The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-23
QUEEN --GREGG."

Miss Blanche Elizabeth Alice Queen had
reached the conclusion that her long name
had been borne too long, and that as at
che age of thirty-nine she had an opportu-
nifty presented to change 1t, she would
have 1t changed to the shorter name Of
Mrs. Chester Gregg.
After telling Mr.. Chester Gregg in re-
ply to question rather vaguely expressed.
whose meaning was grasped nevertheless,
that she was willing to have her long
name merged In his short one, she wrote
TO her brother Reginald Queen and in
formed him of her prospective wedding.
She gave him, besides this, an account
of Mr.. Chester Gregg, which presented
that gentleman to him as one who being
too good for this world, should certainly
have been at that very moment flying
with wings OF his owr--through the celes-
Sial ether. Having doubts us to MIR
Gregg's right to claim such qualities, Mr.
Queen determined on visit to his sister
In order to make personal inspection OF
this paragon lover and husband in
embryo.
He therefore wrote to his sister and told
her that he was coming. In his letter he
| insisted TINT during his visit he should bo
known by the name of George Palfry only.
He said further that he would never for
| give her If, by any act she led her lover to
believe that they were related Mr.. Gregg.
| Turing his visit, was to have the idea CON
veyed to him that the man called Palfry
was her lawyer, who had come to see her
in regard to some country property of
which she was possessed.
Mr.. Gregg was quick tempered man.
having fiery face, brown eyes, hair turn
ing gray and a pointed beard and heavy
mustache. A marked quality of his was
| an unreasonable antipathy to lawyers
Mr.. Reginald Queen greatly resembled
him in appearance, one noticeable differ
ence being the circular bald spot on the
top of his head, which looked as if it had
been placed there on lines drawn by n car
penter's compass. His nose was large,
pear shaped and red. and his temper was
| as quick as the temper of the would be
benedict Gregg
1t happened that when Mr.. Queen
reached town the two men met by accident
| at his sisters door. Each, with an air of
| being perfectly at home, which was aston.
lshing to the other, attempted to enter the
| front door at the same time. Each discov-
ered-and both at the same moment-thaL
this was something which could not be
done. The faces of both together began to
| get red, and it was doubtful for time
which was getting rcd the faster Seeing
| az liiot CLdO Oucy COulu uOG RcU III LO0eClor.
they got out together.
"Who and what are your" Queen ex-
claimed.
"Queen-that is, Palfry."
Queen that is. Palfry," responded
Gregg.
"Palfry"
"Pnltry?"
"Palfry, said"
"Queen-that is, Palfry. Last name q
sort of rider to the first, said Gregg. 81
see. But it don't sound natural SO mellow
! like Jones. for example. Too theatrical
Won't do" said he. for he suspected that
MIR. Queen had come there for no good pur-
pose
Nov never you mind about my name"
said Mr.. Queen.
| "Ah, but do mind about your name,
because" said the excitable and jealous
| Gregg, tits such very astonishing one
I've got quite right to mind about it!'
a tall lady, with light hair, pink checks
and blue eyes appeared at this moment at
the door. Drawing back with surprise
she said, "Reginaldr'
"Palfry! Palfry! Palfry!" exclaimed
her impatient brother by way of caution.
"Yes-that is, Queen" said Gregg, who
supposed that the other gentleman, when
| he had first used the name by mistake had
been trying to make use of name that did
not belong to him.
| Upon reaching the sitting room 1t hap,
pened that, because Of the ladys surprise,
her brothers excitement and Mr.. Gregg's
| jealousy, the conversation was carried on
chiefly in the dumb show of inquiring,
angry and jealous looks-the looks OF in
quiry coming from Miss Queen, those of
anger from her brother and those of jeal-
ousy from Mr.. Gregg.
Mr. Queen, into whose head it did not
once enter that Mr.. Gregg was the model
Of perfection and an angel in the flesh who
had been described in his sisters letter,
awaited his departure impatiently. Nj.
Gregg. on the other hand, saw in the per-
son so uncertain about his own name an
old lover of Miss Queens. As by constant
| practice he had become quite an expert in
sitting long and late, he saw on the pres
ent occasion an excellent opportunity to
put his powers In that direction to their
! full test, and he determined to sit the
| new man out. Conversation had almost
| ceased.
"Do you live in the cityW Mr.. Queen
asked of Mr.. Gregg after long silence.
Always" said Mr.. Gregg, when I
don't live elsewhere. Do your"
| Mr.. Gregg had intended to state a fact
by his first remark nothing more.
Surprising, however, that Mr. Gregg had
| intended to be facetious at his expense, Mr..
| Queen replied:
81 don't live in town when do live else
where"
.AAh," said Mr.. Gregg briefly, 81 See"