Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-03-05
CHAPTER X.

At all seasonable hours the streets of
New Haven are full Of pretty girls.
They are merry girls, too, who like to
laugh when there's any thing funny in
sight. Drane, with the bogus Mrs.
Drane upon his arm, passed some thou
sands of them, or at least he could have
sworn that no did, and they all looked
out of tho corners of their eyes, and
grinned with the corners of their
mouths.
1t is narrowing to DO the object of
this kind of attention. 1t suggests the
possibility of n practical joker's placard
on ones back, or black mark along
side one's nose. Drane investigated the
subject as we'll as he could by feeling
stealthily up and down his back, and
using his handkerchiefw with great vigor.
But for the life of him he couldn't find
any thing calculated to create so much
innocent amusement.
II suppose l look funny without my
mustache," he thought, "but hang me ii
should expect people to notice it who
never saw me before"
Then he glanced down upon his com.
panion, and beheld upon her coun-
tenance IN expression which at once ex.
planned the situation. She looked as
no woman ever does except when she's
either sea sick or in love. A honeymoon
smile of the most aggravated type
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 q side street;
and just as he was trying to think of a
delicate way in which he could urge her
to discontinue looking at him in that
disquieting fashion, she paused before q
gate and said:
This is the minister's house, the
Rev Mr.. Knowles, the man who married
us, you know"
There was a painful ambiguity about
her words which perplexed Drane to
such an extent that a servant had ush-
cred them handily into the good pastors
study before he recovered his self-pos.
session.
A venerable gentleman rose from a
largo chair, and greeted them Nath cour
tesy.
"You remember me, don't you?" said
the girl, before Drane could open his
mouth. "I'n Nellie Blake, or was be
fore you married me to Mr.. Drane, last
Tuesday"
She simpered in q most distressing
way and looked up at Drane. He fell
: his hair sGirring 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 I
wave of the hand.
mo explanation is required, Mr.
Drane," said no. II remember you per
fectly, and do trust that nothing ha
happened in this short space to mar thu
happiness which / sincerely wished yol
when made you one."
But my dear sir" cried Drane, II
horror. Nellie interrupted him with
giggls.
"You see, sir, it isn't really much o
any thing" she said, land perhaps W
ought not to have bothered you about IL
. but tho truth is I've lost the certificat
you gave me. I'm just as stupid rs cal
Q be, but / can't help it."
"0hi II that is all"
i "But 1t isn't all. II isn't half Of 1t,
Drane exclaimed. 1.-THE truth is"
"Now, you naughty boy" cried Nellie
!. putting her hand playfully over hi
mouth, 81 shan't let you 60 on thi
. way"