Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-02-06

ralntest idea where Delaplaine street is.
Now, is not that n coincidence that
appeals to your helpful sympathies?''
Are you sure, Mr.. North-quite sure,
you know" ventured the colonel,
nervously apprehensive lest he might
not put the case with sufficient delicacy,
that you are in a-exactly condition,
you know, to call on a lady?"
North's first impulse was to resent
this imputation; then he reflected how
much ground there was for the coloners
suspicion, and amusement became up
permost in his feelings. He smiled as
he answered:
of that"
"Well," said the colonel, still with the
air of ono who darkly suspected that he
was being imposed upon, you go up
Main street, ten squares beyond the
courthouse, and then turn into Della
plaine street at your left. And if had
n silver dollar for every time that
you've been over that route in the last
three years, I'd be a rich man!'' he
added, with n rcproachful scowl, as he
drew his brows together and looked
down sharply at North. Think you
can make out, now, how to get there's
''Oh, think shall have no difficulty
now, colonel, thank YOU" And with d
wave of his hand North turned away
again.
why didn't you let him go on in the
first place." snarlcd the gentleman
with the eyeglasses, before North was
beyond the reach of his voice. per
1,,,N
along to show him the road! The fel.
low has been either drunk or as crazy
as Hamlet ever since he got back this
morning. What to make of him don't
know, I'm SURE"
Don't try to make anything of me
my amiablc friend" murmured North
under his breath as he proceeded up
the street, land then you'll not have n
crushing failure to stagger under. 1t
is indeed a cruel fate which compels me
t. enter upon my career in Y with
such damaging suspicious afloat con-
corning my sanity, or my moral char
Hcter, they seem to be about equally in.
volved in doubt However, my tri.
umphant vindication must come in the
natural course of events. When the
colonel has had full opportunity to OBJ
serve the poetic beauty and innocence
of my daily life, he will doubtless
acknowledge that he has done me
cruel injustice. Let me see now,
where am l? This is probably Main
street; they usually bcstow that
name upon the most insignificant
thorOughfarc in the city. Ten blocks
beyond the courthouse;' that ought to
be good landmark. Why in the name
of the city fathers don't they have
the names of the streets on the lamp
posts? Under the impression. no doubt,
that everyone whose convenience is
worth considering was born and brought
up in x, and, consequently, is we'll
up in the geography of the place No
policemen, either, SO far as l have been
able to observe. How is q stranger to
get anywhere, or to know 1t when he
does get there? Verify, X is the
city of magnificent disadvantages!'
There was one thing that especial.
" impressed North during his first
public appearance in X: his own
unmistal1ablc popularity. Almost every
one on the street seemed to know him,
and he received the most enthusiastic
greetings on every side. He responded
to them all with suppressed hilarity,
the cause of which was known only to
himself, entering with reckless enjoy
mcnt into the masquerade which evil
IDENTITY no ono else suspected.
Really, have host of friends in
Y, city in which never set foot
before! I wonder if this well-ftting
mantle of rcady-made popularity is
warranted not to fade nor shrink" he
unused, as, having traversed the ten
squares beyond the courthouse, he
turned into beautiful wide street at