The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-11
AN AWKWARD MEETING.

ropean agency of the speciality which his firm
handled with head quarters IN Brussels. and
three years contract on II very good salary,
he made up his mind to take the or. but he
resolved not to 60 alone. and so there was a
marriage shortly after in his town. and the
happy couple, as the local paper said, started
on tour OF Europe.
Edward had travelled good deal on the
continent and he knew Brussels like q book.
and he was sure that his wife Jennie. won d
enjoy the gay Belgian capital as much as he
mad done IN former years aud as he expected
to do now.
Mrs Jennie had been a pretty lively young
woman and marriage had not seemed 10
change her viyacity to any great extent.
| never found out from Cooper Just how the
| project was started. but this was the result.
and Mrs. Jennie entered into the scheme with
tie jollity that was characteristic of her.
| When she and Edward were out walking to-
gether an observer would have generally
said that she was the taller OF the two. but
this was not the case. They were almost
exactly the same SIZE.
The scheme that / speak of was this That
Mrs. Jennie should dress up in Edward
| clothes, and that the two of them should take
IN the town together some night, going to the
Bourse Theatre and number OF other places
where ladies are not generally supposed to
go. Mrs. Jennie had an absorbing curiosity
] to see a sample OF tine night side OF Brussels
life, and her husband. being then as gddy as
| herself had agreed to the scheme.
1t must be admitted that Mrs. Jennie made
up as a very handsome young man. Her
hair. which was black and curly, had been
cut short before she left America. and so.
! with "A hat set Jauntliy on her head and
slim little cane, Mrs. Jennie made about as
| good-looking young fellow a. you would ex-
pect to see in Brussels or anywhere else The
great trouble they had when they started out
was to keep from laughing at each other. II
struck Edward at that time as intensely conf
| cal, and Jennie entered into the spirit of the
thing as any one who knows her would ex-
pect her to do.
They first went TO those long arcades.
which they call the galleries IN Brussels
These arcades are q brilliant sight at night
and are frequented by all sorts OF people.
strangers and natives. Edward called her
Jack which was domestic name that he had
for her anyhow, and the two were having
great deal of amusement walking up and
down the gallery when suddenly a CHEEKY
voice shouted out:
why, Ed. for all the world. is that your
Edward Cooper turned quickly around and
the next instant was shaking hands with an
old friend OF his. jim Bowling, of New York.
Mrs. Cooper stood there in her masquerade
costume looking very pale and agitated. If
she had had as much presence Of mind as she
thought she had she would have fed at the
first sound of greeting to her husband, but
she hesitated for a moment-and the woman
who hesitates is lost. Cooper himself colored
up a great deal, but shook his friend heartily
by the hand.
well JIM he said II am very
pleased 10 see you. Allow me-allow me
to-er-t o-er-to introduce you to my friend.
John Sheppard"
What did you say the name was? said
'Shephard. Sheppard Rev. John Shep-
hard. of Philadelphia"
81 am very pleased to meet you. Mr.. Shep-
hard" said Jim bowling. cordially shaking
the hand of the alleged clergyman. II sup
pose that you are seeing q little Of life under
the guidance OF my friend Cooper. Now.
can tell you from my experience that you
couldn't have better fellow to show YOU
around than Ed. ] don't know that it would
do to tell your congregation In Philadelphia
Just what Cooper will show you in Brussels
or in Paris but can assure you from expert
ence-"
"See here" cried Cooper. suddenly inter
rupting, when did you come over. Jim :"
who. / have been over here for two or
three months. Been III Paris most of the
time. and took run through Brussels, and
am on way farther north. Been over here
long Mr. Shepherd"
Not a great while" answered the other
1--WE came over-ah- together ah-on the
steamer" said Cooper. brazenly.
ION. by the way Ed, heard that you were
married. is tnat so
That is true" said Cooper, trying to APP
We'll, well, declare. Who was the grly
Rich. eh?n
oh not so very"
Handsome, suppose. III bet you a dol
lar she was handsome girl, anyhow. or you
wouldn't have married her. / tell you. Mr.. |
SHEPPARD. If ever there was man who had
an eye for beauty i'll the world 1t was our friend |
here"
See here, " said Cooper, suddenly, where
where are you stopping"
ION, am ut the old place. Do you re- |
member the time We were last together. |
town red? Say, do you remember that lit |
tie"
II was going to say" interrupted Cooper, |
see here. | want 10 speak with you a mo- |
ment." and. taking Bowling by the arm he
led him oil into a corner whiie he wlnked AT |
his wife as much 10 say, NOW. Tor heavens |
SAX. escape while you can.
Look here. Bowling. this young fellow I've |
got here with me now isn't like one Of US you |
know lie is good young man. | don't |
want YOU 10 make any allusiOn TO anything |
that happened. don't you know Hes-you |
see how it is-he's my brother-ln-iaw, he's
my wife's brother" :.
then have put my foot right square in it al
ready. Say, by the way. / hear you married |
Jennie Hartiy. Wasn't that the name One
of the Hartly girls Z"
Yes. yes, you are quite correct, STAN
mered Cooper
well. say. there were no boys in the
Hartly family that knew Of"
Well there are no boys. strictly speaking
no. you are right. But they had an adopt
ed boy. you know. that they adopted. Don't
you see"
'Oh. didn't know that It's years since
have seen any of the Hartly family. SO they
adopted boy, did they"
=" es they adopted this young fellow"
Then why didn't they give him the family
name. | should have thought if they put
him through for the ministry he would have
taken the Hartly name"
No no. he couldn't do that-he wanted TO
do it-wanted bad-but you see well, there
was oueer clause in the agreement that they
made with his folks. No, he had to keep the
name Of Sheppard"
well. say. | am not going to scare your
friend away like that | see be is leaving by
the other end of the gallery. Wait moment
till hail him."
no, no. cried Cooper. let him 60; that's
all right" But before he could call him back
the voluble Bowling was gone and touched
the other on the shoulder.
Say, look here" he said. You are MOTTO 20
OF Ike that. sheppard. didn't know when
spoke-you know-that yonr sister was mar
-, oil 10