The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-05-09
FOR HIMSELF ALONE,
An Interesting Tale Of Reversed Identities
By 7. w. SPEIGHT.
CHAPTER I.

genteel street in the purlieus of Soho.
London. 1t was good-siZed room, and
had two windows, the outlook from
which was not a very lively one, being
limited to the back premises of sundry
the play ground of innumera5le chill
dren during the day, and the trysting-
place of innumerable cats during the
small hours of the night. On fine days
yistas of drying linen might be dis
cerned fiuttering far into the murky
distance.
The furniture of the room was worn
and shabby with age and much hard
wear. The faded carpet was darned in
many places and patched in others with
pieces differeut from itself; the hearth
rug was worn threadbare with the usage
of many years; the glass over the Chin
ney-piece WIS cracked, and its once gilt
frame was blackened with age. There
was horse-hair sofa between the win
dows, to sit on which was ike sitting on
a plank; and there were several cane
bottomed chairs, most of which were
more or less rickety and insecure. The
two com 'ortable easy-chairs, one on
each side of the fireplace, belonged to
the present tenants of the room, as did
also the writing-desk that stood oppo-
site one of the windows, and the easel
that was fixed near the other. There
were several hanging shelves laden with
books, and maga ines and newspapers
were strewn carelessly about. On the
walls were several sketches in water
colors, and some half-dosen caricatures
in chalks. Finally, the room had three
doors, two of them opening into bed
rooms, and the third giving access to
the common staircase of the house
The time was seven y. m. on pleas
ant evening in Nav. On the horse hair
sofa was stretched at full length a young
man of some five or six and twenty
years, on whose features the traces of
recent illness were plainly visible \
magazine had dropped lily from his
fingers, and he now lay perfectly still,
watching CLINT o. dying sunlight as it
slowly mounted higher and higher on
the oppos tie wall. His ia e. without
being markedly handsome. was pleas
ant one to look upon. Its expression
was onrS at seemed 10 mingle refine
ment OF ~Lought with decision of char
acter. His eyes We're particularly good
dark, q ave, reflective, vet with 4
playful sIeam in them a times which
seemed 10 show that he had not left his
youth so far behind him as not to be
a lie to enjoy little fun or nonsense in
due seas n. HIS complexion was olive,
and his hair black: and from top to toe
he measured six feet and n little over.
By profession he was writer for Sundry
newspapers and magazines, sort OF
guerrilla trooper attached to no staff or
corps in particular. His name was
Frank Frobisher.
Before the gleam of sunlight had quite
faded from the wall. the noise of foot
Steps ascending the stairs was heard. ac-
comFan ed by the sound of mellow
voice carol NO forth the refrain o. the
last popular song. Then the door of
the room vas opened. and the new-com-
er ha tel for moment on the threshold.
What Il bear l must be- he ex-
claimed. For the moment, | had for
gotten that you might be snoo-ing.
Have l DISTURBED you?"
"A good thing if YOU had. seem to
have been snoozing my brains away OF
late"
"How DO you feel by this timer
asked the other. as he came forward
and shut the door.
'-Oh. better better" was the an
swer, given a little querulouslv The
doct, saws / am better, so l suppose 1
must be-"
The newcomer, Dick Drumnond.
was tall, lanky. freckled you man.
about the same age rs his friend, or 1t
NAV lie = year or two oder. He had
dark-blue ewes, that :, cmed made to
express fun and misch eff rather than
any deeper shades of feeling, but which
yet could be tender enough on occasion.
HIS long struggling red hair hooked
As Il the tonsoriai scissors would i'm
prove its appearance. Ee wore n
slcuched hat, and 4 brown velveteen
Jacket thai had evidently seen better
days He was an unrecognized genius
in the great world of Ar. painter who
pa nted more pictures than he could
sell. He and Frobisher were bosom
friends, and shared the second-foor-
back between them
.'Nhat have you there?' asked Fro
bisher. uoticing that his trend was
laden with suniry parcels and pack
ages
..Item-Oae half-quartern loaf and
isn't it 4 beauty" answered Drummond
solemnly. as he proceeded to place his
Packages one by one on the table.
Look II 81 crust: there's perfect on
of form and color. Item-half pound
of prime Dorset, as sweet as = daisy.
Item-four ounces of the best mixed
tea like = wholesome dish of tea
Jr. John on. Hem two bloaters, gen
uine Yarmouth, and no mistake. Item
ore ounce of kanE ster for your espec-
ial behoof- Your pipe has be, n idle too
long. old fellow. Item-one bottle of
prime odd CruSted port, to be taken me-
-dieinally as often rs need be-"
But how on earth did YOU raise the
money TO buy all these luxuries?"
asked Frank, a little anxiously.
..Olj Smoker stood me fiver for my
-Androlneda.' Tra-la-la!a-" He had
turned to the cupboard by this ME,
and WAS empt, ing the packet OF tea in
TO the little caddy.
..Dick, the truth. Is not in thee, an
swered trobisher, after pause.
There's postcard from. Smoker on
the chimney piece He declines to
give .Andrumeda' house-roOm at any
price"
More idiot he" answered the IN
abashed Dick. He doesn't know 4
work OF genius when he SECS it. Those
wretched dealers never DO. Mark my
words. that picture viii sell for thou
SAM guineas before We been dozen
years under the daisies"
'.Riehard. mon ana, you nave been
visit ne your relative the pawnbroker- "