Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-04-30

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CHAPTER " Continued.
"Humph, 81 commented the bewilde-ed
Mrs. Shrimp, Il have my idea oil that
young man. He's beginning mighty
young, lu. he'll end UP like John, sure's
my names Matilda.
Meanwhile Jack had been literally
pulled up the stairs and into Mr.. Bever-
ly's room.
Now" said the latter. closing the
| dc or, are you really Jack Bevcrly?"
Positively. l wish l was sure OF
everything as am of that"
Well, then, all l have to remark is
that we are fine pair Of jacks.
dare say it was fellow feeling that drew
me toward you when you came in to-
night | would have offered my room
sooner, but my feelings were really so
worked uTon by the pathetic s ory OF
Mr.. Miller that speech was impossinle.
Suppose l had not sToken at all2 This
revelation would not have been brought
about. I'm beginning TO see now. You
are me. But who in the devil am ~
Poverty looked so perplexed over this
problem that Jack was forced to laugh.
Il don't believe l put that straight,
remarked the former. Let me see.
I'll get 1t right presently. Sit down,
and I'll follow suit. I'm upset, like the
worthy John. Now, you are Jack Bev-
crly, and I'm Jack Beverly. That point
seems TO be firmly established. But
somehow we don't progress. Oh, |
Aave IL. You've been .ng-where2
South Weston.
Precisely. Just The place l started
pr. 1t isn't quite as clear az daylight,
1T mighty near it. ] suppose you
We been staying with Mrs. Millard?"
NO; Mr. Millard.
Beverly jumped up and sat down again.
"Just as [ said. You are me, and
hang me if l cont believe Tn you.
You have friend Frank and another
John, and you had an idea of marrying
Mrs. John, and NJ IS Harry is pining
for you; and you bought an evening
suit and a rair of gray trousers from
Thomas Bailly, tailor, and haven't paid
for the same?"
These questions We're put v a rapid
-ty that was ludierous, and Jack s lightly
Gnnervsi by what he hal lately diseoS-
cred, could only pass his hand over his
tr1w in g perplexed way: -
answered, "en1 1 have patronized Mr..
Bailly, but can't understand -"
That's just it. I'm getting it, how
ever. All that's clear just yet is that
you've been visiting my friends and I've
been dancing attendance on yours. Now
Wen go at it again. I'll tell you few
facts which m - help to unravel the tam
gle. To begin, then, l live in New
York, whore practice law. I'm lone
orphan, with 70 memory OF either ia her
O.. mother. About three months ago l
received letter from gentleman sign
ing himself James Millard. According
to his statement, he had been warm
friend OF my fathers, and, having heard
through another friend of my existence,
he was anxious to make my acquaint-
ance, and so on. Wei, the upshot OF it
was he invited me 10 visit him at his
homo in South WCs on. / had the name
| OF the place pat enough at the time.
but, being thoughtless fellow, as my
friends have often kindly told ne, was
scarcely surprised when | met gentle-
man on the train who told me Mr. Mil
lard lived in We5'o on. naturally thought
had made the mistake, and there I was.
l confess l found my welcome much less
cordial than expected, and l have been
! rather surprised at Mr.. Millard silence
regarding my ia her and our letters.
Lately have suspected something, but
for certain reasons did not feel anxious
| TO investigate That's my side of the
story. Yours, l know, will onlighten us
still further"
Jack looked his Il ough bewi!der-
ment, and it was some seconds before
| he could gather his thoughts.
, We'll, he said at last" how plain it
! ell seems now. You see, left New
| York with the intention of vacating for
q month or so. One of my friends sug-
| gested Weston as delightful place TO
rusticate. He had some fricnGs there,
- told me, AMI he would write to them
Immediately. He assured me I would
| like them, and that they would make
| my visit pleasant.
| Under the circumstances | set out
| for Weston, but through inattention
when the station was called l left the
train at South Weston. Imagine my
surprise upon finding Mr.. Millaid' s car
iiage waiting for me. | could not
understand it. anl l could only conclude
| that Franks letter had brought about
| this unexpected welcome. | confess |
have be n surprised at number of
things, but ! usually found, or thought
/ found, a reasonable explanation.
| 1t is curious, to say the least, re-
marked Beverly. 4 don't ragret the
mistake, however. have had some
fault finding letters, and been threat
tned with lawsuit, but forgive all, as.
don't mind telling you, have found
ho happiness of my life."
Jack sighed.
Why that sigh?" inquired Beverly.
tapping him on tho shoulder. 1T
strikes me you are rather down in the
routh. Now l am a thoroughly Jolly
elbow. l can't stand tho blues in my
presence. Out with the trouble if you
aave any,"
Jack was about to sigh again, when
his face suddenly frightened.
Tell me, he said eagerly, "is YOUR
engagement known here!"
My dear fellow, Weston is a village.
Need sly more? My affairs arc proba-
bly, canvassed from one end of the town
to the other | don't say this is the re-
suit of greatness. Il IS norely a nat
What's tho matter now?n
Beverly broke off thus abruptly as
Jack, rising hurriedly frem his chair, be-
| gan TO pace the floor
1t is possible, was the answer, as
Jack came to standstill iu the center
Of the room, 1T is very possible that
you have done me great injury"
That sounds ominous, was the grave
reply Under the circumstances thera
is nothing for you TO do hut to tell mo
| the whole story. There is n stcry. I sea
1 hope you are mistaken as TO my
agency.
Il may be-" replied Jack, leaning
against the window frame, but in my
present condition, am glad to grasl
the least straw of hope. The simple
fact is, that l, like you, came to little
village to find the woman 1 would make
my wife. Until to-day 1 cherished a
possible realization of my hopes, but
now"
"Wait ono lnomonf nCea aba knop