The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-23

l IouoW1nS leuef:
 | OAKwooD VIcARAcKl | Saturday, July 6. l DEAR MRS. LESTER: trust you and h,
 Lester have not forgotten your promise to | come and visit us this summer This elo
 rious weather makes the country especisnv
 enjoyable; and Mrs. Allardyee and pronos.
 to give garden party on Thursday next a,
 which we should be very glad to have ,hs
 pleasure of your company Some fanous
 local tennis players have promised to come | with whom your husband ought to try his
 skill. h case Dr. Lester's enRapemen,s
 should not permit him to remain here for ,bs night, there is a train for town at nine D. m
 We trust you will come early, and we will
 meet you at the statioa. With kind regards
 1 remain very sincerely yours, WENTWORTH ALLARDYcR. Alter some little discussion we agreed to go, but decided that it would be better not to stay all night. So wrote a note to that effect, and despatched Eliza with it to the post, telling her that Mir. Allar. dyce had invited us to visit Oakwood. and that we were going on Thursday. The good girl was delighted to hear it.
 On the morning of Thursday my bus. band started very early on his rounds, while l made an elaborate toiletin honor O the occasion, and by twelve o'clock we had reached Waterloo, and were in the train for Oakwood. The only other per. son in the carriage was an elderly clergy. man, very gray and fragile looking, but with a good kind face. He asked me whether liked the window up or down, and from remarking on the fine weather and one thing and another, he and Charlie soon got into conversation. People always talk to my husband when he is on journey. suppose his genial face and manner attract them. At all events never knew him travel any dis tance without somebody entering into conversation with him. He and the clergyman began discussing politics, and sympathized most cordially, being both ardent Conservatives. Then they talked on general topics for few minutes, and then rambled on to continental ex- periences. Our companion told us at he had living in Surrey, but that his health had been SO bad latterly that he had been compelled to travel abroad for three months, his duty being taken by a clerical friend meanwhile.
 was in Manchester for many vears.n he said. "l had very populous parish, and the work was SO hard that was glad to have the offer of quiet country vicarage. But Oakwood lies so low, and there are so many trees, that it is sadly unhealthy"
 "Oakwood2" involuntarily asked.
 "Yes, Oakwood, in Surrey, near Guild ford. Do you know the place2"
 "We are on our way there now,"l said, ito a garden party at the vicar age"
 At the vicarage ?" he repeated, look ing very much astonished.
 "Yes. l suppose there are two churches in the place-yours and an
 "No, my dear madam, only one-St. Paul's, of which am the vicar"
 never felt so puzzled in my life, and he looked equally bewildered.
 But the vicar of OAkwood is MT. Allardyce."
 "My name is Wentworth Allardyce." He took up his travelling bag and showed me his name and address engraved on small silver plate. Charlie and ex- changed glances. Our companion was evidently gentleman, and we cor Id not think of doubting his assertion. On the other hand, who was the other charming MT. Allardyce
 Have you son, or any other rela- tive of the same name2" asked Charlie. " A young man with dark hair and par ticularly agreeable manners ?"
 "l have no children. My wife has been dead for years. My only nephew, John Allardyce, is in Canada with his regiment"
 "Well. really, this is most incompre- hensible said Charlie, astounded. " Our parlor maid, Eliza Willis, whom you recommended to US"
 "Mj dear sir, said the clergyman, looking at him as if he thought he must be an escaped lunatic, "I never had a called Ellza Willis in my life; and certainly never recommended her to you or any one else"
 am Dr. Lester, of Noting HilL" said Charlie, producing his card. ' Really, this is most extraordinary thing. We engaged parlor maid about three months ago, who said she had been living at Oakwood vicarage with MT. Allardyce. She said he was then at E Folkestone, so we wrote there and re. ceived an excellent character"
 %NSS any RAAAR yOOy O04 | never was at Folkestone in my life."
 "And few days ago MT. Altar dyce' called to see her as he was pass ing through London. He spent the evening with us, and we were both de- lighted with him. To-day we are going, at his invitation, to a garden party at Oakwood Vicarage"
 "Then, my good sir, fear you have been imposed upsn," answered the cler- gyman. "Some unprincipled person must have made use of my name. Ihave been abroad for three months, and am just returned to O ikwood. assure you, have not the slightest intention of giv- ing garden party my bachelor house. hold does not admit of gayeties of that kind."
 "Oh, Charlie, our plate cried, as suspicion flashed across me like light