The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-12-12

MIR. NychefIy dlea on Ihe paSsdSc heio
and was buried at sea. If you will ac-
company me to the surgeons cabin, he
will supply you with all the particu
lars" and he led the way aft.
sorrowfully | followed the grief
stricken parent, whose bowed head and
unsteady step showed the violence OF
the blow.
81 am speaking to Mr.. Wycherly's
brother, | presume?' said the surgeon
after the officer had explained our err
rand, turning to my companion. "fhe
resemblance is so striking that | do not
think | can be mistaken, though J
should say you were slightly hii
senior"
Ills father" replied my friend, sim.
ply. -,
His father! Excuse me; if you will
come inside | will show you my books
1t turned out that poor Stephen, my
friends son-his name, also-had been
taken down with dysentery on the sixth
dav out from Yokohama, and had never
rallied from the attack.
"Did you remark the surgeons ex'
preston of incredulity when you said
YOU were the father of the Mr.. Wyeherly
who died on the passageP' SAID to my
friend next day, as he sat in my office
1T may turn out that You will have
trouble in establishing your identity
I can, of course, youch for it, but 1t is
not likely that my story would gain I'M
disputed credence, seeing that It is I'M
paralleled in the annals of science?
make yourself easy on that point, y
returned Wycherly, with something oil
heat in his tone. CAS- to my friends at
home, is it reasonable to suppose that
they would fail to recognize one who
is thoroughly conversant with each de-
tail of our family affairs p
Il hope it may turn out as you say, y
remarked, obviously.
Just then my servant entered with
card. l started on reading it, and
handed it to Wycherly.
Miss Gertrude Tremainei' he eJacu'
lated. "But how-how-"
"The lady has come to inquire re
garding Mr.. Wycherly-Mr. Stephen
Wycherly," said the boy.
"Show her in," said I, and immedi'
ately tall, handsome brunette ap
peared in the doorway. She looked
first at one and then at the other, as II
undecided how to act, and then adj
vaneed to where Wycherly was sitting
too bewildered to speak, and took hin
by the hand.
why, Stephen" She said, don't you
know me? But I didn't expect tc
find you here. l thought | should fine
papa here. They told me | should get
news of him here at the place | used
TO direct all my letters"
why, Gertie," returned Wycherly,
regarding her with embarrassment
don't you know me? Don't you know
Stephens father?'
What does this mean, sir?' she said,
drawing herself up with offended dig
nity. But do not fatter yourself it
was to see you, sir, that I came. ]
came at the express desire of your
grandmother and aunt to see that YOU
father was being properly taken care of.
Oh, Stephen" she continued, in soft
ened tone, "they are so very anxious
about him at home
But, Gertie, | am old Stephen
Wyeherly you came to see," said my
friend.
"Youl" she cried with ripple of sill
very laughter, as if now entering into
and enjoying the joke-"you! / sup
pose you think that having made the
tour of the world gives you the right tc
assume age. And now | come to think
of it, perhaps it does, for you do GER
tainly look five years older than wher
you left us year ago, if that is any
thing in your favor"
had been studying all this time how
to eXtricate my friend from his ii,
lemma. So, rising, and looking at my
watch, 1 said in a fatherly sort of way:
"You young people can get along
very well without me, l think. l have
an engagement which will take me at
least half an hour; so am sure you will
excuse me-"
When l returned they were gone, and
merely note from Wycherly remained
on the table, saying that he would com,
inunicate with me shortly. From thai
day to this 1 heard nothing of him
till l received this letter:
Wychwood Hall, Norfolk, Sept. Is. 1896
My Dear Doctor: Forgive my abrlIpt de.
parture from San Francisco. You nc
doubt wonder how matters turned out
with me. First of ALL Gertle-Miss Ger.
trude Tremaine, now my wife-made a ter.
rible noise after you so considerably and.
l will add pusillanimously left (she IS
looking over my shoulder now and has
made me put in that last adverb). because !
persisted in telling her | was old instead
of young Mr.. Wycherly. But little and
little, by explaining as well as ] could
that the treatment l had received, after
the accident she read about in your let.
ter, had produced the extraordinary
change in my appearance she subsidized into
an apparent acquiescence with what ]
told her You may call It what you please,
you may attribute it TO the TRANSMISSION
or to the arts and wiles of Gertie, but
certain 1t is that before we were half over
the Atlantic. was head over heels in love
Nor was 1t one-sided affair, either and
by the time we reached home we were
engaged.
How l dreaded going home. When we
got into the carriage at the railway sta
lion the footman. while touching his hat
hoped that I had left my father WELL
The same thing was repeated at the hall
Ny mother wept over the return of hei
grandson, and my sister fell upon the
neck Of her nephew. When, two months
after our return, Gertie and 1 were mar.
ried at the village church. I am satisfied
that nine-tenths OF the people present be-
tfeVed that the Gfeuhen W-vchprIv pyhc