The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-10-11

sH'tWh<MN ~ antly captured
y ~- ,EIN<S at the railway
IT, w station fifteen
& minutes before
The fare started up as if from . fit Of
profound abstraction. - - '''
&'HThe Clement house?' he repeated,
CHANGING up at the hotel with it's wide
stone portico supported by massive pill
lars and ornamented with ;Hits usual
quota of smoking, staring, well-dressed
idlers.
We'll, driver, what did we agree
upon? Seventy-fve, cents-and here
it isl =:
The money, in glittering silver pieces,
was handed out and eagerly transferred
to the haclzman's pocket: then the gen.
tleman, with a: small portmanteau in
his hand, emerged from the carriage
and walked leisurely up the steps of
the hotel.
He was handsome man, tall, slen-
der and elegant in figure, and he car
ried himself with a condescending air,
asrvery handsome men are apt to do.
Eewas enyeloped ina long, loose. ulster,
evidently doomed to protect his expen-"
sive broadc1oth from the dust of travel;
assoft black hat rested upon his auburn
curls. His dark gray eyes were keen
and slightlyquizzical' in expressions; his
whole countenance, though delicate in
features and complexion, denoted
strength, determination and reckless
daring, with touch of genuine mirth-
fitness to which, however, the dark
sweeping rnt,stache that he wore gave;
an odd contradiction by the .indescrib-
ably mournful droop that it took.
He had scarcely ascendeds theE'hotel.
steps when he was accosted on all sides
bY the assembled gentlemen. ~
sssIsNorth! North! Ye gods and little
fishes, if it isn't, North back again''
arose a. chorus aof &astonished voices, as
tie gro5upto4 ddlers Suspended all*! other
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES question the
newcomer. 1fs SIS: -1sl., '. ,l-y.> Z
iE.sWby, what does this mean, North?
Back Before anyone has had time to
miss you" said one, as he, held his cigar
aloft and hastily adjusted his eye
glasses.
.s''Come back to get better start?'
b. '.t'Afraid your friends wouldn't be able
to survive your absence?'fj Il y, !;
"Forgot Something perhaps?'' sug-:
gested one brilliant genius thus bring
ing himself out in bold relief against
the background of vague and unsatis-
factory conjecture. -,
=, ..Was it your heart, North? Inquire
up on Delaplaine street, and it will no
doubt be returned and mo questions
asked!' Is y - - ''F"
Thus the running fire of banter went
on. The victim of it, halted thus I'M
tremendously on the very steps of the
hotel, stood in bewildered silence for a
moment without attempting any re-
spouse. But after the first pause OF ut
ter establishment he recovered himself
and found voice to speak. '.''. 80 =: .
%"Gentlemen," he exclaimed, in tones
that expressed well-bred surprise and
annoyance, this is a curious 1misappre-
tension! I assure you it is a case of
mistaken identity. am not the person
whom you evidently think me to be.
have not the honor of knowing you,
and indeed never saw you before"
q The gentlemen addressed looked
blank in their turn for an instant; then
! derisive laugh swept around the cir
cle.
b tsHear! heart" cried two or three, ap-
plaudingly. 49,: f. j
=" Mistaken identity'-'not the person
we think him to BEN echoed mocking-
lysfrom lip to lip. .,s- :@.~'3:i> ~. ~, LII =
Didn't we bid you good-by only four
hours ago, fairly bowed down with
grief because you assured. US thatyou
would be gone for two whole weeks?
And now here you are back again ike
the proverbial penny!'
"What do you mean?" demanded the
newcomer, with perceptible increase
saof bewildetments:antaassin dieenation! IF
never wasist the Clement house, never,
wasIin<xs=- beforeih my;ifel" s===s
! Upon this declarafionTth4 laughter
and protests broke 6sn1t fffflsk wv
"ol, I 81 North pu'y Sastisd this
: far lnouehsYiScfief the nfaas Reniye
Who had pre5fously d aissttiin eaishea HIM
aeif. 'Haye You snddenly 1886 YOUR
senses. or do you imagine that we have
All taken leave of ours? Itfis no tuse,I
YOU know, iyopf trying TO deny your.
own identity, when here area dozen OF
y: YOUR daily associates and intimate
friend 5 I'LL ready to swear to it's. IA
"Iassure YOU, gent emen-=,ssth The voice,
had the infection Of rising singer, but
it was quickly drowned II tl,l laughing y u
comments Of the others w ~ 9 I:
- "Come;-co,ne.- North >testil inter
posed the gentleman with the eye
classes, you've perjured yourself quite
enough. Where's the use, YOU know q !! :,
You surely. can't think Of earryings tins.
poor little farce any farther. Aren't
. Won Ollin North, attorney at law? An
tiswer me thate' ; ~ 49, :;
North, attorney ct law9" re,
peated the gentleman, an additional
wave of perplexity' sweeping over his
, lace. "Why, yes, to be sure L am;
., .9iEi
A roar of laughter interrupted him:
0Wellv done,x North CaRital!f sf&j
NE 1bbisnding crowd: -'Wheh areyou
eoine on the stage? That facial e1-