The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-03

ror, a Gelusion, without a word Oh ofuo'A
in it. will have the wretched business
cleared up at once Besides, think mo-
ment. The idea is preposterous. IL you
could bring yourself to imagine me 'he
husband Of another, you surely coula noO
believe me at my age the father OF nan
dozen children. 1t is too absurd!' anu
I smiled sickly smile at the folly OF the
thing.
Chow can I tell9 Perhaps you have de-
ceived me in your age as well. or wnat
value is a mans unsupported word? Bus
leave me. Go, and let me break my heaft
in solitude"
In this strain she went on, blindly re-
fusing to be comforted until the thing goo
so hot that seized my hat and rushed 10
my lodgings in despair, with the INTENTION
of forthwith tying myself to the bedpos'
instead of week hence to awife. On con-
sideration, however, 1 decided to postpone
the fatal act for day Or two in order tha0
1 might have time to arrange the disposal
of my worldly goods and chattels, as l dld
not wish there should be any wrangllng
over the possession Of my hatboxes after
my decease. In this determination re-
tired early to rest to enjoy the sleep OF IN
nocence.
But did not have things quite to my
SELF My uneasy slumbers Of the night
were a fearfully enlarged edition OF the
davis proceedings The six children, quick
ly multiplied up to co. shared my distress
full couch and made the night merry with
their pranks. They danced hornpipes on
my chest, turned somersaults on the
bridge of my nose, seized me by the hair OF
nv head and whirled me round the room
in manner that would have surprised
Mr.. Maskelyne himself, tossing me over
and over like Shrove Tuesday pancake
Needless to say that awoke in the
morning with a splitting headache and
feeling generally so unwell that decided
to pass the day indoors.
1t was afternoon, and had thrown my
self into an easy chair and filled my pipe,
with the intention of spending half an
hour in the regions of oblivion and tobacco
smoke, when a violent rattat at the outer
door caused me to jump to my feet. A few
seconds later the door of my own room
was thrust suddenly open and powerful
feminine voice exclaimed, eco to your ia
ther, my dears, and let him see how you
love him."
In an instant half dozen brats of ev-
ery conceivable degree of dirtiness rushed
into the room and made for me. A couple
caught hold of each leg, while the Others
pinioned me securely by the arms, and the
whole Of them burst into cracked chorus
of Daddy! DaddyP'
The scene was probably ludicrous, and
believe could have laughed at it my
self, but that through Il open door l
thought I could see Clementina with a
scowl upon her face.
"What does all this mean? Take these
brats away!" shouted, vainly struggling
to free myself from the embraces of the
young wretches.
A woman of masculine build bounced
into the room and turned her glaring eyes
upon me.
"It's the wrong MANI she shouted, and
then, turning to the imps, said: Come
away, my dears; we've made a mistake.
That's not your father!'
"Then what do you mean by sending
me this lying letter and coming to me in
this wayP" I demanded of the woman in
dignantly.
1T thought you were my husband" she
replied coolly. "You've got the same
name"
Clementina now stepped forward.
ISIS not this gentleman, then, your hus-
band, ma'am?" she asked timidly.
The woman regarded her contemptu-
ously. "My husband, miss, wretch as he
is, is mani" was her reply, adding insult
to injury.
Clementina laughed loudly. AS for my
self, have seldom felt smaller in my life.
was quite aware of my youthful appear
ance-in fact prided myself upon it, be-
lieving it point in my favor. But to
have it thrown at me in this way was
most humiliating However, it seemed to
settle once and for all the inssnuations OF
the letter and evidently convinced Clemen-
tina herself for shortly afterward, with
the assistance of the landlady, she man
aged to draw off the horrible woman and
her brats and even to extract an apology
from her for the-mistake she had made.
When they had gone, Clementina came
up to me and said:
"Will you forgive me, dearestP l see
how stupid have been and am mad with
myself for ever having distrusted you.
But the letter was the cause of it all. How
silly of me to have believedtit! Can you
ever overlook my folly and love me again."
For few moments I had serious
thoughts of taking third single to the
Sandwich Islands, but Clementina pleaded
SO prettily that-well, I gave way, and we
were married at the date previously ar
canged- --T;t-Bits.