The evening times., 1896-02-21

were going. we went into the waiting-room
TO see their Developments in due time.
In a very few minutes John arrived, ard.
leaving the train began walking back
ward and forward on the platform, look
ing eagerly to right aud left for 4 young
lady with a striped handkerchief and a
red rose. All, there she was, coming on the
platform towards him! They met ard
shook hands heartily-by-the-by, John had
never seemed so delighted in his life
and they Were just passing the waiting
room when, 10. out came another young
| lady with a striped handkerchief aud a
red rose, who. apparently not noticing
the similarity OF attire OF Johns lady
| friend, marched straight up to John. and
put out her hand, say ayins:
Good evening, Mr.. Bateman, / think
you are rather late. are you not? But.
pray, who is this?" she asked in a tone of
the most genuine surprise, glancing at
Johns companion as she spoke.
As for my brother, he could make neither
head nor tail of the business, SO ne looked
simply from one to the other, as he said
| to the newcomer:
MAY 1 ask who you are, madam?'
Certainly, sir" said she, with n tone
| OF injured innocence. I'm Miss Kate
Learoyd, whom you agreed to meet here
| at 7:3O tonight, Aud this is how you
mock me. is it, sir? But don't think IL
| will end here"
Mock you, Miss Learoydr' said John,
pathetcaly. "Iassure you took this young
| lady tobe you. By curious coincidence, you
| see, She wears a similar token to what we
| agreed on"
1t was now evidently time the other young
| lady put in word, which she did; and to
| see Johns face during this pantomiInc was
| treat not TO he lightly foregone.
| You, Miss Kate Learoyd?'' calculated
! she. in perfect astonishment and anger.
why, that's my maine and it's this gentle
| man / was to meet here tonight"
| two porters, not to say passenger or two,
| had gathered within earshot, and were
,immensely enjoying the delightful comedy,
| whilst poor John was as red as a turkey
| cock, and SO utterly noDpussed as almost
| to have lost speech. In talking they had
| moved along until now they were almost
opposite the entrance, and thought John
ras meditating flight, for lie was about
| three yards in advance of the rivals, when,
| Just as he faced the gate, who should be
| coming in but another lady with a striped
| handkerchief and a red rose in her bodicel
Seeing John standing, as If expectant,
| she went boldly up and introduced herself
| as Miss Kate Learoya! John Bateman,
| 1 presume?''
John put out his hand in sheer helpless
| ness, but wss no doubt thinking by this
! time that he must be either half-lunatic or
| that somebody was having him. Glanc-
| ing round in utter desperation as to what
| to do In order to avoid the scene which was
now upon the tapis he simply took the
| first opening which offered. and rushed at
| full speed down the entrance road to the
| station away through Doncaster as fast as
| his legs would carry him. The last we
| saw of him that evening was of figure in
| the distance still rushing on with coat
tails flying In. the breeze, as If the seven
fiends pursued him.
When we. Martha and I, reached home,
some time after 10 O'Clock that night, he
had gone to bed, and mamma informed us
that John had been just as queer after
he came home as before he went out. which.
| you may be certain. amused us both very
much. 1t transpired a long time after
wards that ohm had gone along the country
| roads to a station three miles off. in order
to avoid any further meeting with more
Miss Kate LearoydsI
The climax Of his downfall from vanity
was when. next day, a boy brought to our
house, and left with mamma, three striped
handkcrchiefs and three red roses, all un-
wrapped, with j label which said, For Mr..
John Bateuian. With Miss Kate Lcaroyd's s
kind regards.
How had it been managed, do you ask?
| Why, had got Mr.. Biair-nny friend, you
will recollect-to see three female members
of an actors company which was in DON
caster, and tell them how to act. had
put the advertisement i'm the paper myself,
and the three actresses had entered into
the fun with enthusiasm. 1t just suited
them! Yes, you are right; my brother
John never answered any matrimonial
advertisement again. and half of his vanity,
at any rate, Disappeared. Moreover,
he ceased taunting me about THAT fellow W
Blair" who will soon be my husband.
Did he ever find it out? No. not my share
in it. and don't want him to, either, for
| he has temper.