The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-01-27

good lazy Salu. f1OW ulu UndI OulOuS
schemer learned that was to be mar
ried on the morrow? But Inquiry as
to that might we'll stand over. Mean
while, what was 1 to do to get out OF
the house and away from this COM
placent quack, whom I was beginning
to hate? Obviously, l must send for
some one to identify me. Mr.. Spence
ly, l remembered, had late engage
ment in the city. Ella was manifestly
out of the question. l could not OBJ
trude such a ridiculous thing on her
on her wedding eve, too. Between you
and me, reader, l think 1 felt some
what chary Of letting her see me in
such a plight. The same consideration
made me fight shy Of any of our fel.
lows. It would be food for jokes for
months to come. At last 1 had it,,
would write brief note to Mr.. Mason,
our junior princiual. He would be
away from business by this time, but
messenger would soon go to Wimble.
don, where he lived, and return fur.
nished with sufficient Evidence of my
identity, which would also be conclu
sive of my sanity. DR.. Fitzsimmons
smiled obviously as he took my mis-
sive.
"Who is this Mr.. Mason?" he asked.
"The junior partner in Spencely G.
trrha II
"H'm-yes, quite So"
He said nothing more, but / heard
him dispatch the messengar, and at
last I began to breath freely. was
left to myself, and as If in dream,
began to recall, one by one, the va
rious events Of this, the most misera,
bic day in my existence. which ought
to have been one Of the happiest. 1t
was now nearly o'clock. 1 remem-
bered with a start that at the en-
ployes of our firm were to meet me
to present me with a wedding gift, and
1t would be a case of Hamlet" with
out the Prince of Denmark. And what
would Ella think? 1 was to meet her
as soon as the presentation was over.
That, too, was impossible, for could
not hope to be released In less than
two hours. 1 recalled, too, and the
fright-that she had said to me in her
fathers and Mason's hearing, in jest,
Of course:
"If you stay too long with your
chums, Harry, 1 shall conclude that
you do not want me next day"
1 was doomed to stay too long, bat
not even the widest flight of imagi- |
nation could have converted DR.. Fitz-
simmons into a chum of anybody.
However, Mason would make it all
right, and everything would be prop
erly explained, and all would yet go
merry as a marriage bell
The messenger dispatched to Wimble
don returned at last. Mr. straining |
ears could detect that the doctor met
him at the door, and that a hurried
colloquy took place in the hall. 1 put
on my gloves and hat, and was ready
to start as the doctor entered.
MY man has seen Mr.. Mason" he
said, "and he assures me he never
heard of you before-knows nothing at
all about you"
Here was a thunder clap. began at
length to think that 1 must be subject
to delusions, to wonder If Mrs. Hall
could possibly be my wife, and, If so,
who in the world 1 myself was. / felt
that that way madness lay" and
sought to collect my scattered senses.
The doctor was sympathetic, after a
fashion, but his evident pride in the
correctness of his diagnosis gave him
too much the look of one who would |
say NOW, didn't l tell you so?" too |
much, l mean, for my equanimity. |
Acting on his suggestion tried to
swallow a mouthful of supper, for |
had tasted nothing since morning, but |
it was in vain. 1 retired to bed, and |
had the qualified satisfaction of hear
ing more than one door sarefully lock-
ed behind me, and q feeling that, If /
could not get out, there was little !
chance of amy unauthorized person get
ting in to disturb me.
Sleep was, of course, out of the ques-
ton Every passing step in the square
made me start from my recumbent |
position. heard every hour strike ali
through the night. After II expected |
it to strike 13, and recalled the story |
of the sentry at the Tower Of London,
who saved his life by proving that he
heard a church strike that number OF |
times when charged with sleeping al |
ais post. Would 1t save my reason?
My disappearance would be in all the
papers tomorrow, and crisp journal |
istic paragraphs would describe me,
and dismiss the subject. At 1 heard |
the numbering wagons, with their loads
of garden produce for market, and
knew the great city was once more |
stirring into life, and when at last 6
rang out SHdTp anu CledT, IL WtiS Win |
a sigh of infinite relief thanked hea-
ven that the long night was over.
rose and dressed after a fashion. |
Suddenly heard carriage drive up.
A few moments more, and was sum-
moned down stairs and ushered into
the room 1 knew too well for my peace
of mind. Judge to my relief to find
there Mr.. Spencely and Bob Edwards.
There was no question now Of my
sanity. 1 had been made the victim of
clever schemer, who had got clear
off with her booty.
"And how were you to be paid, Doc
tor" Mr.. Spencely asked as we pre-
pared to go.
my terms are quarterly, in advance.
And Mrs. Hall paid so pounds sterling
down. BY Jove, l did not examine the
note particularly. She was quite
lady, you know" And here the doctor
fFrr for q