The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-07-03

and 20 we will make q promise not to
chat one another in the future for the
parts We each played in the strange lit
tie Comedy of Errors
1 need hardly say Crofton sealed the
bargain with 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 for "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:
3D.. De. .a Kangaroo: Come to my rooms directly
a1ter NAL" Yours ever, j. Horribly.
So after "hal," Crofton went straight
to Hornby's rooms, and found him un-
corking q bottle of college port; and
over this bottle, soothed by the fra grant
weed, Harry Crofton told Horribly tho
story of his love, the whole tale-how
it happened, and what very lucky dog
he was. He had just finished his mar.
ratlve, when knock came at the door
and in walked Methven, just arrived.
"How dye do, 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 beastly shame, I own"
"Now, look here" said Crofton, quiet
1y-and there was an ugly look in his
eyes and a firmness in his Jaw that
made Methven unconsciously creep near
the door, don't want to have a row
with any man, much less in Jack Horn
by's rooms. But I tell you plainly,
think it was awfuly low Of you to take
advantage of my good nature in the way
you did strongly advise you for the
future, if you like whole skin, not t.,
try the game on again. may tell you,
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 q sheer,
"then think the least you can do is to
introduce us, as she may possibly like to
make the acquaintance Of the uncon-
scious author Of her happiness.
'Perhaps she might, replied Crof-
ton quietly, eff she hadn't unfortunate
ly made it before. Goodnight, Jack, !"
and so saying he left the room.
"There, Methven!" said Horribly, II
knew quite we'll some row would come
out of this hoax of yoursw
swell, tell me what happened, Jack,
if you know"
Thereupon Hornby told the whole
story from beginning to end. When he
had finished Methven said:
81 wonder who the girl was, and
when and where she met me-"
"Of course I can't tell you the latter, y
said Horribly, as he walked up to the
chimney piece to refill his pipe, "but
her anne, if remember rightly, is Miss
Lillian West"
Horribly heard sharp groan, and on
looking round, saw Methven as white
as sheet, with his head buried in his
hands.
"Good God, man, what's up?" cried
Hornby.
ooh, Jack" said Methven, "that's the
very girl l loved myself. I met her
last Christmas in the country, and
would have sold my very soul for her.
And now," he continued with sob,
"and 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 Methv 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 ficti-
tious matrimonial advertisements.-J
Randall, in Time.