The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-07-25

your behavior to-day has left much to
be desired"
81 am greatly indebted to the abomin-
able tramp who personated me on that
OCCASION" exclaimed Drane, with bitter
emphasis, "and 1 regret that his repu-
tation should suffer during my tempo
rary use of my own name"
Come, come" said the genial pastor,
cheerfully; ''let's have no more hard
words. Come, Nellie, give your hand to
your husband once more in my presence,
and start anew on what l trust will be
a happy life together"
Nellie rose with great alacrity and ad-
vanced to Drane, who stood in sullen
dismay, wondering what the woman's OBJ
ject was and how far she would allow
the ridiculous game to proceed.
Meanwhile Rev. Mr.. Knowles had
shifted his spectacles from his forehead
to the end of his nose, and he beamed
more benignly over them tfif,.n under
them if possible.
Il am an old man" said he, ''and you
must pardon my interference in the
affairs of the young. l am not yet clear
as to what has brought you to me for q
second time; but let us say it is Provi-
dence-" and he glanced reverently up
ward, the one direction in which the
good mans sight had never failed him.
81 entreat you, my son, be man." he
continued, land leave this strange and
evil course for the better way"
Drane was torn by many conflicting
nrpntipnc Tho o11 1o1o
was so kind that Drane could have
kissed his venerable hand, and his
error was so annoying that Drane
longed to break his venerable neck.
"My dear -" he was going to say
''my dear SIR" but Mr. Knowles let him
get no further than the adjective. He
spread his hands over the pair, in the
familiar attitude, and Nellie, taking
the hint, fell upon Drane's neck. His
utter inability to struggle against cir
cumstances led him absolutely to tears;
and the Rev. Mr.. Knowles, taking out
large handkerchief, cried softly in
unison.
They were all so much occupied that
they did not hear the door-bell, nor had
their attitudes changed by hairs
breadth when the door opened and Mrs.
Bessie Harland, of Buffalo, N. Y,
walked in. Drane saw her out of the
corners of his eyes, and he tried hastily
to shake Nellie's arms from around his
reck, but they were clasped hard and
fast, and nothing could loosen them,
Bessie gave little sigh which was al
most sob, and sank upon the sofa
There were first-rate prospects of gen
uine faint now, and Drane's agony was
proportionately increased.
At the sound of her late mistress
sob, Nellie turned her head, and when
she saw who had entered her dismay
was so plainly written on her face that
even the faint-sighted old pastor saw it.
He misinterpreted it, of course, and cast
a look of disapproval upon Bessie.
''Young woman" said he, ''are yol
the unhappy cause of difference between
these two?''
But Bessie paid little attention to his
words. She rose unsteadily from the
sofa, threw up her head with a pitiful
little attempt at dignity and said:
''Mr. Drane, came to this city be-
cause l believed that you were i'll and in
trouble, and hoped to help you as you
once helped me. A young man, whom l
believe to be representative of the
press, directed mo to this house. That
explains my presence; but, of course, l
can stay no longer. 1 must say good
bye"
"There, sir; didn't tell you your
name was Drane!' exclaimed Rev. Mr..
Knowles, who had been fairly bursting
with desire to say it since Bessie's
first word had been uttered.
"Bessie-Mrs. Harland!" cried Drane,
choking with love, rage and other emo
tions which affiict the young, II swear
to you that this is all hideous mistake
l have never seen this woman before to-
day, and l don't care to see her again
till the day of judgment, on which oc-
caslon may she escape her deserts! She
was hanging round my neck for some
insane purpose of her own; and this
gentleman"-and Drane softened his
voice and bowed to Mr.. Knowles-'per-
sists that he married us"
Married. cried Bessie, and she sank
back again upon the sofa.
but he didn't, you KNOW" cried
Drane, fastening toward her. 'He's
near-sighted or something, and she real
ly married my necktie-oh, give my
word, don't know what I'm saying,
but IL Bessie, l love you, God
knows, and every beat of my heart has
been faithful to you since my eyes first
rested on your face. May"
''Sirr' cried Rev. Mr. Knowles, in a
voice of thunder. "This is more than l
can permit VIII you make love to an
other woman before your wife's eyes,
you young villain?"
But this rebuke fell UNDECIDED, for
Drane's unexpected declaration had
proven too much for Bessie's nerves al
ready deeply shaken, and she had fallen
into faintness, as deep, to all appear
ances, as death itself. Drane sprang
forward to her side, and Rev. Mr..
Knowles puttered along after him.
Nellie, too, was moved by the sight of
her former mistress pallid face, and she
bid fair to be of more real use than
either of the men. But they were all
in earnest, and so intent upon their task
that they did not see the door open, nor
did they know that any one had entered