Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-24
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
A.: An UNROMANTIC NAME !
SoOoOoOoOoOoOOoOoOoOoOoO
BY AMELIA THoRP.

A party of young girls sat in the par
lar Of Mr. Claire's town house one Sep
t.tnhcr morning talking over the news Of
tl. place. Evelyn Claire, Mr.. Claire's
only child, was the belle Of the little
t,lu. young, rich, beautiful and clever.
Sb. had been absent some months, and a
tN, of her friends had called to welcome
her home.
1--WE have been horribly dull during
your absence, dear Evelyn" said Grace
loring, "and are overjoyed at having
you back again. And as for your de-
Voted Howard Westmoreland, he was In
consequence so dstressingly blue that
our unwearied efforts to keep up his
spirits were unavailing."
"Oh, | almost forgot to tell you," said
little Grace Weston, 'of our new society
.acquisition. A young attorney at law has
come to town and hung out his shingle
and has already secured quite a prac.
lice"
"Who Is he?" asked Evelyn, interested,
for, although engaged she could not re-
sist the prospect of a Irritation and an
plcd for new hearts to conquer with as
Emuch skill as any fisherman for his
@looty. "Of course" she continued, che
is some one young, rich and talented"
no" replied Grace; ''he possesses
but two of your requirements, being
personally plain and poor, but young and
talented. If he succeeds, he will be al
most entirely self made, as his fathers
circumstances were such that he could
oply supply a part of the money for his
Education, and he was obliged to teach
school to secure the rest"
"a prodigy" said Evelyn. pray, tell
me his name"
Peter Uriah Grub" said Grace.
Evelyn looked at her in establishment,
Raising her hands as if horror stricken.
''You are fooling me-" she said, "for you
cannot mean what you say"
Indeed do" said Grace. THAT is his
name"
What evil genius, wonder, presided
pyer his birth ~ said Evelyn scornfully.
'Such a name is enough to ruin his pros
pects 1t is really nauseating. Ha, ha,
ha Imagine any woman being willing
No marry man with such a name! Pc
Ter is bad enough, but to add Uriah to
the unromantic name of Grub! 1t is
Simply horrible! If loved a man with
kuch name, l would not marry him.
lhcre should be a law to prevent par
pits from affecting their children So"
"Well," replied Grace, 81 have heard
uglier ones. The name is not a fancy
me- neither is Mr.. Grub a fancy man.
he is Il sensible, good fellow, who chal-
enges respect and who, the elder men
bere prophesy, will make his mark. He
mas named for his father, Peter, an ex-
e4lent man, and Uriah, after an uncle, a
minister of good standing. They say he
quite proud of the good old name and
nxious to add fresh laurels to it,"
you seem quite interested in him, -
laid Evelyn.
you ara mistaken" said Grace. II
N simpl, arrating the information l
have recei 4 from a correct source, and
had gins on him they would avail
bothing a.. .lr he met you"
Little fatterer," replied the spoiled
beauty, looking complacently at herself
b. an opposite mirror. "You always see
Your friends through the rainbow tinted
bays Of a prism glass"
Truth is not 1attery," said Grace.
WELL" replied Evelyn, "as am mort
saged property, of course the subject
ails to be interesting, as l am expect
hg to bear through my future life the
distinguished sounding name of Mrs
Howard Westmoreland. l often wonder
which attracted me most, Howard
handsome face or his beautiful name.
bell you, girls, there is a great deal in {
bame"
II think" persisted Grace, "if a maj
bas an ugly name he can so ennoble i
hat people will admire it so much on &C
Fount of his goodness or greatness tina
Il will cease to be an objection to il
bwner OF course, there is, as you say
nuch in name, if it is a good, cleal
ue"
Indeed" said Evelyn carelessly. "Bu
am not in an argumentative mood thi
boning, so / will let you have your owl
Tay in behalf of this man who rejoice
the remarkable name of Peter Urial
rub. But | shall always pity from tn
Nottom of my heart the woman that h
eludes into bearing through life such
prrd name"
Peter and Evelyn met frequently i
bciety. At first she was disposed t
Hnuse herself at his expense, but Their
as IN the dignity of his manner a powe
hich awed and impressed her, and i
pte Of herself she became intereste
hd admired him more than any man sh
lld ever met before.
He was manly man, with an unusus
lnOunt Of common sense, entirely dill
brent from the fippant dude, Howar
eStmoreland, who was satisfied to liv
his fathers expense and whose great
ambition was to excel in society. A
Tough Evelyn had never really love
pm, he had pleased her romantic tast'
pd she was proud of his attractive pei
nality After her engagement and /
IS society, when she was more closet
ISOLATED with him, she became more an
ore wearied out with his shallow col
frsation and trining character.
There was a great contrast betwee
pa and Peter. The latter was vigorous
lshing, all life, with high toned, hoI
a able ambition. He cared little for 81
"a prominence, his aim being to max
mark in the great affairs of life. II
on became attracted toward EvelyI
hom he found possessed of a noble nj
Pre-, which was equal to great capabil
IS, but whose goodness had been ten
prarily smothered by the world's ia
#ry and the idolatry Of her parents an
Hiends. He found himself deeply in 10y
ith her; but considering the prize b
pnd his reach, knowing also of her O.
cement with Howard, he endeavor'
overcome his dangerous attachmel
keeping from her.
Evelyn enjoyed his society so mut
at she made many modest overtures
cure it, sending him frequent invit
pms to social gatherings at her hon
inch he could not without rudene
~ cline. They NVara hOth unhaODV. Z