Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-07-09

gave place to O sincere regard Sun
day afternoon rambles through tn
heather, cosy chats in the gloaminl
after dinner, lessons in the mysteries Of go
bang" and chess, have brought together les
susceptible hearts than those of Harry Croft
ton and Lillian West, and the day before b.
was returning to England he plucked VI
courage, proposed, and to bis delight wa
accepted. The next morning, however. JUS
before starting home Lillian came up to hin
and said
"Harry dear, before you 90 / want you t.
forgive me for the silly joke I played you
about that advertisement"
Advertisement" said he, ~what advertise
menty"
-Why, the one, Of course, you put in Ths
Morning Advertiser.
Crofton looked very my stifei, and agail
| shook bis bead.
ooh. come now, Harry" replied Lillian
at is not a bit Of use your trying to deceive
me; do you mean to say you didn't. put the
advertisement in The Morning Advertiser
and SO saying, she drew from her card-case a
small newspaper cutting and handed it to
Crofton. 1t ran as follows.
Wanted q Wife-The advertiser, who i
strikngly handsome, very accomplished, and
extremely rich, wishes to meet with young
lady with view to matrimony. She must
BE good look ing, amiable and accomplished
Applicants must forward their photograph
and address.-H C., Isl st. Giles. Oxford
|Never saw it before in my a14" said
Crofton. $ssk
"And you never wrote thisr coatinued
Miss West, handing the last letter from n.
c. to Miss l.. Bernard, appointing the place
and time Of meeting.
"Most certainly not; it's not a bit like my
handwriting Couldn't write so we'll il
tried for month"
"Well, Harry, you must at least own that
this is your photograph"
~Good gracious, yes" replied Crofton;
that's mine, sure enough; but who on earth
could have sent it, and why to you Of all
people!'
"Oh," said Lillian, am afraid you will
think me very silly, but when l read that
advertisement, longed, simply yearned-
for I'm very curious, Harry, as you'll soon
find QUITO see in the flesh the human b.
ing who could be SO consummately con-
ceted as to frame an advertisement like that !;
and SO l replied to it, directing my letter
from the postoffice at Piccadilly Circus
and signing myself by fictitious name
also sent the photograph Of a pretty little
maid once had, and next day received the
photograph and letter you have just seen
So with BERTHE as my companion, feeling sufs
that the advertiser COULDN'T possibly mistake
me for the original Of Pafkerb pbotogrnph,
went to the Westminster landing pier 1t tie
appointed time Imagine my delight, then,
when | saw you, the original Of the photo
nh al md fho
emily awaiting the faithless damsel But,
Harry dear, il you did not go to meet me,
why in the world did you go to the pier at
that very time"
al went on a commission" said he, "for q
college friend Of mine, named Methven."
what! Mr.. Methven, Of Brasenfaces" said
she
@Why, yes; is he a friend Of yoursr
"Oh, l only met him when staying in the
country last Christmas; and think, Harry,
he liked me better than did him.
"Well," continued Crofton.g -Iskent thsre
to meet a cousin Of bis and to give her a mas
sage from him, but ! have a shrewd idea
this is one Of his practical JOKES he is always
playing"
but, tell me, how were you to know this
young lady, Harry said Lillian
ale showed me photographs by which
was to recognize her.
WAS it that Of pretty girl with large
hat and feather, and "a fan in her handf said
Lillian with smile.
THE very same" said Crofton
"Then, Harry, you are quite right; it was
a practical joke, for that was Parker's
photograph which l sent to the mysterious
Mr.. II. C. And, now, Harry dear. it's not a
bit of use in getting angry about it, for We
were both sold little, and it has ended very
happily for you and me; and so we will
make promise not to chaff one another in
the future for the parts we each played in
the strange little Comedy Of Errors"
need hardly say Crofton sealed the bar
gain with kiss
When Harry next returned to Brazenfac.
the October term had begun. Port Meadow
was flooded, the elms outside of st. Johns
were rapidly losing their leaves, and the
creeper on St Mary's porch was in all the
glory Of its autumn foliage Crofton arrived
first day of term, just in time for shall, and
As he was finishing his dinner, the scout who
waited on the third table handed him the
following brief epistle, scrawled on the back
OF the dinner bill:
DEAR kANGARoo-Come to my room di.
rectiy after hall" Yours ever
j. HoRNBY
50 SITTER "hail," Crofton went straight to
rooms, and found him uncorking .
Dottle of college port; and over this bottle,
'oothei by the fragrant weed, Harry
Crofton told Horribly the story of his love,
the whole tale-how it had happened, and
what very lucky dog he was He had just
finished his narrative, when knock came at
the door and in walked Methven, just ar
rived
slow dye do, Jacki Hillo, kangaroo,
how are you old chapf' he began.
Bur, somehow, the look on Crofton's face
Methven had never seen before, and what's
more, didn't like it.
However, he continued, "Well, did you
meet my cousin. ehf Come, come, old chap,
you must really forgive me, 1t was beastly
shame, | own
Now, look here" said Crofton, quietly
and there was an ugly look in his eyes, and
drmness in his jaw that made Methven IN
creep near the door, don't
want to have row with any man, much
less in Jack Hornby's rooms. But tell you
plainly, think it was awfully low Of you to
take advantage Of my good nature IN the
way you did strongly advise you for the \
future, if you like a whole skin not to try
the game on again. | may tell you. your
scheme entirely failed, and it's entirely
through your attempt at n hoax | have be-
come engaged to the incest little girl in Eng
land. - f ff
"R.ally,ns said Msshven with a sheer,
'then think the least YOU can do is to in
AE1.
The acquaintance Of the unconscious author
Of her happiness"
Perhaps she might" replied Crofton,
quietly, III she hadn't unfortunately made
it before. Goodnight, Jack, and 30 saying
he left the room.
There Methven," said Hornby. II knew
quite well some row would come Of this hoax
Of yours.
well. tell me what happened, Jack, il
you know"
Thereupon Hornby told the whole story
from beginning to end; when he had finished,
Methven said:
Il wonder who the girl was, and when and
where she met me-
"Of course can't tell you the latter, said
Horribly, as he walked up to the chimney
piece to refill his pipe, but her name, if
rightly, is Miss Lillian West
Horribly heard a sharp groan. and on look
ruuni' saw Methvan as white as sheet, with
his head buried i his hands
sGJod God. man. what's upr cried
Hornby.
Oh Jack, said Methven. that's the very
girl loved myself. ! met her last Christ.
mas in the country, and | would have sold
my very soul for bert And now, he con |
tinued with "a sob, land now she's lost for. |
ever With these words he walked out |
leaving Hornby to ponder deeply on the
strange irony of fate.
Two years have rolled on Lillian West is |
now the wife OF Henry Crofton, b. A., u