Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12

view TO have the bearings Of an aristocrat
began to think better Of him now that saw
him face to face. He talked q great deal to
Sylvia and Sylvia to him. It was clear as day
to me they understood one another by this time
perfectly.
Throughout the greater part Of dinner my
opinion OF the young man rose steadily, but
surely. 1t was evident he knew several really
good people; and when I say really good"
need hardly add that sllude to the members
OF our British aristocracy. He spoke Of q
| friend OF his, one Sir Howard Fitzgibbon. who
was stopping just then at place called Beau
lieu, and he alluded to his uncle, Admiral
Townsend Jones, who. as 1 knew, was married
to q sister Of Lord Horshams. This looked
really well and i began to imagine the fellow
might, after all, be verything he pretended to
be. when, just as the salad came on, and the
talk grew familiar, An unfortunate slip of the
tongue revealed the true nature OF the crea-
lures antecedents.
You we're speaking of Sussex, /" said to him
with q very gracious nod. "Do you belong to
the county? My own ancestors, the
Worthlstans. who came over from Normandy
with William the Conqueror, were originally
Sussex people"
''Oh, yes, I'm Sussex man." he answered,
looking up and twirling his mustache little
to hide smile, ! fancied. I played for the
Downs called Jghfield.'"
couiu uaTuiy DeileV6 my eyes. NV CneekB
tngled My hair stood erect on my head with
horror. That person who murdered the
queens English like that-an ignoramus, q
yulgarinn, man Of straw-should venture to
thrust himself forward for my Silvia's hand;
why, it was shameful! 1t was preposterous!
Some seconds passed before l could find
strength to answer his remark. At last man
aged to reply In a very shocked voice and with
marked emphasis:
II wasn't aware there was any place called
10 rt,S "
lie smiled once more, quite superior sort Of
smile that made mo positively angry.
Il said Tghfield,' he replied. ''It's on the
borders OF Hants. Two lived there all my life
and l ought to know"
swered.
Yes, indeed, SO should think. But High
neld Is spot haven't the honor to know"
aspirated the word with all the strength in nv
power, 80 as to enforce my remark. 'You
can n; expect every one," added, Ito have lived
Il beg your parden," the young man said.
leaning across toward me with a smile, and
speaking In that absurdly suave, bland voice
o OF ms, but think you misunderstood. The
village OF 'Ighfeld-"
and blood is fallible. I grew hot in the face,
and no doubt very red. for am perhaps trifie
stout and am choleric by nature. was aware
that people around us were looking at him and
glggllng. 1t was painful to me to think the
man should exhibit his yulgarity before the
eyes of the whole hotel especially when could
see everybody knew quite well he was paying
particular attention to my own daughter. 1
cut hum short with wave of my hand and with
profound dignity
Excuse me. y said, somewhat CURLY; "but
Tor your own sake, If you will allow me to saw
80, / think VIC had better not continue this dis
cusslon any further. 1t il embarrassing for
me ana unpleasant for you. I tell you the
truth, Mr.
paused, with burning cheeks, for in the heat
OF my indignation I'd forgotten the fellows re-
spected name even.
My name is 'Ampton," he raid, looking
toward me with grave politeness.
This was really more than human endurance
could stand. lily cheeks burned like fire. my
ears tingled.
ITO tell you the truth, Mr. Hampton,
said, In as low voice as 1 could compass, SO
as not to put him to needless shame before the
whole society, Pm stickler for the purity of
our mother tongue and when any man VEN
lures"
Mr.. Hampton's face was rather red now
though l saw sort Of suppressed amusement
decent.
Excuse me, he began once more, still bland
but peremptory. "You mistake me entirely. /
said 'Amptop."
Human nature is frail. It is the last straw
that breaks the camels back. lost my tenn
per.
Yes. I know you said Ampton,'" an
swered with warmth. "And I say Hampton
You must forgive me il have to set YOU right
at public table on so delicate a subject. but a
man VINO does not know how to pronounce his
own name without hideous Wi garism of the
most disgusting sort is, in my opinion, un-
ft-
But before could finish nv sentence bv adj
ding ''for the society of gentlemen" Sylvia
mad seized my arm neryousiy
Papa, dear, she whispered, blushing down
to her very neck. and looking handsonrer than
ever, do allow mo to explain. The fact is his
Sylvia, my child" I said decisively, for I
wont be interfered with by my own daughter,
VIII you allow me to manage my conversati n
myself Mr.. Hampton anu can get on verv
well indeed withou. you. When 1 need your
assistance. won't forget to ask you for it.
Meanwhile, have the goodness to pass me the
wine card, will you?"
sylvia blushed crimson, which, of course.
was very proper, and Mr. Hampton turned
round with painfully red face to his neigh
Dor, who happened to be a French woman, and
began explaining something volubly to her in
her own Language. don't deny he seemed to
talk it like native. He had all the foreign airs
and graces, that young man had. but. as
limited before, regard an ability to speak the
languages OF Foreigners AS dust in the balance,
compared with correct and graceful pronun-
citation Of our own beloved and beautiful mother
tongue.
After dinner lounged awhile in the smok-
ing room enjoying my cigar and staring
blankly across the floor at Mr.. Hampton. who
was quite undsconcerted in the opposite cor
ner. Two or three of his friends sat cicgling
around HIM. He was telling them the story of
a mounted paper chase or hare and hounds. in
which he had evidently taken part at Cannes
that morning, and to my intense disgust lie re-
marked over and over again that the hare did
this or the hare did that TILL in a fever of dis
gust, could stand it no longer. rose and
went into the saloon to look for Maria
and Sylvia. To my surprise they weren't
there. l returned through the smoking room TO
go up to our own salon, and as 1 passed that
man Hampton assaulted my ears once more
with another OF his hideous vulgarisms They
live in Ugh street." he was remarkins to a
friend. ! shuddercd and passed on This was
too. too horrible. That q creature like that
should venture to aspire to my beautiful
Sylviat An aspirant without an aspirate. II
filled me with indignation.
CHAPTER III.