Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09

yourself when hrss tod you about F5tz-
herbert's proposal"
Miranda replied in tons OF cold superb
ority:
81 was more open to conviction than you
would find Mr. John Smith. We who have
been rooted in English soil for eight CEN
turies naturally take larger views OF HE
than mushrooms Of yesterday. Besides,
your conduct in this affair is justified by ths
example and approval OF women In the best
society,"
What a world Of whited sepulchres! 1
never loved Miranda, but / had always re-
pected her. However skeptical nnfgft have
been about her personal charms, bad never
doubted her principles. Miranda taught
class in the Sunday school, worked district
on strict charity organization principles, and
was decorated with the Order OF the Si1e
Ribbon. Yet here was this seemingly virtu-
Gus Miranda app,nnding her younger slEers
falseness to true lover. because 1t was the
fashion Of women IN ths best society to
trample upon honest hearts.
II hate concealmeut," said Katie; ''and
Jack is so truthful himself that can't bear
the idea of deceiving him. Oh, Miranda.
dear, vas so happy when Fitzhsrbers made
mo the offer that never stopped to wonder
what Jack would think about it, but now L
am SO miserable that l sometimes think l
must give up FitEherbert"
Rubbish" said Miranda, sand selfish rub
bish. too. wonder, Kate Rogers, how you
can talk in that way, when you know how
useful Fitzherbert's money is 70 your poor
father"
On. this was too awful Kate not only
false to me, but actually so mean as to taAe
money from her new lover. could stand 1t
no longer / wrenched myself from poor
little Bobs grasp, and stood ssernly facing
the two girls.
Miranda fed from the room. Kate stood
white and still.
pray do not give up Fitzherbert on my
humble account" said, scornfully. ''Do not
let my vulgar prejudice in favor Of truth
and honesty interfere with the wider moral
;sy Of the best society. Marry Fitzherbert to-
morrow, il you like, and be as happy as you
deserve to be-
! Tho color rushed back into Katie's face.
The light sparkled in her eyes She actually
laughed.
Thank you very much, Jack she said,
'sbut even with your kind permission, l can't
y
blue eyes danced, "Fitzherbert is married" !"
"And you dare to tell me" cried In wild
rage, ''that you have not only accepted love,
but money from married man"
She looked straight into my furious face
with her laughing eyss
sFitzherbert is not a married man." she
said
II was never good at guessing riddles" I
said, loftily; land as ! am not in the mood
for them tonight, give this one up. II
Fit1herbert is not a married man what, In
heavens name, is Fitzherbertr
Clear came the answer in the sweet, gay,
girhsh voice:
'Fitzherbert Is married woman"
Then, with the crushing consciousness Of
having made fool of myself, l listened hum
bly, to Katie's story.
"Fitzherbert is q west end miIliner, and
was Aunt Claras maid before her marriage.
Her name Is not really Fitzherbert, but
something quite ordinary, like Brown or
Smith-oh, beg your pardon, Jeckl She
was always fond Of me, and l amused my
self looking through her new fashions One
day while l was waiting for Aunt Clara,
who had gone to her dentist, fussy old lady
came into the shop, and was very angry BE-
cause none of the new Paris bonpets suited
her She was one of tho beSt customers, and
poor Fitzherbert was in despair when she
|. was leaving the shop in rage Well, Jack,
l have quite a genius for millinery. One Of
our ancestors was painter, and Aunt Clara
says have his artistic eye for color and
form. Anyhow, / always seem to know eI-
actly what suits a face persuaded the old
/ lady to sit down again, and with FItzher-
berts permission l made few alterations in
one particular bonnet The result was SO
becoming that the old lady was charmed.
You are heaven born miliner. my dear,
she said. why don't you go in for that sort
Of thing1 1t is all ths fashion among the
best people Aunt Clara called for me
presently, and was quite struck with the new
idea. After long talk with Fitzherbert
it was decided that I should 60 to the shop
every day and qualify for tho position Of
millinery aide-de-canlp. became quite pop
lar with the customers, especially the elderly
ones. love old ladies and delight in making
them look lovely, and sone of them threat
ened to leave Fitzherbert unless l undertook
the arrangement Of their bonnets and cops
for the term Of my single Life. FitEherbert
offered me very liberal pay for my assist
ance and was 50 glad to think Of helping
poor old daddy that at first forgot about
you and your possible objection to marrying
young woman who worked for shop, but
thought Of this afterward, and was always
fighting With my conscience about telling
you the truth, But, indeed, there are many
lady milliners In London, and-oh, Jack, I
see you don't mind so very much, after anr'
The precise nature of my conduct ON this
occasion need not hero be recorded.
The bridal wreath was a present from
Fitzherbert.-Household Words.