Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-09-11

swan OUT ne WAS eldbcu VIII MS
social triumph, and cast about for any
journalist OF his acquaintance who, he
thought, might like to meet the au-
thoress Of My Baby Boy" 1t struck
Rob that he had no right to keep her
all TO himself. Quite close TO him his
eyes lighted on Marriott, the author OF
MARY HONEY; Romance Of the Irish
Question" but Marriott saw what he
was after. and dived into the crowd. A
very young gentleman with large empty
eyes begged ROb's pardon for treading
on his toes, and Rob. who had not felt
10, saw that this was his man. be In
PRODUCED him to the authoress as an
other admirer, aud the round-faced
youth seemed such likely subject for
her next work that Rob moved of COM
fortably.
A shock awaited him when he met
Dick, who had been passing the time by
taking male guests aside and asking
them In an impressive voice what they
thought OF his great book, Lives OF
Eminent Washerwomen," which they
had no doubt read.
"Who is the man so like Dowton?" he
"Why, it is DOwton."
Then Dick looked vexed. He remem-
bered that Rob had been at Dome Castle
on the previous Christmas Eve.
"LOok here, Angus" he said, bluntly,
''This is a matter hate to talk about.
The fact is, however, that this is the
real Sir Clement. The fellow you met
was an impoStor, who came from no one
knows where. Unfortunately, he has
returned to the same place"
Dick bit his lips while Rob digested
this.
But if you know the real Dowton."
Rob asked, chow were you deceivedP"
''Well, it was my father who was de-
ceived rather than myself, but we did
not know the real baronet then. The
other fellow, il you must know, traded
on his likeness to Dowton, who is In the
country now for the first time for many
years. Whoever the impostor is, he is a
humorlst in his way, for when he left
the castle in January he asked my father
10 call on him when he came to town.
The fellow must have known that Dow
ton was coming home about this time;
at all events, my father, who was In
London shortly afterwards, looked up
his friend and barOnet, as he thought,
at his club, and found that he had
never set eyes on him before. 1t would
make a delicious article il IL had not
happened in ones own family"
''The real Sir Clement seems great
friends with Miss Abinger," Rob could
not help saying.
yes" said Dick, "we struck up an
intimacy with him over the affair, and
stranger things have happened than
that he and Mary
He stopped.
''My father, I believe, woule like 1t,
he added, carelessly, but Rob had turned
away. Dick went after him.
az have told you this" he said, "he-
cause, as you knew the other man, 1t
had to be done; but we don't like 1t
spoken Of"
~ shall not speak of it," said miser-
able Rob.
he would have liked to be tearing
through London again, but as that was
not possible, he.soughta solitary seat by
the door. Before he reached it his mood
changed. What was Sir Clement Dow
ton, after all, that he should be fright
ened with him? He was merely bar
onet. An impostOr who could never
have passed for journalist had
succeeded in passing for Dowton.
Sournalism was the noblest OF all pro-
LESSONS and Rob was there represent
ing it. The seat Of honor at the Sym
phOnia was next TO Mary Abinger and
the baronet had held it too long already.
Instead Of Sulking, Rob approached the
throne like one who had a right TO be
there. Sir Clement had risen for
moment TO put down Mary'S cup and
when he returned Rob was in his chair,
with no immediate intention OF getting
ont of IL. The barOnet frOwned, which
made Rob say quite number OF bright
things To Miss Abinger. When two men
are in love with the came young lady
one of them must be worsted. Rob saw
that il was better to be the other one.
The frightfully Bohemian people at
the Symphonia remained there even
later than eleven o'clock, but the rooms
thinned before then, andDicks party was
ready TO go by half past ten. Rob was
now very sharp. 1t did not escape MS
notice that the gentlemen were bringing
ladies' cloaks, and he calmly made up
his mind TO help Miss Abinger on with
hers To his annoyance Sir Clement
was too quick for him. The baronet
was in the midst of them with the three
ladies' cloaKs, just as Rob wondered
where be would have 10 60 TO IND them.
Nelrs cloak Sir Clement handed TO DICK,
but he kept Mary's on his arm while he
assisted Mrs. Meredith into hers. 1t was
a critical moment. All would be over
in i've seconds.
q ALLOW me" said Koo'
With apparent GOODNESS ne TOOK
Mary's cloak from the baronets arm
He had not been used to saying "alloW
me.D and his face was white, but he was
determined to go on with this thing.
"Take my arm" he said to Mary, as
thew Joined the crowd that swayed to-
wards the door. After he said 1t he saw
that he had spoken with an air OF pro-
nrietorship, but he was not sorry. Mary
did it. Ill.
1t took them sometime to reach tneir
cab, and on the way Mary asked Rod d
II gave you something once" she
said. "but suppose you lost 1t long
ago?" al
Rob Redeemed, for he had been sadly
puzzled to know what had become OF his
Christmas card.
Il have it STILL" he answered at last'
"Oh," said Mary, coldly, and at once
Rob felt n chill pass through him' Ii
was true, after ALI that Miss Aoingsr
could be an icicle on occasion.
Rob, having told lie, deserved no
mercy, and got none. The pity OF IL IS
that Mary might have thawd little
-, -. l-.o,,.o that it was only q lie.