Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-10-13
What's In a Name?
AGood Deal Sometime.
BY E. L. THOMPSON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

lost his estates in England when was
baby, brought his family to the Unit
ed States. When he reached here he
had nothing left but an aristocratic
name. @
My fathers fortune so far improved
in America that by the time I became
young lady we were enabled to move
in the best society. One evening at
social gathering met young Eng
lishman who seemed from the first to
take desperate fancy to me, and l
was equally pleased with him. Indeed.
1t was case Of love at first sight.
didn't distinctly hear the young
mans name, but understood it to be
Cummings. He had no sooner left me
than the hostess, who introduced him.
came to me and said:
'That young man. is immensely
wealthy. His grandfather made for
tune in fish, but his father has never
been in trade, and this one of the third
generation is DESTROYS of marrying into
an old British family. He cares moth
ing about money. 1t is the name he
wants. I noticed that he appeared
smitten with you, and If you like him
I'm sure it will be the chance of your
life. He has the money; you have
the lineage"
had given Mr.. Cummings permits
sion to call upon me, and he came the
very next evening. What was my sur
prise to hear him say. "Good evening,
Miss Chumley: you are looking very
well tonight!'
miss Chumley!' l exclaimed, knit
ting my brows.
didn't hear your name aright?"
he asked, surprised.
Certainly not. It is Cholmondelay."
"Oh! Beg pardon. We always call
that name Chumley in England. Chol-
mondelay is very long, you know"
When he had gone went to my IA
ther at once and asked If our name
was called Chumley in England. He
admitted that it was. He had never
said anything about this pronunciation
to me since he feared that it might
lessen my reverence for the family
name.
Mr.. Cummings called often, and it
was evident that his intentions were
serious. He seemed anxious to do
away with the impression he had
made in calling me Miss Chumley.
He had a fine sonorous bass voice and
pronounced Cholmondelay beautifully,
rolling the syllables on his tongue like
rare old wine.
The first time addressed him by
his own name, or his name as had
beard it, noticed that he started. 1
asked him If I had made a mistake,
! whereupon he colored, stammered and
finally told me that had pronounced
it differently from the usual pronun-
citation. then turned the subject SO
quickly that had no opportunity to
pursue the subject further.
My admirer was suddenly called
back to England by the serious illness
of his mother and was obliged to leave
his courtship unfinished or bring it to
an abrupt termination. shall not
forget-women never forget such
things-how he announced his depar-
ture, how looked sadly down at the
carpet and how, selling my hand, he
poured forth his tale Of love. He did
not become so familiar as to call me
Beatrice. 1t was always Miss Chol-
mondelay, and every time he spoke it
seemed to hear one of the sweetest
Of the lower tones Of cello. After
telling me of his love he went on
with his plan Of forming through me
that aristocratic association which his
wealth, supported by my lineage,
would give him. II shall owe every
thing to you," he said. every door
in England will fly open to the name
Cholmondelay."
| The beloved name was fitting eli
max to the offer. l threw myself into
his arms. and we were betrothed.
He had been undecided about max
ing his proposal then or returning
across an ocean to do so; therefore
he had put it off till the last minute.
He was to sail at midnight and after
dozen kisses sprang away from me.
entered a taxicab waiting for him at
the door and drove to the steamer.
The first letter received from him
contained postscript, Il spell my name
as you pronounce it." Iii
+ thought that very singular, for
could think Of but one pronunciation.
However, 1 concluded it must be Co.
myngs or something like that. for Eng
fish people are prone to spell the most
ordinary names in the most singular
|
sounded very aristocratic.
Ny lover returned three months
later to take me to England as his
bride. Our wedding cards were print
ed Cummings and Cholmondelay."
asked about the spelling Of his name,
but he put me of. We were married
and sailed away to begin new life
at least for me. We were received by
relatives and friends on the steps Of
my husbands palatial country seat,
end the first person who addressed me
by my married name said:
Welcome, Mrs. Curmudgeon."
tainted.
As soon as was alone with my hus-
band began to reproach him with
having deceived me. He said that
when I made the mistake Of calling
him Cummings, considering the store
set upon a euphonious and aristocratic
name. he simply could not set me right.
However. there is some solace in my
being able to have my cards printed
Mrs. Cholmondelay Curmudgeon."
But they will call we Mrs. Chumley
curmudgeon in spite Of all I can do.