Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-14

stared moodlly out OF the car window.
There was carriage waiting for Gretch-
en- at the platform; it was driven by
handsome young man with a blonde
beard. He lifted Gretchen into the car
riage, and then deliberately stopped and
kissed her on her smiling, uplifted lips.
''The deucem Enderby muttered then
he smiled grimly at his own folly. Be-
hold him man thirty years old, gen
orally conceded to have the average Ia
telligencc, who had fallen heels over
head in love at first sight with an utter
strangerl And she had already lover,
too! "This was the unkindest cut OF
ALL" It was too absurd, and Enderby
tried his level best to make himself feel
foolish. But his thoughts always re-
turned to those wonderful eyes and those
red lips. How he envied that blonde
whiskered young man! He watched the
carriage disappear behind bend in the
road, and straightway began to feel as
dismal as if he had lost his last friend in
the world. Never had time passed SO
slowly; bnt at last our disconsolate trav-
eler found himself in his pleasant room at
the Hotel Brunswick, New York. He
opened his valise for his comb and
hair brush, and started up with a whistle
of astonishment. Before his eyes lay
half dozen dainty handkerchiefs,
ieweled card case, pair of long terra
Gotta gloves, box of bonbons, Aldrich's
poems in vellum covers, and dozen
other charming feminine trifes. Ender-
by's fingers trembled as he opened the
book; but there was no name in it. The
card-casc, too, was empty. The hand
kerchiefs had sc. F. f." exquisitely
worked out in white silk, but the clue
was too slender one too give him much
hope. Here was a quandary, indeed
81 wonder what her name is" Enderby
mused, tenderly caressing the smooth
covers OF the volume of poetry. "Geor-
gianna, perhaps, or Griselda, or Ger
trude, or Grace-yes, it must be Grace.
Gracel what sweet name it is! and it
just suits her, too.
$50, Grace, you have my brush and
comb in your possession, and l must go
unkempt on your account. Well, 1
would willingly do much more for. your
sake; you have stolen my heart already,
so the valise might as well go with it."
The next morning Enderby started for
Rugby, with the fixed intention of hunt
ing up G.. F. F. Rugby was but vii
lage, SO the idea was not such an absurd
one as it might seem at first sight. He
registered at the principal hotel, and
entered into gossipy conversation with
the garrulous clerk. After good deal
of talk he learned that there was gentle
man who had just come there with his
handsome young wife, and had built the
most elegant house there. His name was
Fisher-"Theodore Fisher, SIR"
G.. F. F.-G. F.F!
These letters flashed in wild dance
before Enderby's eyes So Ted Fisher.
his old college chum, had forestalled
him, and married the only woman he
Jack Enderby-c ever love. Could
fate be more cruel than this? There was
no doubt of it; it was Ted Fisher. and
no one else. He remembered well the
handsome bright face, though he had
not seen it for eight years, and it was
heavily bearded now.
Enderby felt that he could not stay to
see his friends happiness. He would
go away on the next train, and try to
forget all about the wretched, ridicu-
lous affair. Luckily, no one else knew
anything about it. He strolled idly
down the broad avenue, wondering in
which house Ted Fisher and his beauti-
full wife lived lie felt a sudden grip
on his right shoulder, and then someone
whirled him round, and began to shake
both his hands.
"Jack Enderby, by all that's wonder
full" CHEEKY voice exclaimed, and two
blue eyes were gazing eagerly into his
own. "Where in the world did you
drop from3'
81 came down from New York this
morning." Enderby explained, ''looking
for some Of my property. If l am not
mistaken, you can help me recover it"
his eyes twinkling.
'1i" Ted Fisher started. ''No,
thanksl I've had enough of that sort of
thing. I'm no private detective, though
you and my sister seem to think SO.
Why, man, she demanded the same ser
vice from me yesterday. Somebody
stole her valise aud left his own in its
paw a AhAoCidOiC uhuiit COuthAuAiH ndil
a dozen color tubes and worn-out paint
brushes. The fellow had some literary
taste, it seems, for we found book by
Thoreau in the valise."
''Ted Fisher p shouted Enderby, grasp
ing Fishers hand as if he would wrench
it of, ''is G. F. F. your sister n
'By Jovew gasped Fisher, eff this
isn't too good Ha, ha, hal Were you
that fellow, Enderbyl Let go my hand,
l sayl I'm not made of cast iron"
"Who would have dreamed of your
living here, Tedl" Enderby exclaimed,
joyously. "Take me to your house at
once, old fellow, want to meet your
wife, and--and your sister,"
'And-and my sister, "mimicked
Ted. ut is kind Of you to remember
her at all, Jack"
But Enderby only laughed, and gently
pushed Fisher before him. Imagine
Gretchen's bewilderment when they came
up the garden walk arm in arm.
II have caught your thief, Gretehenr
Ted announced, Triumphantly. deal
with him gently, my dear, for he is as
yet young in the paths Of wrong doing.
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