The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-29

of course no fellow who is gentle
man ever hits q women
Robert" I murmered, "you are
the soul of chivalry."
ooh. shut up, Jack Smith" and
my small brother-inslaw-elect held
me with desperate grip. "She'scom-
ing IMP
l peered cautiously between the
heavy curtains, and caughta glimpse
of Miranda's lahk 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, 81 was looking foryou. Think
you might help me to pot the jam.
Smith may not be here tonight, and
if he comes let him wait. How pale
you look! l can tell you, my dear,
that your appearance has not i'm
proved since you took up with Fitz-
herbert"
| stood with freezing blood behind
the curtains, wondering what awful
revelation was about to wreck my
LIES happiness. In a lightning flash
of jealous Imagination saw Fitzher-
bert. No doubt he was one of the
swells Katie had met in London. A
military swell, one ofthose handsome,
naughty guardsmen | had read about
in society novels.
Miranda" said Katie, "don't you
think ought to tell Jack about Fitz-
herbert?"
mo, l DON'T" said Miranda sharp
ly. 81 don't see why the interests of
our family are to be risked in col
lision with the narrow middle-class
prejudices of Mr.. John Smith"
Katie's voice sounded q little weary
when she spoke again.
"You know, Miranda, you were
Mortified yourself when l first told
you about Fitzherbert's proposal"
Miranda replied in a tone of cold
superiority:
II was more open to conviction
than you would find Mr. 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 ex-
ample and approval of women in the
best society,"
What world of whited sepulchersl
/ had never loved Miranda, but had
always respected her. However skep-
teal l might have been about her
personal charms, Ihad never doubted
her principles. Miranda taught a
class in the Sunday-school, worked
a district on strict Charity Organize
ton principles, and was decorated
with the Order of the Blue Ribbon.
Yet here was this seemingly virtuous
Miranda applauding her younger sis
ter's falseness to a true lover because
it was the fashion of Women in the
best society to trampie on honest
hearts.
81 hate concealment," said Katie;
"and Jack is so truthful himself, that
l can't bear the idea ofdeceiving him.
Oh, Miranda, dear, l was so happy
when Fitzherbert made me the offer
that I never stopped to wonder what
Jack would think about it, but now l
am so miserable that l sometimes
think must give up Fitzherbert. "
"Rubbishl' said Miranda, land
selfish rubbish too. / wonder, Kate
Rogers, how you can talk in that
way, when you know how useful Fitz-
herbert's money is to your poor
father"
Oh, this was too awful? Katie not
only false to me, but actually so
mean as to take money from her new
lover. could stand it no longer. l
wrenched myself from poor little
Bob's grasp, and stood sternly facing
the two girls.
Miranda fed from the room.
Katie stood white and still.
"Pray do not give up Fitzherbert
on my humble account, l said scorn-
fully. "Do not let my vulgar preju-
dice in favor of truth and honesty in
terfere with the wider morality of the
best society. Marry Fitzherbert to-
morrow, if you like, and be as happy
as you deserve to be-"
The color rushed back into Katie's
face. The light sparkled in her eyes.
She actually laughed.
"Thank you very much, Jack, F"
she said, "but even with your kind
permission can t marry Fitzherbert.
The fact is" and her blue eyes
danced, "Fitzherbert is married"
"And you dare to tell me-" l cried
in wild rage, chat you have not
only accepted love but money from a
married man."
She looked straight into my face
with her laughing eyes.
"Fitzherbert is not q married
man," she said.
81 was never good at guessing
riddles" l said loftily; "and as l am
not in the mood for them tonight, /
give this one up. If Fitzherbert is
married, and if Fitzherbert is not a
married man, what in Heavens
name, is Fitzherbert?"
Clear came the answer in the
sweet, gay, girlish voice:
"Fitzherbert is q married woman. "
Then, with crushing consciousness
of having made a fool of myself, !
listened humbly to Katie's little
story.
"Fitzherbertis q West End milliner,
and was Aunt Clara's maid before
her marriage. Her name is not
really Fitzherbert, but something
quite ordinary, like Brown or Smith
oh, / beg your pardon, Jack, She
was always fond of me, and l often
amused myself looking through her
fashions. One day, while l was wait
ing for Aunt Clara, who had gone to
her dentist, a fussy old lady came in
to the shop, and was very angry be-
cause none of the new Paris bonnets
suited her. She was one of the best
customers, and poor Fitzherbert was
in despair when she was leaving the
shop in a rage. Well, Jack, | have
quite genius for millinery. One OF
our ancestors was painter, and
Aunt Clara says I have his artistic
eve for color and form. Anyhow,
always seem to know exactly what
suits O. face, | persuaded the old