The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-31
"QUEEN---G

QUEEN
Miss Blanche Elizabeth Alice Queen had
reached the conclusion that her long name
had been borne too lonGa and that as at
the age of thirty-nine she had an opportu-
nifty presented to change it, she would
have it changed to tho 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 own-through the celes-
tial ether. Having doubts as to Mr..
Gregg's right to claim such qualities. Mr..
| Queen determined on visit to his sister
IN order to make n personal inspection of
this paragon as lover and husband in
embryo.
| He therefore wrote to his sister and told
her that he was coming. In his letter he
insisted that during his visit he should be
known by the name of George Palfry only.
| He said further that he would never for
| give her II, by any act, she led her lover to
believe that they were related. Mr. Gregg,
during 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 q quick tempered man,
having fiery face, brown eyes, hair turn
ing gray and pointed beard and heavy
| mustache. A marked quality of his was
an unreasonable antipathy to lawyers.
Mr.. Reginald Queen greatly resemhled
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 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.
IL 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.
| tshing to the other, attempted to enter the
| front door at the same time. Each discov-
| ered-and both at the same moment-that
this was something which could not be
done The faces of both together began to
get red, and 1t was doubtful for time
which was getting red the faster. Seeing
at last that they could not get in together,
they got out together
Who and what are your" Queen ex-
claimed.
"Queen--that is, Palfry."
Queen that is, Palfry," responded
Gregg.
"Palfry."
"Paltryp
"Palfry, said."
"Queen-that is, Palfry. Last name n
sort Of rider to the first" said Gregg. 81
sec. But it don't sound natural so mellow
like Jones, for example. Too theatrical,
Won't do" said he, for he suspected that
Mr., Queen had come there for no good pur-
pose
Now never you mind about my name"
said Mr.. Queen.
"Ah, but I do mind about your name,
BECAUSE" said the excitable and Jealous
Gregg. its such very astonishing one
l've got quite right to mind about itr'
A tall lady, with light hair, pink checks
and blue eyes appeared at this moment at
the door Drawing back with surprise
she said, "Reginaldp'
"Palfryl Palfryi Palfryn exclaimed
her impatient brother by way of caution.
"Ges-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 n aname that did
not belong to him.
Upon reaching the sitting room It hap-
pened that, because of the lady's surprise,
her brothers excitement aud Mr.. Gregg's
Jealousy, the conversation was carried on
chiefly in the dumb show Of inqniring,
angry and jealous looks-the looks of in
quiry coming from Miss Queen, those OF
anger from her brother and those of ieal-
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. Mr.,
Gregg, on the other hand, saw in the per-
son so uncertain about his own name An
Did 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 cityT" Mr.. Queen
asked of Mr. Gregg after a long silence.
Always" said Mr.. Gregg, when 1
don't live elsewhere. Do youY'
Mr.. Gregg had intended to state a fact
by his first remark--nothing more.
Supposing, however, that Mr. Gregg had
intended to be facetious at his expense, Mr..
Queen replied;
II don't live in town when do live else
where.n
"Ah," said Mr.. Gregg briefly. "I see"
He closed his mouth and for ten minutes
kept it closed
ANY business in the city," Mr.. Queen
asked incnutiously at the end of that time.
"llave You" asked Mr.. Gregg, with
much significance.
important business, replied Mr.. Queen, |
while his nose grew more and more like an |
ember blown by a bellows.
The men relapsed into a mutual stare.
They fell next to day dreaming"
Mr.. Gregg, feeling that politcness to |
guest Of the lady called upon him to say |
especially as he thought that
fhc other had spoken, said:
Did you speak,"
Did yon:" asked the suspicious Queen,
who believed that Mr.. Gregg had ikain at
empted to he facetious at his expense
'No," said Gregg
"'lhought not. u +
by did you ask, theug' inquired Mr..
GngS.
"Same identical reason" responded Mr..
Queen, made you ask"
They had called at half past 6 in the
pvsning. But when the clock in the white
lowcc of the town hall had struck its
'tarm' tarm" twelve times neither had