The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-17
In Disguise.
BY ARNOLD E. KoENEN.

BY ARNOLD E. KoENEN.
Alice Edwards stOo near the window
that glorious evening in May, peering
out between the curtains in hopes of
seeing some one who must have been
very dear to her, judging by the lum-
inOus light in her blue eyes and the ca
gerness with which she glanced over the
street.
She held an open letter in her hand,
postmarked Boston, and cast her eyes
upon it, again reading what she had
read twice before.
1t was from her absent lover; she had
received it that morning, and it held
glad tidings; for he whom she loved so
feTvently was about to make his APP
pearance after an absence of six months.
The appointed time i'm the letter was
six o'clock precisely, and as she glanced
at her tiny, jewelled watch, she saw it
already seven; what could keep him so
long? Surely something must have
gone amiss.
She was vexed at his tardiness, and,
seating herself in the rocking-chair,
sank back and fell into a revery.
She was suddenly aroused by a voice
in the hall.
"Alice, dear, where are you? Cousin
Tom is coming with some stranger, and
it must certainly be he for whom you
are so anxious"
Alice again stepped to the window,
and, looking up the street, detected two
figures coming toward the house. The
dim twilight revealed to her her cousin
Tom, bright, jOvial fellow of small
statue, at the side of whom was a tall
man, whose high-bred air and majestic
step could be noticed even in the dis
tance.
She hastily left the window, and, seat
ing herself at the piano, began that
popular and ever welcome air, "HOme,
sweet home"
Alice was quite an expert at the pi-
anO, and exerted all her effort to put in
her playing all the expression at her
command.
When the two figures heard the sweet,
melOdious strains, the taller turned to
his companion, and, in a voice of tender
reproach, exclaimed:
81 tell you, Tom, if l had not made
up my mind to try this experiment, and
not given my word and honor as a gen.
tleman, would back out now, and pre-
sent myself in my true colors."
al have no doubt but what you
necessary to try this plan, because she
f1irts alarmingly with that young DR..
Lee. Unfortunately he is absent at the
present time, but you will nevertheless
have an opportunity to test for yourself
whether she ever cared for you or not.
Now don't you make mistake"
"Be it so, then" said the other, and
they ascended the steps and were ush-
cred into the presence of Alice Edwards.
Alice arose from the piano and came
forward to be clasped in the arms of the
tall gentleman with her cousin Tom.
But she started back in surprise as she
saw a stranger before her.
1t was not Gerald Holiness; he did not
have light hair and whiskers, but black,
curling hair and dainty mustache and
goatee.
Her cousin Tom introduced him as
Captain Stellis, distant friend of his.
Alice bowed gracefully, and laid the
tips of her dainty fingers in the out
stretched palm of the man before her,
and looking up into his eyes, fancied
she saw something familiar in them
but she said nothing in regard to it, and
answered his questions with cold po-
liteness that was not lost upon the man,
81 can truly imagine your disappoint-
uSuI, MISS LuWdTuSt Oh S66luR me
perfect stranger, when you hoped to see
Mr.. Holmes. I am requested to in.
crease your disappointment by inform.
ing you that he will not be able to visit
you within fortnight. 1 am ac-
quainted with him, and we are very in.
innate friends. He requested me tc
give you this letter, which will explain
his delay in not visiting you at the ap-
pointed time"
Thanks, sir, for the interest which
you manifest in regard to this matter.
Evidently you enjoy being the conf.
dant Of Mr.. Holmes. Allow me to re-
tire to read this letter, which will re.
compense me for his absence" and with
a piercing glance, she swept from the
room, and left the two men to them
selves.
When she entered the hall to ascend
the stairs to her room, the letter acci.
dentally dropped from her hand, and, as
the steps were envelOped in shadow
she could not find it instantly. While
she was searching for it, she could moi
help listening to the conversation in
which Captain Stellis and her cousin
Tom were indulging.
"You acted admirably, captain. She
never dreams that a wig and false beard
would so fully conceal your identity
and transform you into another being.
Quite change from Gerald Holmes to
Captain StelIis," Tom was saying.
"Hush, Tom do not mention that
name," Captain Stellis remarked.