The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-07-11

ohen, Wnen L saw you, the or1Slnil %
the photograph, stalking up and down
the pier, apparently awaiting the faith
less damsel. But, Harry dear, if you
did not go to meet me, why in the world
did you go to the pier at that very time?
II went on a commission" said he,
"for a college friend named Methven.'
What! Mr.. Methven, of Brazen-
facet" said she.
why, yes; is he a friend of yours ~
Oh, I only met him when staying in
the country last Christmas; and Think,
Harry, he liked me better than I did
him."
"Well," continued Crcfton, "I went
there to meet a cousin of his, and to
give her a message from him, but |
have o shrewd idea this is one of hiY
practical jokes he is always playing"
But, tell me, no. were you to know
this young lady, Harry?" said Lillian.
He showed me a photograph by
which l was to recognize her"
WAS it that of a pretty girl with a
large hat and feather, and q fan in her
hand?' said Lillian, with a smile.
"The very same," said Crofton.
"Then, Harry, you are quite right, it
was a practical joke, for that was Park
er's photograph which | sent to the
mysterious Mr.. I'll. C. And, now Harry,
dear, it's not a bit use getting angry,
for We We're both sold q little, and it
has ended very happily for you ana me;
and so we will make a promise not to
chaff one another in the future for the
parts we each played in the strange lit
tie Comedy of Errors"
lneed hardly say Crofton sealed tho
bargain with a kiss.
When Harry next returned to
Brazenface the October term had be-
gun. Port Meadow was flooded, the
elms outside st. Johns were rapidly
losing their leaves. and the creeper on
st. Mary's porch was in ali the glory of
its autumn foliage. Crofton arrived,
first day of term, just in time or"hall,"
and as he was finishing his dinner, the
scout who waited on the third-year
table handed him the following brief
epistle, scrawled on the back of the
dinner bill:
Dear Kangaroo: come to my rooms directly
after "halL. Yours ever, j.. Horribly.
So after "hall," Crofton went straight
to Hornby's rooms, and found him I'M
corking q bottle of college port; and
over this bottle, soothed by the fragrant
weed, Harry Crofton told Hornby the
story of his love, the whole tale-how
it happened, and what a very lucky dog
he was. He had just finished his mar
rative, when q knock came ut the door
and in walked Methven, just arrived.
Glow d'yedo, Jack? Hillo, Kangaroo,
how are you old chap?" he began.
But, somehow, the look on Crofton's
face Methvan had never seen before, and
what's more, didn't like it.
However, he continued, well did
you meet my cousin, Ell? Come, come,
old chap, you must really forgive me, it
was a beastly shame, Town."
"Now, look here" said Crofton, quiet
ly-and there was an ugly look in his
eyes and q firmness in his jaw that
made Methyen unconsciously creep near
the door-"I don't want to have a row
with any man, much less in Jack Horn
by's rooms. But l tell you plainly, I
think it was awfuly low of you to take
advantage of my good nature III the way
you did strongly advise you for the
future, if you like q whole skin, not to
VI UllS Sullle vi again. 1lhN pcil yOut
your scheme entirely failed, and it's en-
tirely through your attempt at a hoax
[ have become engaged to the incest
little girl in England"
Really" said Methven with a sheer,
"then I think the least you car do is to
introduce us, as she may possibly liketo
make the acquaintance Of the uncon-
scious author Of her happiness"
Perhaps she might" replied Crof-
ton quietly, "if she hadn't unfortunate
ly made it before. Goodnight, jack"
and so saying he left the room.
"There, Methven!" said Horribly, II
knew quite well some row would come
out of this hoax of yours"
"Well, tell me what happened, Jack,
if you know"
Thereupon Hornby told the whole
story from beginning to end. When he
had finished Methven said:
II wonder who the girl was, and
when and where she met me-"
"Of course Ican't tell you the latter"
said Hornby, as he walked up to the
chimney-piece to refill his pipe, "but
her name, if I remember rightly, is Miss
Lillian West"
Horribly heard a sharp groan, and on
looking round, saw Methven MS white
as a sheet, with his head buried in his
hands.
"Good God, man, what's up?" cried
Hornby.
"Oh, Jack" said Methven, "that's the
very girl I loved myself. 1 met her
last Christmas in the country, and I
would have sold my very soul for her.
And now" he continued with q sob,
land now she's lost forever" With
these words he walked out, leaving
Horribly 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., of Brazenface college, Oxford.
And Methye en- has long since come to
the conclusion that there are safer modes
of playing practical jokes on ones friends
than by inserting in the papers fcti-
tiDus matrimonial advertisements.].
Randall, in Time.
"What is a sage?" "a sage, my son
is a wise man who knows exactly when
to buy or sell stocks. We hurry about
a dozen per month in this country, but
the supply still equals the demand"
"What is a successful fnancier 2" "Why,
the man who scoops 50 100000 out of
the bank he runs, and drops the sugar
in Wall street." "What is a philoso-
pher?" HE is 8 chap who loses his
wife's money in buying silver stock, but
increases his own by taking a deal in
pork" what is q financial prophet?"
ttHe is q gentleman who states to an