Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-25
A SERIOUS BLUNDER.

such strong hereditary obligations to |
defunct grandfather as to be completely |
without legitimate occupation OF any |
sort.
Of late il has been my devotional Gus |
tom to drop in upon Honoria during |
mornings, but on this, the ante -nuptial |
day. | am interdicted from paying any |
matutinal respects whatever.
Suddenly | recollect, with a certain |
feeling of odd relief, that | yesterday |
promised Honoria l would go and see
DIR. B. about my rheumatism. And
so l stroll toward DIR. BIS.
A broad six-footer OF a fellow is Dr. |
b, with vast, weird-looking shag of |
iron-gray hair, under which, pale, square |
and massive, CLEANS a clean-out, power
full, meditative face
He takes my hand in his own and holds
it with firm but not close pressure.
"Pahl" he suddenly begins, "you are
not sick. What do you come here and
take up my precious time for' Be of
with your
laugh. "I only came, doctor, to sat
him, with half-successful effort at off
handedness, who the somebody is. "You
had best give me few drops, or some
hing, Just so that l can show them to
her tonight"
The doctor dashes off prescription,
and, while handing it to me, his face
looks right stern.
"Alfred, L wish you to live different
life"
I laugh
"Pshaw! your marriage does not con
Germ the matter Turn Mohammedan, if
you please, as regards matrimony, but at
the same time marry your mind and your
time to something You ought to have
been a poor man"
"What shall l do, doctor?" l query,
with dim smile. "Write book, or
turn stock broker?"
81 want to see you again-atter the
wedding and all that, you know. We
must find some way to occupy you.
Meanwhile, have a good mind to make
you take long walk. Do you ever
walk?"
He draws out sealed envelope and
hands it to me, remarking:
"There is nice walk for you Leave
that letter at its address"
7 make a grimace while silently read:
strSot o0hn F'F%ySGT,a GGCG aiat ani, No. Fifty-
if you think the exercise will agree with
me, l shall look upon the obliging favor
to yourself as simply another prescrip-
tion. And tomorrow l will report how
both have agreed with me-"
" TIC morrow"
"Of course. At the wedding, you
know"
"Is it tomorrow? OF all things,
should like to see your wedding, Alfred.
had not forgotten the invitation-oh,
mol 1 must, however, with all my rush
of business, have mistaken the day"
"And this merely means, doctor, that
you are glad to have me remind you of
your mistaken"
More than that, my boy. 1t means
that start for Philadelphia in about one
hour on business which | might have
postponed but noY it is quite impossible
to do so! And now, good-by, and God
mine, by the by"
AS drew near the number indicated
on DR.. BIS letter / find it to be a
private-looking house of considerable
size, standing quite isolated among va
cant lots, at almost the extreme eastern
part of the town.
My summons at the door-bell is an
swered very promptly by a small, tidy
looking boy. l hand him the letter
without an accompanying word save
Fordyce"-the name written in its su-
prescription.
He Immediately replied, "Yes, sir"
turn and descend the stoop.
| have reached to about its middle
step, however, when l pause and take a
view of my surroundings. While / am
leaning restfully against the railing of
the stoop | hear the front door behind
me reopened with considerable sudden
ness.
OF course, it is only natural for me to
turn about on the instant. But the per-
son who now stands in the vestibule has
had time to perceive my presence before
he sees my face. He is tall man, slen-
der, with slight stoop, and short hair
that stands straight up from his fore
head. In one hand he holds the letter |
have just left, in an opened state.
BEG pardon" he begins, but are you
acquainted personally with DR.. B--?"
i know him very WELL" l respond,
something surprised.
The broad smile broadens. VIII you
have the kindness to step inside for a
moment?"
/ show the gentleman by slight ges-
ture and bow that l am wholly at his
service. We pass into the doctors office,
and | seat myself on invitation of my
host.
:" am going to be very frank with
you," he commences. i" | feel sure, Mr..
Derbrow, that in the end frankness will
be the better plan. So now prepare your
self for a surprise"
You should have said as much, sir,
before calling me Mr., Derbrow That is
not my name"
Mop Then, while placing DR.. BIS
letter in side-pocket; 81 have been mis-
informed it seems. However, it will not
be point of any special consequence
just now. AS was saying"
How, sir" break in, flushing trifle,
sis it not point of special consequence? ?
To you not perhaps, but to me the differ.
encc between being called Derbrow and
called by my own name is certainly an
important one"
And pray" he questions, with much
gcntleness, "what is your name?"
"My name is Durand-Alfred Du-
rand"
"Alfred Durand, ehP Not Allan Der.
brow? You arc sure, not Allen Der
brow?"
speak quickly: "There is some mis-.
take here. If you imagine my name to
be mentioned in that letter, you are quite
wrong Evidently you confuse me with
some one "else DR.. B. asked me to
take letter up town for him, and
agreed to do so, although quite ignorant
of its contents"
every WE'LL" he softly returns; mo
matter for that. AS said before, will
be frank with you; deception will only
postpone your-annoyance. Mr.. Der
brow-eXcuse me, Durand-your friends
believing you to be rather out of health
just now, have decided that little rest
and quiet in this house, undermy charge
will be of great benefit"
rise here, smiling.
" see now, sir, that there is without
doubt some absurd mistake"
"There is no mistake" he states, dryly
"Your persistence becomes imperti.
nence, My name is Alfred Durand, / re.
peat to you. | know nothing of any Mr.
Allan Derbrow / am not in Ill health
and neither rest nor quiet has been pre-
scribed for me-"
81 hope you are not going to make use.
less trouble" is the singular response
which / now meet with