Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-13

l.. DanT
This is the minister's house. the hes'
Mr.. Knowles. the man who inaiIio" w.
yol know"
There was a painful ambiguity about nor
words VIII ch perplexed Drane 70 sucn ~
extent that servant had ushered thslh
handily into the good pastors STUDY W.
fore he recovered his self-possession. .o
A venerable gentleman rose from a large
char and greeted them with courtesy
You remember me. don't youE salu
tine Girl before Dranc could open n'S
mouth. Pm Nellie Blake, or was peIose
You married me TO Dir. Drane last lues-
day"
She simpered in a most distressing 'way
ard looked up at Drane. Ho felt Ms nsu
stirring at the roots, for he saw now ' ~
lunacy was the only explanation OF Tue
girls conduct.
II ought to explain" he began. -,
But the minister stopped him with
wave Of the hand.
mo explanation is required Mr. Drane.
said he. % / remember YOU perfectly ana
l do trust that nothing has happene4 III
this short space to mar the happiness Wlich
] sincerely wished you when maze you
one"
"Bnt. nv dear sir" cried DTano; in
horror. Nellie interrupted him with
You see. cir. it isn't really much otanyy-
thing" she said, and perhaps we, ought
not 10 have bothered yOu about ~ Du, tne
truth is I've lost the certificate YOU gave
me. I'm Just a. stupid IS l can be- Out
can't help it
d" But il i-n't all. Il isn't half OF IT,"
Drane exclaimed. The truth IS
Now. You naughty boy cried Aellie,
putting her hand playfully over hismouth,
shan't let YOU 90 on this way.
Some trihing diTngrocnent;' sa.d ihe
Rev. MIR. Knowles smiling good natufrdly;
have no doubt that 10 can be repaired
ss easily as the loss Of the certificate
Sir" said Dlaue, breaking loose from
the restraining hand. Il assure Won that II
Is your duty to-
And assure you, sir" SAID the old ,cler-
cvman, with dignity, " that d Is your dutN'
as II is your privilege and should be your
delight. to be ever kind. f0rbearing' ana
gentle with the woman VINO has gwen YOU
the honest affection of her heart, aud
whose hand / joined with yours IN TINS
very room. Look at her now"
Nellie had fallen upon sofa and was
sobblng with industrious yIgor. on
have brought tears TO her eyes, Nellie
pretended TO wrIng out her handkerchief.
She might faint with the disappointment
al your very feet
Nellie bean 20 faint with n rieid deter
forth more rcmCnstrnnces from the KIND
hearted Old man. Together they made
her comfortable upon the sofa and famed
her TIL there was q small cyclone IN the
study When she was quiet Drane saw
his opportunity, and, In voice as calm as
he could make it, he said;
NV dear sir. Won are wholly mistaken
IN this matter. ! am not the man VINO
married this yOung woman, and ! have
never had the pleasure Of seeing either
her or yourself before today
81 DO YOU mean % say that she doesn't
know her own husband?" asked the rove
rend gentleman. with great surprise. lhls
j prepostcrous.'
"She knows perfectly well that am not
her husband" said DTane. " For some pun
pose Of her own she has Jared me here. and
has claimed no before You, and yon have
pretended to recognize me. But for the
honesty that | rea / in yOur face. sir.
should be tempted 10 say that tins was ali
great conspiracy to entrap me
young man sad Rev Dir. Knowles,
with deep severity; II never forget a face.
] knew you by your neckue,"
it WAS the one article Of conspicuous ap-
parel which ne had retained since the first
exchange with the tramp in tho Turkish
bath ile cursed 1t IN his soul.
But look at me more closely; look into
my face. - he exclaimed.
6ev Mr. Knowles pulled a pair of spec
tacles down from his forehead and ap-
preached Drane with grim determination
10 make sure of him written all over ms
usually benign countenancc. Draue lifted
up his head aud looked straight ut the gilt
ttring gold rims Of the glasses. He felt
certain that be should not fail If an &C
qulttal if once he va, properly Inspected.
But Rev. NJ Knowles made an error
which is alarmiugly common in cases
where personal identity Is at issue. lie
fixed his gaze rigidly on the one thing
which had previously mlslcd hlm-tne
nccktie and 20 al intcnts and purposes
MS scrutiny went no further. And oh,
how ho did identify that necktie. How lie
reached IN and pulled it, secret out How
deal certain, BOW Imin0yably, unutter-
ably positive he was. when he raised his
eyes from 1t and pushed up his glasses
again, that that wa the Yeritable uccFtie
with which he had forever united the tate
of Mis- Nellie Blake. Then he glanced a.
Drane's face with his unassisted eyes; saw
simply physiocnomy with the customary
number Of features on 1t, and WAS con-
YInced
Il was not mistaken said he, ana
am ~ q loss to understand your conduct
II takes q really good man 10 be fixed IN
error: but doubt IS the eternal portion OF
the unreeencrate. The Rev. Mr.. Knowles
was more certain lHtL Ic hdi HialiAch
Dranc than Dranc was that ne hadn't.
Why continued Mr.. knowles, " If II
was your intention TO cast tins woman of
did YOU bring her here where y0urlnlqulty
was almost certain to transpirc
81 didn't bring her here said Drane,
despondngly, she brought me.
$50 supposed so | supposed, young
man. and the Rev. Mr.. Knowles fTowned
in great disaDprobatlon, but now that you
are here let me eXhoTt YOU to DO your
whole duty. What reason you have for
DENYING your wife DO not know. Have
you nytAnC to say against her charec-
ter;'
Heaven forbid" said Drane, hastily.
THAT Is q subject Oh which l never say
anything.
"Nou nave theinstinctsof gentleman"
the old clergyman said. slowly. "InOtlcrd
that when yuu were here before; especially
then NAV add, for your behavior to-day
has left much 10 be desired
" am greatly indebted TO the abomlnable
tramp who personatcd me GU that occa-
sion exclaimed Draue, with bitter cmpha-
sic. and | regret that has reputation
should suffer during my temporary use of
my own name.
Gone, come" said the genial pastor,
cheerfuliy: let's have no moro hard
works. Come, Nellie, give your hand to
your husband once more IN ny presence.
and start anew on what / trust viii be
happy life together"
Nellie rose with great alacrity and adj
vancod to Drane, who stood IN sullen dis
IA - =.