The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-21
THE WRONG MAN.
CHAPTER I.

An exclamation--a Mortified scream
and Nellie Joyce started back with
bright blush, wishing that the earth
would swallow her up then and there.
while before her. like a culprit, stood
an astonished young men.
Good heavens! l thought" and
then Nellie stopped short, suddenly
realizing how impossible 1t was to ex-
plain 70 this stranger that it was for
another man those kisses had been in
tended.
Il am the wrong man. | perceive
You have mistaken me probably for
my brother" he remarked, with a grav-
ity that was highly commendable un-
der the circumstances, and thinking in
his own mind what a lucky fellow was
Dick.
Nellie made frantic effort to re-
cover her lost dignity, but merely sue
ceeded in appearing what she was-a
horribly embarrassed little girl.
"fou-you should have stopped me
In time" she began, reproach peeping
from her violet eyes. and then she tried
to glare at the wretch, as she saw
that his gray ones were twinkling.
81 apologize; but you see you took
me by surprise-and when | realized
that | was the victim of blunder. it
was too late-the-the mischief had al
ready been done"
Nellie drew herself up to her full
height, which, 10 tell the truth, was
nothing very startling, and regarded
the culprit with what she intended for
chilling hauteur.
Jack Vereker looked down at the
winsome face, AZ the long-lashed Irish
ewes, and the rosebud of a mouth, the
sweet, soft lips that just now had
pressed his, and he wished 1t were pos
sible to obey her. He was no "ladys
man'-into his lonely life woman did
not enter-and he had not known till
now the thrilling power of kiss.
Your wishes are commands" he de-
clGred with curious look in his ex-
pressive gray eyes, land now permit
m to Introduce myself and explain my
r, -scnce here. | am Jack Vereker, and
have just come from London to see my
brother on business, and failing to find
him mt his hotel came on here, where
they told me | should be certain to see
him"
He was to have been here now"
said Nellie, struggling with the shy
ness which was fast overpowering her.
Il am Nellie Joyce, Mr.. Joyce's grand
daughter"
so ] presumed-and now, Miss Mel
lie, will you not shake hands with me
on the strength of our future relation
ship"
Nellie was furious with herself, for
the color which in spite of her efforts
to look cool would persist in invading
her cheeks: yet was she not accus-
toned by this time to being pointed out
as Dick Vereker's fiancee?
Il see no necessity for doing So"
she answered, taking refuge in an at
titude Of defiance, and telling herself
that she hated this man. for | am
quite sure we shall never be friends"
And why noi-what have l done?"
You know what" and then again
smile on his lips and the odd look in
his eyes were things that could no
longer be ignored.
But | mus, ask you to remind me |
what have done-my memory has be- |
come perfect blank"
Nellie flashed swift, wrathful look |
on him-then she turned and fed ig- |
nominiously-and in the seclusion of |
her bedroom sat down to think over
the situation.
What wretch he was, to be sure
nasty, conceited-well, no-he didn't |
look conceited exactly-and then she |
wondered what Dick would say when
he heard of it-as hear of it, of course,
he would.
Reflections Of this kind were no
longer endurable; so, changing their
nature Nellie bounded to her feet and
carefully inspected herself in the mir
ror TO see If her hair was tidy"
1t was not, of course-being of that
rebellious order of chevalure which
laughs at combs and brushes-yet for
all that those latter reflections gave
her more comfort than the others. and
she congratulated herself on having
Lad on her pale blue"
IT was so necessary to create a fav-
orable impression at first, she told her.
self gravely, for when one was about to
enter family in the aggressive capac-
tty OF anything-at all in law-flrst
impressions were distinctly valuable.
My dear Nell" exclaimed Dick an
hour later, as the young lady entered
her grandmother's private sitting room
downstairs. Il have been waiting for
you for nearly an age, and my brother
here-Jack, Miss Nellie Joyce-had
made up his mind that you must be-
long 10 the race of myths
Indeed" said Nellie, with a cold
boz in the direction of the tall figure
In the background, and wondering why
she had never before noticed what a
prGNokingly complacent smile her
fanae's was But you know you
Were to have been here at half past
four and then she sat down on a
stool at her grandmother feet.
Dick, will you ring for tea?" smiled
the old lady, softly stroking her dar-
ling's curly head, and then, turning
10 the silent figure ON the hearth rug,
observed that she had never seen so
extraordinary a likeness before be.
tween brothers.
II appeared to Nellie that Dick
seemed anxious to change the subject.
but when Grannie was once launched
on topic it was not easy to arrest her.