Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-03-27


of a very pretty girl, ended by ask
ing me when and where | should
meet her in town, and signed her
self Miss l.. Bernard, Piccadllly
Circus post. Office; she also express
ed desire to have the advertisers
photograph, so promptly sent her
that of old Crofton, which he had
lately given me, and said | would
write to her when and where l
should meet her; so my scheme is
to somehow induce Crofton to meet
this girl, She will of course recog-
nize him by the photograph | have
sent, will probably rush into his
arms, the kangaroo will be utterly
overpowered, and there will proba'
bly, be an interesting denouement.
Now, Hornby, don't you think that
magnificent piece of strategyF
NO, indeed ! don't said Horn
by 81 think it's an Internal shame;
and, what's more, have half a
mind to 60 and tell the kangaroo
of the hoax
ooh, come now,' said Methven,
you'd never do that Jack, know.
Well, can't stay any longer, so
goodbye for the present.
There is not the slightest donbt
that if the fates had not intervened
Hornby would have gone straight
I to Crolton and warned him of the
| impending hoax, and this story
would never have been written, but,
as it happened, no sooner had Meth
ven gone out of HOrnby's rooms
than in rushed the secretary of the
college cricket club in state OF
b1eathless anxiety; there was a
match at l1;30, it was now II o'clock
and he could only get together
eight men. So HOrnby was promp.-
" enlisted, and by the time the
match was over Methyen and his
scheme had entirely faded from his
not too retcntive memory. Meth
ven, in the meantime had gone
straight to Crofton's rooms. Now,
this Crofton, who was about to fall
a victim to Methven's wiles, was
the son of a large Australian sheep
farmer, and had come up to Brazcn-
face the previous October. Like
most colonists who have not been
to school in England, he was very
simple and unsophisticated; and
though the kangaroo, as he was gen
orally called, was very popular, he
was constantly being made the vic
tim of small and practical jokes,
most of which we're originated by
Methven, who was the professional
hoaxer of Brazenface. Tie always
forgavs them heartily, and joined
in the laugh himself. However, his
one years residence in college had
opened his eyes a little, and being
naturally anything but fool, his
friend found it not quite so easy to
take him in now as il used to be,
several attempts having lately fail
ed. Methven, to sustain his dwin
ding reputation as a joker, had
concoctcd the plan he had just dis
closed to Hornby. He found the
genial giant busily packing his traps
ready for going down the next day
After chatting moment or two TIC
tempter began
'As you're going to town to.mor
row l want you to do me a littlC
favor. IprOmised | to meet a girl, q
cousin of mine, tomorrow. W'
had each got an order for the House
of Commons, and | was to have
escorted her, and as we meant tC
have little lunch together at Lu
cas- before we went in, We had ar
ranged to meet at a quarter pas
two at the Westminster bridge
landing pier, that being a place
where we couldn't possibly mis-
each other. Now, as bad luck vii
have it, the dean has sent for me t
sec him after collection, so that
can't get up to town in time. Tn
fortunately can't let the girl know
because she's away Oh visit for
day or two to some friends, who's
address ! have forgotten, and sh
won't return home till after she
been TO the house. Now, | dom
want the poor child to wait an hou
p for me, so would you mind goin
there quarter past two and tell he
/ can't come because Of that beast
ly dean? And so that you can
mistake her, I've brought you he
photograph. Blythe by, her name
) Miss Bernard. Now, will this b
e too much trouble for your
|, 'Oh, not a Bit said Crofton,
, shall be delighted
= 'Well, remember, Westminst'
landing pier, at quarter past tw'
And now, goodbye, and a pleasaI
long to you
Methven, highly elated with IL
, result of his scheme, immediateI
wro., a note to Miss l.. BernaI
that G. II. would meet her at Il
:, Westminster bridge pier, at a qua
ter past two puuctually, and thi
;, she must come up and speak to hi
if she saw him first.
It The next morning Orofton, ha'
d ing undergone that dreaded orde
q called collections having bee
10 bullied alternately by the principi