St. Paul daily globe., 1888-04-23
A LOVERS MISTAKE.

The reason why l was travelling aim
lessly about the country was just this:
had secretly engaged myself to Thyrza
Mayfield without even telling my most
intimate friend, Jack Hassard, about the
fact. 1 did not know they were ac-
quainted until I came upon them to-
gether one day, he with his arms about
her waist and she looking up lovingly
in his face.
I rushed home, packed up my traps
and took to travelling to find rest for
my mind. One night l arrived late at
an inn where / was to pass the night,
and was informed by the landlord that
the only accommodation L could get
was dOuble-bedded room with another
man.
AS had journeyed far, l made the
best of the circumstances. just as l
was about to get into bed fancied L
should like to take look at my neigh
Dor. went close up to the sleeper and
flashed candle over his face.
1t was Jack HasSard! And worst OF
all he was deadl
Suddenly l started, and my heart
seemed to cease beating. could have
sworn that faint breath had parted the
pale, still lips.
bent closer, and earnestly examined
the face.
Notwithstanding its pallor, there was
strangely life-life expression about
the features, and faint, almost imper-
ceptible shade of pink in the lips, in
stead of the liVid hue peculiar to death
/ began to tremble violently, but /
would not allow myself to be overcome,
and steadying my nerves by the utmost
power of will set down the candle
stick and then drew down the sheets.
was physician and aware OF all the
tests to which those apparently dead
ought to be subjected, and was soon
convinced that this was not death, but a
case of suspended animation.
need not describe my efforts, my
fears, my anxiety. Enough that my
suspicious proved correct.
Jack Hassard was not dead, and be-
fore the end of an of an hour his eyes
had opened calmly, and were looking
serenely into mine.
''By Jove, old ellow!" he exclaimed,
sis it really you, or is this a dream?
Why, Ralph, what possessed you to
lead me such chase? | have been
looking for you for weeks, and ThyrZa
has been beside herself with grief and
terror"
His words recalled all the bitter sor-
row which, for brief while, L had for
gotten in my efforts to restore him to
consciousness.
| drew back with an unintentional
gesture OF repugnance, which was sue
ceeded by bitter indignation when L
saw smile of amusement fit over
Jacks face.
"YOu dare ask me such questionS" L
exclaimed. Fool that | am, to have
brought back into the world such a
wretch as you must be! Thyrza! You
call her so, and to me! You must be as
bad as herself, then"
"Just about" was the placid reply.
'Why, you dear old Ralph, you must
have seen us together, then, just as she
surmiSed, and so you ran off in a fit of
jealousy. How much better to have
come boldly forward and demanded an
explanationw
"You are a brazen ruffian!" l ex-
claimed. 81 do demand an explanation,
since you wish it, here and nOw."
"Softly, old fellow! You say that you
have just brought me back to this world.
Don't scare me out of it again before L
have chance to make things straight.
Thyrza is my sister, and all that you
witnessed was an Innocent tllal en-
brace, and at that very moment she was
telling me of her love for you, and L
was congratulating myself that the man
l had always loved was to be in very
truth my brother as well as friend"
'Your sister," | exclaimed-it was
the word which heard through all else
that Jack said-yOur sister? She never
told me. Are you deceiving me?"
'Dear old Ralph! have | deceived
you? L ought to say half-sister, for
Thyrza and l had different fathers,
though the same mother. My step
father was good deal of a
brute, but my mother clung to
him; and at last my dis
like of him became so great
that | ran away from hOme-that was
years ago-and when | tried to find my
mother, after her husbands death, l
had long search of it. succeeded at
last, and had just revealed myself to
ThyrZa, who recognized me at once, al
though she had been but little girl
when we parted; and but for your pre-
cipitate departure we would have been
very happy party that night"
''YOur sister?'' l repeated, helplessly.
so Jack, will you-will she ever for
give me?"
ssWell, think so. And it must be ad-
mitted in your defense that the circum-
stances were decidedly SuSpicious-lOok-
ing"
AS soon as daylight came we refreshed
ourselves with an early breakfast and
set out together on our return to
ThyrZa, who is now looking over my
shoulder at these last words.
Co tbp rpa6pr will understand that