Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
left the room, asked irnpatiently for an
explanation, Algy replied abruptly:

L saw the scoundre! convicted Of cheat
ing at cards at NIGEL" Then he flung
back his chair, adding: ',Never ask a
man you know nothing about into the
house again!" and left the room.
Ida was petrifed. She could not bring
her mind to believe it, and yet she was
too found of Algy to doubt his veracity.
But, Hilda." she cried, "why did you
turn white and look as If you were going
to faint?"
Hilda replied with perfect calmness
Mr.. Wilton pointed him out to me last
week, and | saw at once there was likely
to be scene. However, take my advice
and say nothing about it TO any one"
Hllda was not TO be induced to say any
thing more. Algy stopped his wife
angrlly when they next met, as she would
have returned to the subject; and Ida,
feeling little guilty at having commit
ted an indiscretion, allowed herself to be
silenced.
But it CHANGED next day that Jack
Fleming, who was one of her particular
favorites, came in at 6 O'Clock and found
her alone.
'Oh, jack" she uttered reproachfully,
"a nice thing you let me in for by intro
ducing me 30 that Captain Kildare" And
ears. AS she narrated the whole Incl
dent in the most graphic manner, adding
to, rather than taking away from the EN-
| barr asment of the scene-Algy's anger,
Hilda's teaess-Jack, who was very
sharp at putting two apd two together,
had an idea. He listened attentively,
makirg few comments, but when he rose
! to 90 be said
"My dear lady, will prove to you be-
| fore forty-eight hours are over, that
| Wilson has made mistake, or give you
$50 to put in the poor box. There isn't
more honorable man living than Geo.
Kildare. Meanwhile, don't say anything
| to your husband
| Jack Flemming, who was fond of Ida,
had very different feeling for Algy,
about whom he knew great deal, and
Kildare was his greatest friend, so he
hurried off to the latter's rooms and
| found him dressing for dinner.
George" he exclaimed breathlessly,
"What was the row at the WiIton's the
| other Light"
Kildare, with a grim smile, narrated
his part of the adventure, which shall be
condensed for the readers benefit. A
week before, he had travelled up to Lon
don from place some fifty miles distant
with a very handsome young lady. He
had presented her witk all the weekly
papers as means of Introduction. She
had been in no wise shy of conversing
with him. and by the time they reached
town, they had made very rapid strides
| toward Friendship. He had ventured so
far as to steal an arm around her slender
waist, and even-shocking to reIate!-to
kiss her just as the train pulled into
| the station.
A moment later, as it stopped, red
and angry mans face appeared at the
window. The girl-for Kildare had as
| certained that she was not married
looked horribly confused. Kildare, think
ing it was wiser for her sake, got cut of
the carriage, being next the door, but it
seemed as though the young lady, to de-
fend herself, and believing him to be safe
out of the way, must have accused him of
| having insulted her. Kildare was about
to step into a hanson when he was seized
roughly from behind, AND, turning,
| found himself face to face with the
young lady's protector, who was address
ing him in the most opprobious terms.
Before he had time to reply, the object
of the dispute came flying up, and be-
sought her friend not to have any alter
cation in public for her sake. He, how
ever, continuing to buster, Kildare said
quietly. 81 think, for the lady's sake, we
will settle this matter elsewhere" and
told him his name and address. He then
| got into the hanson and drove off, and
heard no more of the affair until the even
ing of the dinner. Seeing how impossible
an explanation would be, and drawing
speedy conclusions about the real state
of the case, he had deemed it advisable to
withdraw and let them settle it among
| the mselves.
The author must here add an important
link. Miss Gordon had not expected to
be met at the station by Algy, knowing
he was Engaged to dine out with his wife,
but so infatuated was he that, making
pretense of being called away TO a sick
| friend in the country, he had escaped TO
the STATION, and, in order not to miss
seeing her, had gone to the very end of
the platform, and had there witnessed
the, TO him, most unpleasant episode of
the embrace. As will be conjectured, he
and Hilda had the best reasons for not
wanting this story to come to Ida'5 ears.
In his excitement he had not caught Kill
| dare's name.
When Kildare heard that he had been
accused of card sharping at Nice to pref
ty little Mrs. Wilton, he was tOlerably
angry, and vowed vengeance of no mean
order on her cur of husband. He and
Jack dined together and having t AIKEN
sweet counsel togethr, they came to the
conclusion that Mrs. WiltOn's feelings
must be spared, and that Jack must in :
terview her husband, lest Kildare should
be tempted to lay violent hands upon
him. Next day Jack sent to Algy, re-
quested to see him, related Kildare's
plain, unvarnished tale to him, and offer
ed him the choice of two courses. Either
the story would be told vrbeatum TO his
wife-and Kildare, who was an athlete,
would horse whip him-or he (Algy)
would explain to Mrs. Wilton that 1t was
a case of mistaken identity, and would
fix a day for Captain Kildars and Jack
to call at his house, when Mrs. Wilton
and Miss Gordon should be present; that
he shOnld then declare in genial and
natural manner, that he had made a
dreadful mistake, which he regretted.
Need it be said that Algy accepted,
cursing N his heart, the latter course!
The intervie. went of without hitch,
owing to Jacks tact.
Ida is delighted that hlr charming
Kildare has proved after all so be the
victim of mistake. But she can not for
| the life of her understand why he walked
out of the room.
NEWS NOTES OF INTEREST.
Cooper has been found in the vicinity
of Feirmount, Ill.
The new electric street railway at Sault
arIc hoe