Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-10-18

reG1C0ut, uutU tncy <caCn0d LOCKl0og0
Landing. There he. and his friends
left the boat, and when once on the
wharf. he saw to his dismay that
party, including the three young
ladies, had also landed, and that the
steamer was already under way. He
must keep up the farce for a little
longer, at least until the next
boat back. Reaching the hotel
and there was but One-he took the
landlord into his confidence and
evolved the following ingenious plan of
action: He was Mr.. John Baird, who had
come in over the mountains to meet
his twin brother. Mr.. Tom Baird, who
had come up on the boat. To this
notable scheme his two friends heart
lily assented; but once away from him,
they fairly roared when they reflected
that Agatha was in the secret, and
would probably disclose it at just the
wrong time. In pursuance of the plan.
however, Mr.. Bennett, the landlord,
begged of Kate and Milly that he
might introduce Mr.. John Baird, who
just came in from the Rockhiu Valley
When Baird was introduced, al
though he had changed his clothes
and appearance as far as possible,
Kate's stately hdutear and Milly's
whitening glance almost froze his
blood.
81 believe we had the pleasure of
seeing Mr.. Baird on the boat this aft
-ernoon, y said Kate, icily.
zone Mr.. Baird, I've no doubt" said
Tom, recklessly. Mr.. Tom Baird, my
twin brother. Poor fellow, you doubt
less noticed his infrmity, only of re-
cent date, too-very recent, in fact;
he wouldn't come down to-night-he
avoids society, naturally; he's great
hand to rise early and be gone all day
dinner in his room"
$50 we shall, doubtless, be denied
the pleasure of meeting him?'' said
Milly, ironically, but half convinced.
stNot at ALL" said Baird. shall in
sist on his joining us tomorrow even
ing. 1t will never do for him to make
a hermit of himself at his time of life.
So young-that is"
s'Your twin brother, believe" said
Kate, with a hooking something in
her voice and manner.
Eyes, oh, yes, ;" continued Tom. s'We
are quite different, though, as people
observe when we are together"
s'Indeed," said Kate, with a doubt
ing courtesy; and then, as Tom left
them, she added: chilly, what do
you think?''
81 can't tell" replied that young
lady. 'sWait until we see them to-
gether."
eyes, wait until we do,'' said Kate,
her old doubts returning with added
force.
Agatha, however, understood the
situation, and sought to make the most
of it by cultivating Mr.. John Baird, as
she affected to believe him. In this
she made but little Roadway. Mean
while, it became notorious through
the hotel that Mr.. s'Tom'' Baird had
rambled away to village down the
river, and had thence gone to the city,
telegraphing for his 'valise. Some
credible people had seen the dispatch,
and it was quite as well known that a
valise had been sent to Mr.. Tom Baird
at his city address. These little Incl
dents, though perhaps not entirely
convincing, at least gave Kate and
Milly an excuse for treating Tom cour-
teously-a liberation of which he made
the most, endeavoring by every atten-
ton to reinstate himself in their good
graces. The fact is Tom was desper-
ately, hopelessly in love with Kate;
and she was so far interested as to re-
mark. without seeming offended, sew
eral little Inconsistencies in his story.
81 observe, Mr.. Baird" said she,
''that your friends. when speaking in
haste, are quite as apt to call you Tom
as John. Doubtless they confoand you
with your unfortunate brother. You
must be very like"
herent answer or observation in a
pained, reproachful way, and changes
the subject.
At length there was q revelation
which Kate could not overlook il she
desired to; for Agatha, jealous that
her arts were vain, and that Tom
should be monopolized by her rival, at
last said: Elbow long, Kate, are you
going to keep up that stupid farce?
Why, knew all the time how it was,
even on the boat; Harry Bishop told
me. Deaf and dumb, 1ndeed!-Tom
Baird deaf! What joke! presume,
however, you regret that he is not.
''And you knew and did not tell us!''
said Kate, slowly, and with deliberate
scorn. ''You teach me che value of
your friendship, Miss Vine; you know
ingly witness our mistake in order to