The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-11-14

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but will look for is-and, as was say
ing, he looks self reliant and dignifed,
and kissable and adorable
Why, Kate, are you crazy9' said
Agatha,
Not that I am aware of, Miss
Agatha. /" replied Kate, loftily.
But, Milly," continued the new
conner chow dare she talk SO in his
presencea''
oh, Knte means no harm.''s said
Milly, blandIy. s'He is q gentlemanly
fellow, and doesn't care what we say,
and lie Is sunburned and dignifed; Kate
was right. .
rs he a friend or relative of yourss''
asked Agatha.
Relative2 No" said Kate. "Friend2
do not know. am his friend, and his
name . Tom. Whether lie is my friend
or not remains to be seen.
s.NFell, young ladies'" said Agatha,
phcable. 1 certainly should grieve to
hurt the feelings of this gentleman or of
any person Perhaps you may not be
gfviag oHense or doing anything uncon-
venttonal. do not wish to misjudge
you-there is some mystery about it that
cannot fatllon. But / must go below
with mamma
..Well,'' said Kate, after Agatha left
that was curious position for her to
take; as though we were possibly doing
anything wrong-the ideal Her whole
speech is unlike her; there is, as she
says, some mystery here.
"Indeed there must be,' replied NIiIly.
''She have feelingi She has none for
anybody. Something in her voice re-
minds me of the day when she told the
madame how she had been inveigled into
that excursion, of which she was the
promoter"
'.Yes. 1 remember just how she
treachery here. Let us go to the cabin
for a while. Some way 1 feel uneasy"
When they had gone, Tom rose, walked
to the side of the boat and seriously con-
templated jumping overheard. His
checks burned at the position in which
lIis folly had placed him, and he was so
angry at his friends as to have given
them little grace lad they appeared just
then. It had been awkward, terribly
awkward and distressing. Why hadn't
he left when first they began to talki
He had placed one of the brightest.
sweetest, most beautiful girls he had ever
seen i'll Il false position which would al
ways mortify her, make her hate linn,
and make him hate himself. lie had
been q dishonorable spy, an eavesdrop-
PEI; he lad listened to private convers;l-
ton. Thoroughly vexed and chagrined,
he went below, and meeting his friends,
Eaid. very sternly:
BOYS, through your amazing idea of
a joke have disgraced myself. Unless
you do just US ask you, and help me
out, never want to see or speak to
either Of you again.
Tic boys, who lad heard something
Of the facts through Agatha, laughed till
the tears streamed down their faces
laughed, in fact, until Tom became SO
enraSed that they dared not irritate him
further. So they readily promised to as
6ist him in any way he might desire.
Tom remained below, sullen and reti-
cent, until they reached Rcckledge land
ing. There he and his friends left the
boat and when once on the wharf he
saw TO his dismay that party, includ-
ing the three young ladies, had also
landed, and that the steamer was ol-
ready under way. He must keep up the
farce for n little longer, ut least until the
next boat back. Reaching tho hotel
and there was but one-ho took
the landlord into his confidence and
evolved the following ingenious plan of
ction: He was Mr.. John Baird, who had
come i'll over the mountains to meet his
twin brother, Mr.. Tom Baird, who had
come up on the Loaf. To this notable
scheme his two friends heartily assented;
but once away from him, they fairly
roaretl when they reflected that Agatha
was in the secret, and would probably
disclose it at just the wrong lime. In
pursuance of the plan, however, Mr.
Bennett, the landlord, begged of Kate
ard Niilly that he might Introduce Mr..
John Baird, who just came in from the
Rockkill Valley.
When Baird was introduced, although
he had changed his clothes and appear
ance as far rs possible, Hates stately
chauffeur and Milly's witllering scorn
almost froze his blood.
Il believe we had the pleasure of gee
;ng Mr.. Baird OH the boat this after
noon, - said Kate icily.
..One Mr.. Baird, have no doubt, -
said Tom rccklcssly. .sAIr. Tom Baird,
my twin brother. Poor fellow; you
doubtless noticed his infirnlity, only of
recent date, too-very recent, III fact; he
wouldn't como down uo-night-he avoids
society, naturally; he's great hand to
rise carly and be gone all day in the
mountains, and at night take dinner in
his room"
$50 we shall, doubtless, be denied the
pleasure of meeting himT'' said Aiilly
ironically, but half conyi.ced.
t.Not at all, - said Baird. Il shall in
sist on his joining us tomorrow evening.
1t will never do for him to make her
NIT of himself at his time of life So
youns-that isl
your twin brother, 1 believe,'. said
Kate, with knocking something in her
voice and manner.
'.Ycs, oh, yes" continued Tom. 1--WE
are quite different, though, rs people OBJ
serve when we are together. -
Indeed" said Kate, with doubling
courtesy; ard then, as Tom left them,
she added: ''4Iilly, what do you t!ink2''
81 can't tell, - replied that young lady.
''Wait until we sec them together"
''Yes. wait until we do" said Kate,
her old doubts returning with added
force.
Agatha, however. Understood the sftt1-
alton, and sought to make the most of it
by cultiyating Mr.. John Baird, as she
affected to believe him. In this she
made but little headway. Meanwhile, it
became notorious through the hotel that
Mr. 'Tom" Baird had rambled away to
a 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 rs well
known that valise had been sent to Mr..
Tom Raird at bis rity address ThaSei