The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-06
Herman Lancing's Mistake

your hurry?s exclaimed Mr.. Herman
Lancing, laying his faultlessly kid
gloved hand.on Alvoid Kemble's arm, as
that young gentleman was about to turn
out of one Of Broadway's most fashion.
able squares.
"Don't be in hurry, AL, and I'll show
you as pretty a girl as one would wis
to see.
sTndeed! Where Is she?" said Alvoid,
in tone slightly impatient.
ooh, she'll be along presently. She
passed up some time ago, and l notice
she always gets back in an hour or So"
"Umph! You must be watching the
young lady pretty closely" said Alvoid,
with an ill-concealed sneer.
"Well, watching pretty girl is some-
thing no fellow can help, you know.
But I mean to get up Irritation with
her. She looks deucedly sweet at me;
but, then they all do that"
"Conceited toolW thought Alvoid,
'Imagines every woman that looks at
him is in love with him."
Then in careless tone, Alvoid said:
."You talk in queer strain, Lancing,
for man who is engaged TO be married
in q few short months. l wonder what
Miss Hamilton would say If she heard
all this"
"My dear boy, how innocent you are.
What the eye don't see-you know the
rest. I mean to have all the f1irtations l
can, while l can; and, what's more, if
the fair Isabelle had not the weight of
herself in greenbacks, 1 can tell you,
this might be something more than a
mere flirtation."
A look Of disgust swept over Alvoid
| Kemble's handsome face, and he was
about to turn away, when he caught sight
| OF young lady coming down Broadway.
And a very pretty young lady she
was, with clear hazel eyes, wealth Of
dark brown hair that never required ar
tiicial crlmping, and a face OF pearly
whiteness, relieved by faint pink in
either cheek, and the coral tint OF eX-
quisitely chiseled lips.
"Surely, tickie-minded, conceited
Herman Lancing never saw loveier
face than that" thought Alvoid, as a
glad smile Of recognition settled on his
| lace; but the next moment he WAS struck
with astonishmenU, when Herman said,
in a low toDe-ior the young lady was
drawing near:
aAh, there she is, AL. didn't notice
her."
Herman stopped short. 1t was now
his turn to be surprised, when he saw
Alvoid raise his hat as the lady passed.
"Well, here's u go! How fortunate! !!
who is She, ALP"
The hot blood mounted to Avoids
brow.
$50 that's the lady you had reference
to-" he said, angrily. "She is Miss Elsie
| Wheeler, whose father failed few years
ago, and died shortly after. She is a
truly independent girl-supports herself
and her mother by sewing for her former
friends. She lives at No. Ninth street.
Is there anything else you wish to know,
Herman Lancingw and Avoids eyes
flashed dangerously.
"For heavens sake, my dear boy,
when YOU are obliging fellow with bit
of information, don't look as ii you were
going to annihilate him. Let me see,"
4 and Herman coolly stroked his mus tache.
l"No, l. guess not; that is enough of in
formation for this time, my friend, thank
|you."
81 warn you, Herman Lanclng, not to
tritle with that young lady," and fear.
ing to trust himself longer, Alyoid
turned away, and Herman found himself
on the corner alone.
"Gone off in huff, by Jovel .I'il BET
he's sweet in that direction himself
trifie with the lady. All right, my fine
fellow, / owe you one; ii Pm not &C.
ouainted with Miss Elsie Wheeler by
this time tomorrow evening itwon't be
my fault"
An hour later, Herman Lancing was
seated at his writing-desk. He had just
| finished note to Elsie Wheeler, asking
her to meet him tomorrow evening al
five.
"Oh, but that won't do" said Herman,
as he read the note oyer. "To-morrow W
We'll, il make it later, perhaps Elsie is
too tfmid to show herself after dark, and
earlier won't do;" and Herman
drummed upon the desk with his fingers
"Ah, have 1T. I'll just drop Isabelle
a line, telling her that pressing business
prevents me from keeping the engage
| ment. l know the dear girl will forgive
me-"
.oh, Mr.. Kemble, I'm so glad yor
have Called" cried Elsie Wheeler
blushing brightly. when Alvoid called
explain this mystery to me-" she said
banding Alyoid note she had received
but few moments before. II suppose
you are acquainted with Mr.. Lancing,'
continued Elsie, as Alvoid read the note
in blank amazement. "He is Isabelle
Hamilton's intended husband, you
Know. She talks to me continually about
him, but have never seen him; he never
chances to be there when l take hel
work home. 1 am puzzled TO know how
he came to direct note intended fol
Isabelle to me-"
| AS Elsie finished speaking, the whole
thing appeared as clear as day TO AL
void.
| 81 will tell you how he came to do it,
said Alvoid. "The note that was in.
tended for you has gone to Miss HamiI.
ton. Mr.s Lancing has made mistake.'
"Mr. Kemble" cried Elsie, In aston
ishment. "What in the world could
Mr.. Lancing have to say to me2 He has
never seen me-"
"Oh, but be has," said Alvoid, quietly,
and, taking Elsie's hand In his, he TOLD
. her who Mr.. Lancing was, and how he
came to make this mistake.
.'rhat impudent man, Herman Lane.
ingi" cried Elsie, indignantly. s'Thank
heaven it is not too late. Isabelle shall
know all. She must not throw herself
away on that wretch, poor Isabellel n
said Elsie, 'sshe loves him so dearly"
"No matter, Elsie, it 10 better enc