Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-01

in my ear: Hello, old man. Bah
Jawve, glad to see you" l turned and
looked at the speaker. He was an English
man; his speech had told me that, and his
dress confirmed it. He was attired in the
ultra Anglican fashion that the weak mind
ed of this country affect so much. he was a
big, red faced man, and at his side stood an
other specimen OF the same class
Hello, how are you" cried Number Two,
extending his hand Come withus Vera
just going to get bite near by, and you can
Join us in bottle OF wine" / stood amazed.
Really, gentlemen" / began. Then thu
first man broke in: Come, now, my lord,
we are aware that Sir Lionel is travelling III
cog; but we won't peach on you. Bah
Jswve, but you have got the American style
down very well, hasn't he, CyrilF Cyril,
thus appealed to, answered by vigorous
nod, and locking his arm in mine, dragged
me along. 'Come now, Leon, drink ons
glass with me in memory of Margaret" I
strove TO speak but Cyril went On.
'What queer freak are you up to now, Old
man: When Bob and heard that You were
in New York, we determined to find you.
was confident that l could pierce any blasted
disguise that you got into. Knew you too
well at Somers for that Going back, sup
pose, in time for tho extra debate in the
house? That was lucky chance by which
you got in, wasn't it, And, say, what in
the name of-Great Castor and Polluy! what
have We here.' and my loquacious friend
stopped short. Confronting US was man
about NY build, dressed neatly as was. Isaw
no resemblance In the newcomers features to
me, but knew that my unfortunate trait had
shown forth and that l had encountered my
double-o-, rather, he had met his. The trio
of Engiishlnen stared in open nlouthed
wonder
''Great Cesar! Lionel which is you, and
who is tie other fellow'' asked Cyril, look
ing from one side to the other.
DENNY if l know" said the real Sir
Lionel. / drew forth my card-the first time
that the chance had been offered, for the two
had held both my arnls-and handed it to
him. AT the sound of the others voice the
illusion departed, for the three men burst
into 4 laugh and one of them cried:
''We beg your pardon, Mr.. Stevens, but
really at first the likeness was wonderful
Of course, we see our mistake now. VIII
you not join us in the wine, however? Fun
NEST thing ever saw"
pleaded an engagement and accepted the
profuse apologies Of Cyril and Bob I
watched them go off with the genuine article
looking back now and then to make sure that
they had really found the right man
To look like q waiter one day and the next
ike scion of Britains nobility completely
upset me, and hailing a ceb / jumped in and
gave my address. In q few minutes | was at
my house, and as was about to pay the cab
man be inquired, III an injured tone, ''Sha'n't
I wait for you, Mr. Graham!'
l was used to that sort of thing by this
time, SO told him that was uncertain how
long would be detained and gave him his
fare.
1t was almost surprise to me that the
front door opened with my latch key, and
entering my room l looked distrustfuliy
about half doubling that it was my OWN
sanctum, and expecting to SEQ another George
Arthur Stevens reclining in my arm chair
even touched the familiar objects on the
mantel piece, and ran my fingers over the
notes OF the piano, before / was absolutely
sure that | was at homo.
Then sinking into my great chair I ran
over the events of the day and conclude!
that ! was crazy. Raving, stark mad. I
thought myself, and the story of the man
who knew that he was insane, and kept 1t to
himself. came to my mind 7 decided that
must act as that man did, and dissimulate, in
order to conceal my disordered condition, for
I felt that I was but q harmless lunatic at
worst.
Now, at the present moment, conclude
that it is Nemesis. Corfound it!
Ill
OCTOBER 18th, 1887.
For some days after my last meeting was
quite myself. went ont, met Miss Earle
several times, and each time grew deeper and
deeper in love with her; and she-it seems
almost a sacrilege TO mention it-she has
grown very different Of late and her manner
toward me has changed Were it not for
that, life would be worthless. All, when |
win her, feel as though there would be no
such thing as trouble. Imagine myself
knight Grant striving against the powers of
enchnntrnent to gain my fairy princess. But
shall ! win? By the way, know her full
name now. 1t is Gladys Murray Earle Isn't
that a pretty name? 1t just suits her.
Well, as I have said, the first few days
were uneventful. A slight incident occurred
at dinner party that was somewhat IN
pleasant and forerunner OF ether trials
DeIOIt VIC v CHI OO"Il W tIle ttDlG q Strange
old gentleman rushed up to me and grssped
me by the hand, keeping up a most outrageous
string of questions on matters knew nothing
of ell the time. To avoid any unpleasant ex-
plantations and to preserve the peace, an
swered in preoccupied manner. At the
dinner table, however, the old gentleman
was my vis-a-vis, and once in awhile broke
in on my conversation with Miss Earle, at
whose right hand sat. Suddenly, during
lull in the conversation, he exclaimed:
by the way, how is Miss Rothmer? Oh,
you sly fellow, you; the last time | heard
from Hampton you were engaged 20 her.
Pretty girl; lots Of money; | suppose it is
still on, isn't it: You were pretty well gone,
as | remainder. You should have seen him,
Miss Earle" continued the old fogy, address
ing my partner, "head over heels in love
with a pretty girl this summer. l didn't be-
lieve it possible for fellow like him to be so
utterly crushed. He went about all day with
the most woe begons expression. No doubt he
has told YOU all about it The aIniable old
fool had bSen saying this in loud tone
which had attracted the attention of ali the
other guests, and seeing that he held an in
tercsted audience he went on:
Miss Rothrner, you know, was in love
with him all the time, too. Look bow red he
gets. Nothing to be ashamed of, my boy,
and she used to tell my daughter that she
wouldn't confess that she liked him, because
she enjoyed making him miserable. An,
girls have hard hearts, sometimes, Miss
Earle. By the way, Markham, when viii the
cards be out'"
"Markhamf cried the hostess from the
other end of tie tabla why. Mr Brown,
YOU must be mistaken That is NJ.
Stevens
1ly vis-a-vis elevated his glasses and