The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-24

Alas, it was too truel Amid all the tan
gle of verbiage ono fact stood distinctly
out-thc husband of Belinda would have
to adopt her name or forfeit her fortune
What was to do? Abandon the name of
Lympet, which l loved, and assume the
name of Slugg, which loathedP Impos-
siblel Yet what the alternativeS Genteel
poverty. My pride pulled one way, my
prudence the other, and prudence won. I
had my wife to think of. l could not rob
her of her fortune and drag her down from
affiuence to indulgence for a mere senti-
ment, however noble. For her sake re-
solved to subdue my pride and sacrifice my
name. To parody Glbbon, sighed as
Lympet. obeyed as husband. After
ALL" I concluded, not knowing that 1
spoke aloud "by the aid of hyphen 1t
may be made endurable. Lympet-Sluggi
1t is at least uncommon"
IF you look on the other page, " broke
in an unsympathetic voice, you will see
clause which provides for any such at
tempt at evasion. In 1t the testator de-
clares that he will have no tampering with
the fine old Anglo-Saxon name; that he
will not have it linked to hyphen and
converted into a hybrid compound. The
plain, old fashioned name of Slugg must
not be spoiled by any unnecessary addi-
tions My brother loved his name, you
see, sir, and, as / told you, was unoom-
monty proud Of It,"
''Confound his pridel'' cried, throw
ing down the will and stamping on it.
Come, Gomez said Mr.. Slugg, ''you
need not give way SO. You are not COM
pelled to take our name OF course you
mean to Refused No one whose privilege
it Is to be called Lympet would like to be
called anything elsel'"
Had been wavering, the mans gibes
would have decided me- BY accepting the
name Of Slugg / kept his hands from
the fortune for which they were itching,
and this knowledge considerably lessened
the pain my decision cost me.
''That will do. l said coldly 1T think
there is nothing to dctain us here longer.
Let us go up stairs. No doubt you are
anxious TO congratulate your niece, Mrs.
Mrs Sluggi'
And that is how came to be called
Slugg. All, if had known the contents
Of that abominable will before I made my
choice between Miss Merricl5 and Miss
Slugg / would certainly have chosen Miss
Merrick. 1t would have cost me ego, 900,
but the name of Lympet was we'll worth
the sacrifice. AS it is, have won for
tune, but l have got to go through life
tioketed with the price paid for it, Nor
is that all. have children, but can take
but little interest in them, for they are not
Lympets, but Sluggs. My father is much
annoyed with me and can hardly bring
himself to recognize slugg as member
of the family. Cumberground CHATS mo
numerically, and my sisters call my wife
THAT creature and compare me to Esau.
But perhaps my greatest cross is the pros
perity of the Slugg candle business, which
has become tremendous concern. The
hated name flames on every boarding,
faunts on the backs of novels and mag
azincs, and has become familiar to every
car. And strangers and casual acquaint-
ances will persist in mistaking me for a
member of the frnl More than once
have overheard people describing me as
'Slugg, the candieman, you know in per-
fectly audible "asldes." Even my friends
do not spare me- for they have bestowed
on mo a nickname which, recalling as it
does all l have lost costs me pang every
time hear it. They call me the late MIR.
Lympet. the Year Round.