Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09

And the Illuminating stars
eGeorge W. Rungay In Youths Companion.
. FITZHERBERT.
My name Is John Smith-plain Smith.
without change or addition OF vo~el-and
was in no way disseminated with it until
fell in love with Katie Rogers. Katie had
never meered at It, but her elder sister,
Miranda, had more than once hinted that it
was neither romantic nor uncommon, and her
father, in his somewhat lengthy discourse
about tho British aristocracy, had an aggra-
waiting way Of looking apologeticany at me-
every time he spoke Of "a good name"
In our commercial community Smith was
counted better name than Rogers, and
young Smith, tho rising cotton broker, a
more distinguished member of society than
old Rogers, o-captain of Dragons, who
could scarcely pay his ego rent and newer
wore q decent hat
quite agreed with my neighbors on these
points till fell in love with Katie and grew
familiar with Niranda's sentiments about
''the ignorance Of Philistine Riverbank."
Capt. Rogers was descended from Fitz-
roger, who cane over with the Conqueror,
and as listened reYerently to the history OF
the family progress through eight centuries,
the-e was total collapse Of my once foolish
pride in belonging to what local paper
called lone Of the Oldest families in River
bank" For Riverbank was scarcely as cid
as my father, having grown into town
with a speed rarely eQualed on this side Of
the Atlantic.
In general way do not undervalue my
self, but it was with deep sense of humility
that inplored the descendant of Fitzroger
to become my father-in-law. We were alone
together in the dining room Of the thirty
pound house, be sitting in q shabby armchair,
standing on still shabbier heaxthrug. He
looked up at the BATTLE Roll Of Hastings,
which hung over the mantel piece, and down
ct the fire, kept low by economical Miranda.
Then, having weighed the past glories Of
Fitzroger against the present price Of coal,
no accepted my proposal with the magnif-
cent condescension Of king consent,ng, for
certain state reasons, to bestow the hand of q
royal princess on an aspiring subject
So Katie and were engaged, and for a
time Yves supremely happy. I was not
quite vain enough to share my darling's
opinion that I, John Smith, was better worth
worshiping than all Carfyle's "Eeroes" put
together; bit was rather easily convinced
that was far too fine fellow to fear any
rival So when Katie went ON visit to Lon
don there vas no bitterness N my regret, for
believed In her-and myself.
At first was not disturbed by Miranda'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 l began to feel
vaguely uneasy. In those days Katie's let
ters, 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 I noticed
a change in her that seriously alarmed me.
She was paler and quieter, and at times there
was a wistful look in her eyes, sue gestive of
something on her mind. It could not be
anxiety about her fathers pecuniary affairs,
because about that time he appeared in new
hat and Miranda kept better fires. These
outward and visible signs Of prosperity
would have given me sincere pleasure If il
had not been for the suspicion that old
Rogers was more than ever disposed to take
the Norman conquest tone with me, and for
the certainty that Miranda's sneers ct ''peo-
pie who could not csunt their grandfatbers'
were all for my benefit.
What did this sort of thing meant Ead
Katie been tempted away from me by a lover
with a longer pedigree' Would Rogers tell
me some day, like the father in old fashioned
romance, that he had ''other views" for his
daughteri
One evening I called much later than
usual, having been detained by an important
business matter in ths 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
the drawing room, which appeared to be
empty. was just going to ring the bell for
the servant when heard pleading little
voice behind me:
"Oh, say, Jack, don't do that"
1t was the voice Of Bob, the youngest OF
Katie's many young brothers, and, turning
sharply round, I saw his scared little face
peeping between tho curtains drawn across
the bow window.
''Come here, dear old Jack" he entreated,
''and stay with me till she goes past"
'What shef' asked as stepped behind
the curtains to find Bob's hitherto invisible
form clad in nightgown.
Miranda" he added in tragic whisper.
Bob had blue eyes and golden hair, and in
his white array he looked like an angel in q
pictura But l rightly guessed that he had
descended from the upper regions that night
on no angelic mission.
Il thought she was safe up In tho lumber
room for the next half hour he explained,
"and got out of bed and was slipping down
to the kitchen for taste of the new jarn. ]
knew it was my only chance. She's so beaSty
mean about it when it's In pots. I Just got
to the han when heard her sneaking down
stairs, 80 ran in here She's il the dining
room now, and don't know whether she's
going up again OF down to the kitchen
Don't be a coward, my boy" said, feel
ing it my duty to be moral cot course
Miranda will scold if she finds you, but you
must bear it like a man"
''Scold,r repeated Bob, with scorn in bis
subdued tones. "Do you think I'd care if It
was only tdat7-
underwood the full peril OF the situation
DOW. Miranda prided herself on doing Q
mothers duty to The nlotherless boys, and /
knew that whatever her hand found to do
sAs did it with all her might.
"And it's just because | amt coward
don't want to meet her, went on Bob, e~i-
dentIy mindful OF Tho traditions Of Fitzrogsr
vaIor You see, JACK, could hit back If
she was man, but she amt. you knew, and,
OF course, no fellow who - gentleman ever
hits q woman
Robert" murmured, you are the soul