The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-08
ONCE TOO OFTEN.

oACh fV0 W oflaS'
In the cosy drinking-room of club,
famous in metropolitan annals. three hand
some young men were assembled, and the
sounds of the clinking of richly-chased
go5lets might have been heard by persons
on the almost deserted street below.
"Almost deserted" I have written, for
the hour was late; the business houses Of
the city had long been closed; the patrons
of the drama even, having seen the cur.
tain fall on the tragic de1souement, had re-
tired to their couches; no one save the
guardians of the metropolis seemed abroad.
The appointments of the apartment I
have mentioned were very elegant. a per-
son seemingly could have lost himself
among the emerald cushionings Of the arnl-
chairs; the heavy plush window curtains
were of the most elaborate patterns, and the
gaudy Brussels on the aoor gave forth no
sound. A mountain teamsier might
have stalked through the room without
having his route told by the sound OF
feet. The tables, the wine cupboard, the
bottles and the goblets were marvels OF
luxury, and proclaimed the wealth of the
coterie that frequented the place.
No man whose clothes wcre not rich in
fabric, finish and adornlnents could cross
the threshold of the club rooms, and the
trio that tenanted tie drinking parlor on
the mid-Autumn night with which I deal
seemed frequent visitors there. J. know
that they used the wines freely; know that
they sent beautiful wreaths Of white smoke
ceilingwaId, and occasionally sang verses
of club songs.
"Noble, did you ever see Marmaduke
Lee 2" asked one of the trio, looking at d
young man who wss in the .ct of Lighting a
cigar across the oval table.
"Never, Jourdan," was the reply. q
suppose be was better man than Budd
Noble. People say look like him"
"How do you know this ~
II am not dcpf," answered the man
called Noble, VITA a smile. yesterday
on St. Charles street. I heard q man say
'Ma1maduke Lee, by the souls of the mar
tyrs ! turned and found him staring a
me with the last word still quive1ing on hi:
lips. And this morning young school
girl came up and called me Uncle Marina
duke Gentlemen, tell me the truth-dt
I look Like Marmaduke Lee 7"
3You are bis exact double" said the thirc
man, who had not spoken before. "Yo,
could deceive Lees owr mother"
"But could not be 70 wicked" sait
Budd Noble, smiling; "tbough would lik
10 play some pleasant trick on this Marina
duke Leo"
Wsrtop Jourdea started forward ant
leaned over the tabis
"fou would, eh r. he cried, with his eye.
fastened On Noble.
u ~ould, by my soul, Jourdan Wher
Is lee9'
"In the bottom Of the sea-"
"You srs joking. Come, come, Jourdan.'
"Ask Farerley there" said Jourdan
earnestly, becoming more and more excited
@Lieten to me. Yesterday, nine month
since, Mar1naduke Lee smled in the Whit
Circle, from Melbourne, bound for Calcutta
That vessel went down in typhoon on tn
Indian Ocean, about thirty-6ve league
from one of the Sumatran Islands. Blu
two persons escaped-s negro cook and
sailor named Beargrass Marmaduke Let
went down with the ship. This is certain
He was a New Yorker, and at the time o
his death engaged to Harriet Gosnold. ;
| Virginia lady"
Here Wartop Jourdan paused and sippet
little liquor, anglily.
sGo on" said Noble; aI'm becoming in
terested in this little story"
(Which is about finished" supplemented
the wine-inhamad narrator. "You don
know Harriet Gosnold 2"
"No | lovely, suppose 7"
"Regslly beautiful! Her head woult
become crown. The blood of princes i
in her veins. Budd Noble, days acquain
tance with her would find you at he
| feet"
"No o!no! Budd Noble has never been
woman's fool p
Jourdan bit his lip and glanced a
Faverley.
"She believes that Msrmaduke Lee vii
return some day and claim her," he said
after the biting of his lips. "You look lk
him; talk. act sing and write like hin
Now, 1 will come 10 subject have longe,
to broach. But first let me ask yo,
a question. Have you told any perso,
that you were not the true Malmaduk
| Lee Z"
II have not" was the reply. "Why
have not been in the city two days yet"
"Good Budd Noble, do you over bet"
For the first time the lightning of ami
nation flashed in Mobiles eyes.
"Bet ~ be echoed. "Jourdan, have wo1
and lost fortunes. I have never rejected
a wager. I will never reject one
Ine HeAt uOHleIll Wutop JouIuau "@
on his feet.
"You are the man I have been hunting
for two years p he said, looking at Noble
u will wager one thousand dollars that 20,
dare not 90 to Writhmoor and wed Harrie
Gosnold as the lost Marmaduke Leo. On
thousand dollars, Budd Noble, or FIVE thous
and, if you like it "