Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-09-12

dUctorInyl
OF course, Crofton was invited to STAY to
dinner, 30 as to meet MI West, who did not
return from business till after6 About that
time lie arrived, and "A fine CHEEKY, fellow he
was, and right heartily did he welcome his
new acquaintance. After dinner. as he and
Harry We're discussing a bottle of "a port.
Mr. West found out from the simple hearted
fellow that he was a native of Australia. and
that, though he was happy enough during
term time 9TH Lis college cLums, he found
1t very dull during the vacation, having but
few relations and friends in the old country:
and SO Mr.. West liking the honest, manly
lad, and feeling. of course, intensely CRATE
full to him for having saved his child from
drowning, invited him to spend a month
with him at his shooting lodge m
Scotland Crofton being paSsionately, de-
voted to sport, snapped at the offer; and so
it was arranged that he should go up to Mr..
Vests shooting lodge, in Cromarty, on the
1lth Of August. To this day he swears that
the month he spent at Balbriggan lodge was
the happiest time of his life--good sport,
nice men in the house, and, ah! far best Of
ali, the society of Lillian West. At first it
struck him that she looked upon him for
some reason or other as rather a puppy,
which considerably surprised him. for what
ever his faults might be, conceit was Ger.
tainly not one of them. But rs time went
on, and she had plenty Of opportunity Of see
ing what n modest, sterling fellow he was
(besides being the best shot of the party),
the feeling seemed to pass away, and soon
gave place to sincere regard. Sun
day afternoon rambles through the
heather, cosy chats in the cleaning
after dinner, lessons in the mysteries Of "go-
bang" and chess, have brought together less
susceptible hearts than those of Harry Crof.
ton and Lillian West, and the day before he
was returning to England he plucked up
courage. proposed, and to his delight was
accepted. The next morning, however, Just
before starting home Lillian came up to him
and said:
Harry dear, before you go want you to
forgive me for the silly joke l played you
about that advertisement"
Advertisements said he, @what advertise
ment."
"Why, the one, of course, you put in The
Morning A'-ertiser."
Crofton looked very mystiried, and again
shook his head.
'Oh. come now, Harry" repliei Lillian,
ut is not bit of use your trying to deceive
me; do you mean to say you didn't put the
advertisement in The Morning Advertiserl"
ani SO saying, she drew from her card-case
small newspaper cutting and handed it to
Crofton. 1t ran as follows
Wanted Wife-The advertiser, who is
striklngly handsome very accomplished, and
extremely rich, wishes to meet with young
lady with view TO matrimony. She must
be good looking, amiable and accomplished
Al.
and addres H. c., Isl St Giles, Oxford.
"Never saw it before in my life," said
Crofton.
And you never wrote thisp continued
Miss West, handing the last letter from II.
c. to Miss L. Bernard, appointing the place
and time of meeting.
"Most certainly not: it's not bit like my
handwriting. Couldn't write SO well if
tried for a month"
"Well Harry, you must at least own that
this is your photograph"
"Good gracious, yes!" replied Crofton;
that's mins, sure enough; but who ON earth
could have sent it, an why to You Of all
peoplel'
"Oh," said Lillian, "Pm 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 be-
ing who could be so consummately con-
ceitei as to frame an advertisement like that;
and so l replied to it, directing my letter
from the postoflice at Piccadilly Circus
and signing myself by a 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 sure
that the advertiser couldn't possibly mistake
me for the original of Parkers photograph, l
went to the Westminster landing pier at the
appointed time. Imagine my delight, then,
when l saw you, the original Of the photo
graph, stalking up and down the pier, appar-
emily awaiting the faithless damscl But,
Harry dear, il you did not go to meet me,
why in the world did yeu 60 to the pier at
that very timer
II went on commission" said he, "for a
college friend Of mine, named Methven."
"Whatl Mr.. Methven, Of Brazenfacei" said
she.
"Why, yes; is he a friend Of yours"
"Oh, | only met him when staying in the
country last Christmas; an think, Harry,
he liked me better than did him."
"Well," continued Crofton, II went there
to meet a cousin Of his and to give her mes
sage from him, but l 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.
"He showed me photograph by which
was to recognize her"
"Was it that Of a pretty girl with large
hat and feather, and fan in her handr said
Lillian with smile.
"The very same," said Crofton.
"Then. Harry, you are quite right; it was
practical joke, for that was Parkers
photograph which l sent to the mysterious
Mr.. H. 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 i'm
the strange little Comedy of Errors.'"
need hardly say Crofton sealed the bar
gain with a kiss.
When Harry next returned to Brazenface
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. Crefton arrived
first day of term, just in time for "hall," 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 d.
rectly after hall" Yrurs ever,
j. HoRNBY.
So after "hall," Crofton went straight to
Hornby's rooms, and found him uncorkiny o
bottle of college port; and over this bottle,
soothe1 by the fragrant weed, Harry
Crofton told Hornby the story of his love,
the whole tale-how it hal happened, AMI
what very lucky dog he was. He Ia Just
finished his narrative. when knock came at
the door and i'll walked Methven, just ar
rived.
SLOW dye do, Jack' Hillo, Kangaroo,
how are you old chapF he began.
But, 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. ehl Come, come, old chap,
you must really forgive HE, 1t was beastly
shame, own"
"Now, look here" said Crofton, quietly