Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-05-22

transformed her rather comedy face into
the familiar mask of imbecility; and
not even the blank stare with which he
met her upturned eyes, moved her to
modify single detail of her ridiculous
grimace.
'She must be crazy, too, )" he thought,
with a shudder; unconsciously mold
ing the phrase of his idea to fit the pop
ular Judgment regarding his own
mental condition. Poor girl: her dis
appointment has turned her brain"
She steered him into side street;
and just as he was trying to think Of
delicate way in which he could urge her
to discontinue looking at him in that
disquieting fashion, she paused before
gate and said:
This is the minister's house, the
Rev Mr.. Knowles, the man who married
as, you know. /"
There was a painful ambiguity about
her words which perplexed Drane to
such an extent that servant had ush-
cred them handily into the good pastors
study before he recovered his self-pos-
session.
A venerable gentleman rose from
large chair, and greeted them with cour-
tesy.
You remember me. don't you?" said
the girl before Drane could open his
mouth. SIM Nellie Blake, or was be-
fore you married me to Mr.. Drane, last
Tuesday.
She simpered in most distressing
way and looked up at Drane. lie felt
his hair stirring at the roots, for he saw
now that lunacy was the only explana-
ton of the girls conduct.
II ought to explain he began.
But the minister stopped him with
wave OF the hand.
no explanation is required Mr..
Drane, said he. Il remember you per-
fectly and 1 do trust that nothing has
happened in this short space to mar the
! happiness which sincerely wished you
when | made you one"
'sBut my dear sir" cried Drane, in
horror. Nellie interrupted him with
giggle.
''You see sir, it isn't really much of
any thing" she said, ''and perhaps we
ought not 10 have bothered you about it;
but the truth is I've lost the certificate
you gave me. I'm just as stupid as can
be, but can't help it,
! "0hl if that is all
''But it isn't all. 1t isn't half Of it,"
Drane exclaimed 'The truth is
Now, YOU naughty boy, cried Nellie,
! putting her hand playfuliy over his
mouth, Il shan't let you so on this
way"
Some trifiing Gisagreeme TT, said the
Rev Mr.. Knowles, smiling good
! ly. II have no doubt that it can be re-
paired as easily as the loss of the GER
tificate.''
''Sir, said Drane, breaking loose from
the restraining hand, II assure yon that
it is your duty to-
"And | assure you. sir" said the old
clergyman. with dignity, that it is
your duty, as it is your privilege, and
should be your delight, to be ever kind,
forbearing and gentle with tho woman
who has given you the honest affection
! of her heart, and whose hand ] joined
with yours in this very room. Look at
her now
Nellie had fallen upon a sofa and was
sobbing with Industrious vigor. "You
have brought tears to her eyes" Nellie
! pretended to wiring out her handker-
chief. '.She might faint with the disap-
pointment at your very feetT
Nellie began to faint with rigid de-
termination which alarmed Drane, and
| called forth more circumstances from
the kind-hearted old man. Together
they made her comfortable upon the
sofa and famed her till there was a
small cyclone in the study. When she
was quiet Drane saw his opportunity,
and. in voice as calm as he could make
it, be said
my dear sir, you are wholly mistaken
in this matter. / am not the man who
married this young woman, and have
never had the pleasure Of seeing either
her or yourself before to-day"
DO you mean to say that she doesn't
know her own hnsband?' asked the
reverend gentleman, with great sur
prise. This is preposterous.
''She knows perfectly we'll that | am
not her husband. said Drane. "For
some purpose Of her own she has lured
me here, and has claimed mo before
you, and you have pretended to recog-
nize me. But for the honesty that read
in your face, sir. ! should be tempted to
say that this was all great conspiracy
to entrap me-
young man, said Rev Mr.. Knowles,
with deep severity, 4 never forget a
face. knew you by your necktiel'
1t was the one article Of conspicuous
apparel which he had retained since
the first exchange with the tramp in
the Turkish bath. He cursed it in his
soul
But look at me more closely; look
into my facet" be exclaimed.
Rev. Mr.. Knowles pulled pair Of