Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-08-09
WHATS IN A NAME?"

breadth of the land 1t is, of course fine
thing to wake up one morning and find
ones self famous, but even this apparent
ly has its drawbacks. | did not mind the
crafty appeals for help, the willy prospcc-
fuses of fortunes to be made by taking
shares in this or that bogus company or
oven the well laid schemes Of horse racing
pools that came in by every post but when
it came to downright MISREPRESENTATION l
thought the limit had been quite over
stepped.
1t was about fortnight after the day
on which my humble yatronYmic was
bazoncd forth to the world "a, the winner
of IA much coveted prize that | received the
following remarkable communication:
"At last | have found you. villain!
Your hiding place is no longer Il secret,
for have read in public print your hate
full name and address Scoundrel Those
whom you are bound by every earthly tie
to cherish and support have been cruelty
left to the tender mcrcics of the parish,
while you doubtless have lived life Of
luxury But the game is now played out,
and day of rctributiOn is at hand l,
your lawful wife, and my six Children
your children-will make it our business
to call on you and demand the rights
husband and father has SO long with
held Beware! You have extended to US
no mercy; we will show none to you
Your loving wife, SUSAN"
To say that l was knocked back by this
strange cpistle is only to express half a
truth. 1t fairly took the wind out Of my
sails. My wife and childrcn-six of them!
This was surely coming it strong toward
young fellow who only few weeks pre-
viously had celebrated his twenty-third
hirt b1oV | din hot In
dispensablc dcSideratum to a family man
"A wife. True, l was soon going to have
one, for-and this is little secret between
ourselVcs-thc banns of marriage between
the accomplished Clpmcntina Wilks and
myself had been called for the third time
only on the previous Sunday, and a week
hence was to see us united forever in the
bonds of matrimony This by the way.
OF course l knew there must be some
terrible mistake in the document l held in
my hands, but that knowledge did not
make tho perusal of it any the more agree
able. l could plainly see that it might
easily lead to some little awkwardncss at
time when l least wanted any. How
ever was determined not to let the thing
unduly worry me, so, swallowing the mat
utinal tea and toast, l shortly afterward
lit a cigarette and set out for the perform.
myself by coming to the conclusion that
the affair was probably stupid joke on
the part of some freakish friend, and
should hear no more of it.
AT a little later than my usual hour in
the afternoon | returned to my lodgings
and then saw-a fact of which | was not
previously aware-that had stupidity left
this very remarkable communication be-
hind me on leaving home in the morning,
for it lay on IA sideboard open for any one
to read. | guessed, of course, that rhe land
lady had, by virtue of landlady's in
alienable rights, made herself by this time
familiar with its contents, but did not
challenge her on the point was more
concerned to know if any one else had
done so, too, and with that view inquired
if there had been any visitors during the
day.
"Only Miss Wilks," was the landlady's
reply, with "a sort of bottled up smile "She
came about an hour ago, thinking you
would be home, and after staying IA few
minutes suddenly left"
Suddenly left! Had she then read tho
stupid thingy Doubtless. Although Il
knew Clcmentina to be not more than
ordinarily inquiSitivc girl, the near APP
proach of our marriage seemed to give her
sort Of right to make herself acquainted
with anything that concerned my welfare,
and what was more natural than that she
should feel real interest in the correspond |
ence of the man who IA week hence would
be her husband? oh, yes, felt sure she
had read it; but, then, she was sensible |
girl and would surely see the thing in its |
right light. OF course she would But | |
would much rather have told her about it /
myself than that she should acquire the |
l<nOXV lodi of NV
annoying il all was, to be sure
1t was some time later when l sailed |
forth to the home of my beloved for the !
usual evening visit. How pretty the little /
villa looked wherein she dwclt, with its /
slipping grass lawn and beds of brilliant
geraniums How proudly the tulips rear |
ed their heads above the blue lowered |
iris that sk.tcd the garden wall, how |
fragrant the honeysuckle that climbed
around the artfully designed entrance, and |
what "A wealth of floral beauty was dis |
played in the miniature conservatory that !
encircled the drawing room window! But |
how much more lovely than all was Glenn |
entina herself, rs she stood awaiting me |
inside the room in all the beauty of bud |
ding womanhood with her brilliant ewes
and flushing checks!
rushed forward to greet my charmer |
not get quite the reception | expected
"Munstcrl' cried Clcmcntina, drawing |
herself up TO her fun height of feet 9 and |
waving me off with her hands APP |
proach me not Have you the effrontery |
to insult me with your polluted presence, |
you base mnn?"
For woman who in half dozen days |
is expected to become ones wife thought |
this rather rich but as | knew Clcmontina !
had hankerng after stage effect / con !
cluded she was acting and laughed at her.
"Ah. You mock me- vile thing Quit |
my presence and go-go to your wife and |
children shrieked the fair one evidently |
in earnest
"Clementina, don't be stupid, " l said.
'Thero is IA mistake. l know to what you |
allude. You have been to my rooms and |
read a stupid note addressed to me. tell |
you it is all mistake"
And pretty mistake for me' cried |
she. But, thank heaven, have discov- |
cred it in time, before it became irrepara-
BILE. Oh, you monsterP'
"Hear me, Clementina, like the sensible