The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05

the newly welded couple were TO stay
that night at the Lord Warden at Dover
before crossing the channel next day. Then
We left him, and proceeded to the church
where the ceremony had been performed
and where a silver key soon opened TO Us
the register. Sure enough the book was
signed Clara Plunket and Stamper Mace
don; and, what was the most ineXplicable
part Of the business, the latter signature
was most unmlstak1bly in Macedon's pc
cullar, Grabbed handwriting, even to the
little curly pigs tail with which he in
variably finished off. My companion scru-
his head significantly, as much as to say
that he was hopelessly at sea.
We'll, I've been in the states. and
they re pretty go-ahead there, but this
beats all, was his remark, as we reg3lned
the street. Here I've been in England
barely 4 couple of hours. and I'm married
and off on my honeymoon before ever
I've come face to face with the lady. If
that amt smart, l don't know what il"
What's the next mover" 1 asked.
do you believe in a dual existence,
jimmy he said, seemingly disregarding
my question.
Il don't know-never gave thu matter
much thought. Do your"
Wen, I've heard speak Of such things,
and it seems to me I'm only half a man
after all. and the other halfs running
round loose somewhere"
But what are we going to do next?" 1
urged
"WeH, I'm rather curious TO see what
the other half Of me is like, so we'll go
down 10 Dover. Besides, ought to pay
my respects to my wife," he returned
and so we jumped into a cab, drove off to
Victoria, and were soon rafting along in
the East Kent now London, Chatham and
Dover express.
Arrived at Dover, we at once batook
ourselves to the Lord Warden, where one
Of the walters, no more proof against
bribery and corruption than the rest Of his
species, impaired TO us that Mr.. MacedOn
had gone Out-f0r a stroll ne thOught-and
that Mrs. MacedOn was alone in the priv
ate sitting-room which they had engaged
For a further consideration he consented
TO show US up to the room unannounced.
In single file we went upstairs, like a
storming-party attempting to take the
enemy unawares by escalade. The waiter
pointed out the door and then silently and
dlscreetly retired, while MacedOn coolly
turned Inc handle, without even knocking,
and entered the apartment, / following
close at his heels with the guilty, uncom-
Portable feeling of an accomplice in some
fell conspiracy
At the far end of the room a plump
come.y little woman was sitting by the
window with one of Murrays guide books
in her hand As Macedon deliberately
closed the door behind us, she started up
and gave us questioning look
Mrs. Macedon, believe, ma'am?" be-
gan Stamper placid-y, with very angular
bow.
You are quite right" replied the lady,
in a low, pleasant voice, though to what
/ am indebted for this honor l do not yet
understand. Perhaps you viii kindly eX-
plain?"
Certainly, ma'am, certainly" went on
the imperturbab:e Stamper. This is my
friend. Mr.. Hashworth."
''Hashworth. Hashworth? Surely know
that name? p"
"Of course. ma'am; Of course. q never
knew Macedon to be SO voluole bafore)
He was one Of the late P.utkets mates
at Bararat. Estimable mani the late
Plunket; knew him myself, lna'am
And you-whd are yougs hurriediy
asked the lady, with some treF Eation.
Ne? oh, I'm your present husband,
ma'am," returned Macedol, without the
slightest change M cOuntenanGe.
MY what?" she shrieked.
s. Your husband ma'am' repeated
The .ady gave a violent start Her eye
wandered from the speaker to the be-
rope and back again. ] firmly believe her
first impression was that she had 10 do
with -unatic, but second LOOK treasured
her that she had nothing to fear. With a
great deal of wonderment shet exclaimed,
You are iaboring under a Smistake 1
never saw you in my life befOfe.
Nevertheless, you married me"
Impossible! There is some. gigantic
mistake. 1 cannot understand it, but my
That's me-" interrupted stlnper band
".
"Oh. no; the gentleman I married this
morning. He is out just at present, but
he viii be in shorty, and viii help me TO
explain matters. 1 am so bewIdered."
Now. look you here, ma am" went on
my companion comp.acent,y; you were
sp-iced this morning at ST. Jude's church,
Bayswater?"
yes"
ITO stamper Macedon, late of Balarat
Victorian"
Eyes"
''Who was, till recently, part proprietor,
along with yourself, Of the NJ. p. mine?"
Yes
''Wen. that's me-" he proclaimed, quiet
" but triumphantly.
But it cannot be- You are not the man
1 married.
but it must be: at least. Pm the other
half of him; and, to prove it, here's the
scrip and the check for your snare Of the
purchase money of the NJ P. / suppose
my other half hasn't handed them over
before he said, deliberately drawing the
papers from his pocketbook, and handing
them to her
THAT is-oh I don't know what to
say! Good heavens! what does it all
mean?" she gasped family, as she dropped
into a chair and famed herself with her
handkerchief
Before anything more could be said or
done foOtstep was heard on the stair
without the next instant the door opened
and in walked
George Masonw 1 exclaimed, as I in
stantly recognized one Of the clerks L had
employed at Melbourne and who had
left my service at the expiration Of the
weeks notice / had given all my men so
soon as 1 had decided TO leave Australia
The recognition was mutual. and the
wretch made a bolt for liberty, but Mace
don was too quick for him. Clutching
him with a grip of iron, the old miner
dragged him, pale and trembling, before
his dupe.
us this the man you married this morn
ing, ma'am?" inquired Stamper.
The lady nodded her head in reply.
Then I'm very, very sorry" he went on.
Sorry for what ?" she asked family.
Sorry to find" replied Macedon, who
seemed to be quite enjoying himself, that
the other half of me is a convicted forger,
an impostor and n bigamist l assure you,
ma'am. l never knew 1 was hat so bad"
"A what?'' she exclaimed.
"A convicted forGer, an impostor, and a
bgamist; for that's what this man is" he
rep.ied "Ain't ii so, Jimmy?" he added,
appealing TO me.
Seeing that the game was up, the trem-
bling Mason beloved for mercy and con-
fessed all. Happening to be in that part
of the store nearest my office, he had over
heard the greater portion of my conversa-
ton with Macedon. in which the latter had
acquainted with his plans for leaving
the colonies and coming to England to
marry Plunket's widow. Knowing that we