Middletown transcript., 1892-05-19
THE IDOL AND IDOLATERS

THE IDOL AND THElDOLATERI
HERE was crowd Of ladies il
the Office of the Atlantic House
and the centre of attraction was tn,
hotel,register; over this bent two o.
three with greedy and enrapturet
eyes, admiring, commenting. ther
sadly dragging themselves from th'
book to make way for the others.
aP. d. c. Howard, read one young
lady, letting each initial melt slowly
in her mouth as though it we're {
delicious bon-bon. I wonder Wha
his name is ?" with little sigh ant
eyes that gazed at nothing.
perhaps it's Peter-or Patrick,
her mother suggested, with apparent
mental exertion.
"Oh, mamma ]"
And all the ladies pursed their lipi
and shook their heads to show the
utter inadmissibility Of these names.
"But, my dear, there have been EN-
perors of Russia named Peter, an6
there is Saint Patrick"
I" An Irish saint !" And the
daughter shuddered delicately, while
the entire company felt the name tc
be irretrievably damned.
"Yes, but an aristocratic name
meaning Patrician,'" persisted Mrs
Grey.
"Oh r went Miss Adeline Grey
and "Oh rs went the other ladies.
"That can't be his name," asserted
tall young lady with an eye-glass
bending over the register: "his uncle
the Earl of Prestonpans, is related tc
the Northumberland. His name j;
probably Percy"
Great relief was visible among the
ladies, then a calculating look over
spread their faces, as though they
were trying to add seven and eight
together and had doubts as to the re-
suit.
"Or Prestonpans," came family
from one.
"Or Penshurst."
"Or Penrhyn."
"I'm certain it is Percy" declared
the tall young lady, still admiring Mr.
P. D. @. Howards's signature through
her glass. Look, mamma; his hand
whiting is almost exactly like the
Prince of Wales's."
At which there was a rustic and a
pressing forward, and such general
anxiety to see the register that Miss
Elizabeth Standish, after a parting
look, passed oD, with the " Peerage
under her arm.
Then flying step was heard on
the stair, and a little lady with deli
cately sharp features, picturesque hair
and the quick movements of a bird
swooped down upon them and fasten-
ed herself to an old lady's arm.
sob, auntie, his things have beer
brought upstairs, and there are two
leather trunks, and hat-box, and a
valise, and a tin bath-tub with cover
and strap around it; and his valeI
has Just carried up some umbrellas
| and canes, and a rug, and some news
papers, and an opera-glass. peeped
| over the balusters and saw him"
"Hush, Avis! he may hear you. ;
And the white-haired lady glanced
timidly about.
But the others had already gather
ed around the new-c conner, and were
preparing to pour out deluge O.
questions, when they were cut shor
by the quiet, distinct voice of Mis-
Standish "Here is Mr.. Howard'l
name Pfantagenet Delaware Caven.
dish Howard only son of the Honor
able Edwin Fitzmaurice de Bracy
Howard and Of Georgina Constance
fifth daughter of the Earl of Bosworth
be is heir presumptive Of the Earl o
Prestonpans." And Miss Standist
brought this out with calm, distinc
emphasis and hardly-veiled exultation
The assembled ladies had expected
something aristocratic, but they wer'
unprepared for SO many and sucl
high-sounding names /; they los
breath, and could only gasp.
"Plantagenetr' murmured Mis-
Adeline Grey.
"Heir to the Earl OF Prestonpans
oh p from little Miss Avis Lyons
81 did not say heir, but heir pre-
sumptive," said Miss Standish severe
ly. "Lord Prestonpans married, thi
spring, Lady Terpsichore Penolop'
Brandywine, eldest daughter Of tn
Duke of Paleail. They might hav,
children" she added sagely.
/ How much more noble information
might have been youchsafed by Mis-
Standish, had she not been interrupt
ed, it is impossible to say; but, tn