Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-12-06

81 repeat, sir, that Miss Nicholson is
my niece, and / am her guardian, " re-
turned Mr.. Farquhar, angrily.
y Miss Nicholson ! [ assure you, sir,
you are mistaken, " replied Colonel In
gram, perceiving that his visitor was
neither mad nor intoxicated. This
young lady name is not Miss Nichol-
son, nor is she your niece. May I ask
your name, sir ?"
"'POn my word this is too much
exclaimed Mr.. Farquhar, Indignantly,
though 1nwardly disconnected by Col
onel Migrants straightforwardness CT
appeal to the young lady. / will give
you my card with pleasure" he added,
laying it on the table with trembling
hand.
Do you know that name, my dear ?"
laughed Colonel Ingram, glancing at
the card and handing it to the young
lady.
Mr.. Champion Farquhar. No, I
never heard 1t before in my life," was
the reply, uttered in low, nervous
tone, and from the manner in which she
mlspronounced the name it was evident
she never had.
=" Really, Mr.. Farquhar, you are la
boring under misrepresentation, said
Col. Ingram, frankly. "You are prob
ably misled by some accidental resem-
blance between this young lady and your
niece. L sympathize with your disap-
pointment, and hope you will soon be
relieved Of your evident anxiety"
Poor Mr.. Farquhar looked the picture
of confusion. The Colonel's frank tone
carried conviction with it, while the
young lady made no sign of recognition.
Certainly the resemblance between her
and his niece, Miss Nicholson, was most
striking, but IN his agitation Mr.. Far
! quhar began to imagine he saw points Of
difference. 1t occurred to him in pain
full dlstlnctness that ne had made an alb
surd mistake, and felt so overwhelmed
| by the awkwardness Of his position that
he fairly boited out Of the door with q
muttered apology.
On descending to the hall of the hotel
he found that his pertmanteau had been
taken off the cab, and, being worn out
with fatigue and excitement, he wisely
determined TO stay where he was for the
night. He therefore ordered dinner,
and by degrees recovered his equanimity
sufficiently to be able to reflect with
calmness on what had happened
Unfortunately his deliberations did
not cOnduce to his peace of mind, for the
more he thought over the matter the
more convinced did he feel that his first
suspicious were correct, and that the
young Lady up stairs was really his
niece. The cOlOnel's ingenious manner
had evidently been assumed to put him
off the scent, and, recalling to mind the
young lady's agitation when he entered
the room. Mr.. Farquhar came to the
conclusion that he was the victim of a
clever conspiracy. While angrily medi-
Eating another visit to Col. Migrants
apartment, waiter handed him a note
written in pencil in a lady's hand, which
showed traces of haste and agitation.
Mr.. Farquhar put on his glasses and
read with amazement rs follows:
DEAR SIR: l implore you to keep nv secret.
1t was all the fault of the people at the hotel
at Paris which caused me 10 mistake you for
my uncle, and never suspected anything until
my uncle came into the room where we were at
breakfast He has been in India so many years
that | had forgotten what he was like, but
when he came III l at once recOllected him. [
cannot tell you how ashamed feel for l was
wicked enough in my great confusion topretend
to him that had only arrived yesterday morn
ing persuaded my uncle to leave Paris at
once, never thinking you would take any more
trouble about me. Pray forgive me for my un-
grateful conduct to you just now, but keep my
secret or my uncle might be angry. | will tell
him some day really. Do please forgive me,
and accept my grateful thanks for your kind
ness. AMY BETHUNE.
Poor little thing!" muttered Mr..
Farquhar, when he had read the letter,
which he handled tenderly. "Of course
she feels awkward, for she kissed me
more than once, thinking [ was her
uncle"
The recollection of this agreeable
episode caused the old gentleman to
break into a good humcred chuckle,
which banished every trace of anger and
resentment from his mind.