchen for taste of the new jam. I knew it was my only chance. She's so beastly mean about it when it's In pots. 1 just got to the hall when l heard her sneak ing downstairs, so 1 ran in here. She's 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, feeling it my duty to be moral. ''Of course Miranda will scold if she finds you, but you must bear it like a man.
 "Scold!n repeated Bob, with scorn in his subdued tones. ''Do you think I'd care if it was only that?''
 I understood the full peril of the situation now. Miranda prided her. self on doing mothers duty to the motherIess boys, and I knew that whatever her hand found to do she did it with all her might.
 And it's just because I ain't cow ard I don't want to meet her." went on Bob, evidently mindful of the tradi- tions of Fitzroger valor. ''You see, Jack, I 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," murmured, ''you are the soul of chivalry."
 ''Oh, shut up, Jack Smithr' and m y small brother-in-law-elect held me with desperate grip. ''She's coming in!'
 peered cautiously between the heavy curtains and caught a glimpse of Miranda's lanl1 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, '1 was looking for you. 1 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! 1 can tell you, my dear, that your appearance has not improved since you took up with Fitzherbert. :"
 I 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 1 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 1 had read about in society novels.
 Miranda" said Kitie, ''don't you think ought to tell Jack about Fitz- herbert?"
 No, l don't" said Miranda, sharply. "I don't see why the interests of our family are to be risked in acollision with the narrow middle-class preju- dices of Mr. John Smith
 Katie's voice sounded a little weary when she spoke again.
 "You know, Miranda, you were hor- rified yourself when I first told you about Fitzherbert's proposal"
 Miranda replied in tone of cold superiority:
 ''I was more open to conviction than you'd would find MT. 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 whited sepulchers! l had never loved Miranda, but I had always respected her. However skeptical I might have been about her personal charms, 1 had never doubted her principles. Miranda taught class in the Sunday-school, worked 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.
 '1 hate concealment," said Katie, ''and Jack is so truthful himself that I can't bear the idea of deceiving him. Oh, Miranda, dear, l was so happy when Fitzherbert made me the offer that never stopped to wonder what Jack would think about it, but now I am so miserable that sometimes think l must give up Fitzherbert. "
 ''Rubbishr' said Miranda, ''and selfish rubbish too. 1 wonder, Kate Rogers, how you can talk in that way, when you know how useful Fitzher- bert's money is to VOLT noOf father n