Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-05

awaited me though of a somewhat pleas
ant kind. AS / entered the hall charm
ing girl ran up to me, flung her arms
round my neck, kissed me and muir
INJURED:
'You darling; I'm so glad you've
Gomez
In nv embarrassment I said some
thing but the fair damsel had flown like
a startled bird.
"A little thing like that makes one feel
at home directly" l said to myself with
a smile, for, as a single man, knew the
value of pretty girls kisses, and would
have liked a more extended interview.
l looked forward TO dinner that night
with much eagerness, and longed to see
the lady who had distributed her kisses
so rashly.
In the drawing room, before the gong
sounded. my wish was gratifed. A
man of about my own age, who bore
striking resemblance to myself, came
toward me with the charming girl
blushing at his side. He explained that
the kiss was intended for himself and
introduced his sister, who apologized
for the mistake in the sweetest manner.
l sat near Miss Carstairs at dinner, and
in the course of conversation remarked
shat once before l had been mistaken
for another man with nearly fatal re-
suit to myself.
ooh, do tell me al about it," she said.
was about to do so, when she added:
But, no; please wait until after din
ner; then Max can hear the story, too"
l am afraid my eyes were scarcely
lifted from my beautiful companion dur
ing dinner Already love had conquer
ed. You see, at the outset, before there
had been time to so much as declare
war, the position had been stormed, the
citadel rushed" by that delightful kiss!
And now it was sufficient happiness for
me to watch the changing lights in a
pair of sapphire yes, whose dusky lashes
cur,ed upwards as though in wanton
contrast with the tendrils Of the auburn
tresses above.
We three took our coffee in the garden
that warm September night.
Now" exclaimed CarStairs, handing
me a cigarette, Ray is dying to hear
your story, SO go ahead"
We'll, said l, Lighting my cigarette,
and thinking whst a sweet name was
Ray Carstairs, although it happened
several years ago, the incident still re-
mains painfully fresh in my memory
It was an adventure l had with a mad
billiard player"
They both started.
MAX" said his sister, doesn't that
remind you of what happened at"
Yes" he replied, before she could
finish the sentence. but don't inter-
rupt Please go on, he added.
In moment it flashed upon me that
the solution of the mystery lay within
my grasp This man, who so stran gely
resembled me, was the intended object
Of the madman's revenge!
as it possible" I cried, springing to
my feet in excitement, that you are the
MANI"
Il don't understand" said Carstairs,
l0king as perp,exed and startled as his
sister at my sudden outburst of feeling.
"Of course nOt-of course not" I MUIR
INJURED, sinking into my chair Il will
tell YOU the whole story, and then you
will know what l mean
As went through the horrible details
of that fearful night they listened with
rapt attention. and, unless the darkness
deceived me, detected tears IF sympa-
thy in the beautiful eyes Of Ray Car
stairs.
You are r.ghtw exclaimed her broth
er, as fi1is-ed; all you suffered was in
tended for me-. Now for my story which
Will clear up the mystery"
Miss Carstairs rose.
Il think III run off to bed, Max I'm
very tired, and its getting late"
She kissed her brother, then gave her
hand to me. Goodnight" she said;
"let us hope it Will be fine tomorrow"
Reluctantly I re,inquished her hand,
but there was hope in that reference to
the weather Might it not mean a walk
together in the morning?
l finished the evening in Max Car
stairs room; and while we smoked he
tod his strange story.
Mark Malbrain was the mans name"
he continued "and I met him at a hy-
drOpathic establishment in the North,
where my sister and l were staying one
summer about seven or eight rears
ago. Ny sister was then about II, and
Malbrain, much 10 her disgust, fell wild
" in love with her. He made himself
generally a nuisance by Fostering her
with unweicOme attentions and writing
eXtravagant verse in her praise, until
at length matters came TO crisis. Tab
leaux vivants were a favorite evening
amusement, and on this particular night
nv sister appeared as Marguerite, | was
Faust. and TO Malbrain was assigned
the role of Mephis,Opheles. The living
picture was an immense success, and a
dance followed, at which we appeared
IN our stage costumes.
During the evening Rachel Eyes, that
Is her name( complained TO me OF Nal
brains conduct 1t seems he had con-
tinued to follow her round the room beg
ging for a dance, and his manner be-
came threatening when she firmly re-
fused. I at once went TO him and said
plainly that Miss Carstairs wished to
have nothing more TO do with him, and,
therefore, l muSs request him not to
speak to her again.
From the manner of his reply gath
cred that he did not know Rachel was
my sister. but imagined we were lovers;
and I did rot think it worth while to
underceive him. l decided to send
Rachel home in the morning. but re-
NAMED myself for a few days longer.
Malbrain was furious when he heard
that my sister had gone, but he said
lJrhing TO me.
"One evening after dinner we met in
the billiard room. To my surprise. he
challenged me to game. suggesting
that we should play for FLO note. l
agreed. and the stakes were harded to
ona Of the men present We played a