The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-03-10

never DC In our mouths again dlleT Jhe
marriage ceremony.
"True, true" replied my father "and
certainly the sooner we forget it the better.
The young lady should really be greatly
obliged to you. Slugg Ha, ha Won
how it feels to be called Slugg.
Il wonder" l said and then We both
laughed very heartily.
After that | had no more trouble. Be-
fore we left the dining-room | had obtained
his consent and substantial check as a
wedding present; and, possessed of his
blessing and signature, returned to Lon
don next day.
The following morning Belinda and [
were united Everything went off without
hitch, exactly as we had planned it; and
before the maiden had been missed from
her uncle's house, the wife had returned
with her husband to announce the great
news in person. Mr. Slugg was in his
study when we arrived, and thither at once
| repaired ''to beard the lion in his den, y
while my wife sought the morning-ro to
make her peace with her aunt. For my
own part, was intent on war did not
wish to be "on terms with my wife $ rela-
tions, | wanted to forget the very name of
Slugg, and | hoped that in his rage and
disappointment, Belinda's uncle night use
words 50 cutting as to sever completely all
ties between us. Mr.. Slugg showed more
self-control than | had expected, however
for he received what must have been most
unwelcome news with remarkable compo-
sure. He bowed to the inevitable-and
with more politeness than had thought
him capable Of Being business man,
he probably looked at the matter from a
business point of view. The mischief was
done, and all he could say would not undo
it; the strongest language in his vocabu-
larry would be of no avail against the few
words spoken by the clergyman a short
half-hour before, and so he saved his breath
Nevertheless, he surveyed me with very
evil smile, and there was sad lack of sin
cerity about the tone in which he wished
me joy.
But what of Belinda ?" he concluded
Surely I ought to be among the first to
congratulate her on becoming Mrs. Slugg?"
He laid peculiar emphasis on the word
Slugg, which at once attracted my arten-
ton.
pardon me, l interrupted lit was a
slip of the tongue, no doubt, but you have
called my wife by name which does not
now belong to her. Your niece is no longer
a Slugg, she has become a Lympet No
one whose privilege it is to be called. Lynn
pet would like to be called S-anything
else"
"Am | to understand, he cried eagerly,
that Belinda abandons the name of
Slugg ?"
docs it seem so strange inquired.
Il have always supposed that it was cuslo-
mary for wife to adopt her husbands
name when she married
1T is the rule, replied Mr. Slugg slow
ly, 'but there are exceptions Husbands
have been known to take their wives
names-for consideration"
Il would have you know, sir, - | rctorted
angrily, ''that no Lympet would barter his
name away for any consideration whatso-
ever
"a noble sentiment = cried Mr. Slugg
ioyfully, looking like miser who had Just
found sixpence "a noble sentiment
You are right, sir, What is paltry hun
dred thousand pounds compared to name
50 ancient and so honorable?"
\ hundred thousand pounds That
was the exact amount of Belinda 5 fortune.
What did the man mean by such pointed
reference TO it?
"Aud | am ashamed to say took you
for fortune-hunter !" he continued ex-
citedly. "You-you who kick the dross
away and say in effect, Let me keep the
honored name of Lympet, care not who
has the fortune r
"Exeuse me, | broke in hastily, hbut
if you're talking about my wife's fortune
| do care very much who has it, Hang
it all, there's no mistake about that, is
there ?"
Surely, Mr.. Lympet," said Mr., Slugg,
calming down and beginning to look very
anxious, you are aware of the provisions
of my brothers will? You must be. You
discard the name of Slugg with your eyes
open, is it not so You know the couse
Iuences and are prepared to accept them |
You would not change the noble name of |
Lympet for thrice my niece's fortune? OF
course not Not for any consideration
whatsoever | heard you say SO.
At his words a cold shiver ran down my
back. l knew nothing about the deceased
Slugg's will. My information concerning
Belinda's fortune had come to me on most
excellent authority, and she herself had
old me that she was at liberty to marry
whom she pleased after her twenty first
birthday, but of the provisions of the will
lnder which she inherited | was ignorant.
Somehow I had never thought of driv-
ne down to Somerset House and inspect
ug the document 1t was an oversight,
md began to fear q very serious one,
Look here, Mr.. slugg,n said, with
CHASTITY attempt at jocularity, swell dis