The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-02
THE WRONG MAN.

An exclamation--a Mortified scream
and Nellie Joyce started back with bright
blush, wishing that the earth would swal-
low her up then and there, while before
her, like oulprit, stood an astonished
young man.
GOOD heayensl thought And then
Nellie stopped short, suddenly realizing
how impossible 1t was to explain to this
stranger That 1t was for another man those
kisses had been intended.
II am the wrong man, perceive. You
have mistaken me probably for my broth
err" he remarked, with q gravity that
was highly commendable under the cir
oumstances, and thinking in his own mind
what lucky fellow was Dick.
Nellie made frantic effort to recover
her lost dignity, but merely succeeded in
appearing what she was-a horribly en-
barrassed little girl.
"You-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.
II apologize, but you sec you took me
by surprise-and when realized that
was the victim Of blunder, It was too
late. The--the mischief had already been
done"
Nellie drew herself up to her full height,
which, to tell the truth, was nothing very
startling, and regarded the culprit with
what she intended for chilling hauteur.
"Then, since the mischief with an
emphasis which limited at resentment-"is
irreparable, the only thing now to be done
is-to forget it,"
Jack Vereker looked down at the win
some face, at the long dashed Irish eyes,,
and the rosebud Of mouth, the sweet,
soft lips that just now had pressed his,
and he wished it were possible to obey
her. He was no Gladys man"-into his
lonely life women did not enter-and he
had not known till now the thrilling power
Of a kiss.
"Your wishes are commands" he de-
clared, with curious look in his express
i've gray eyes, land now permit me to in
troduoe myself and explain my presence
hero. am Jack Vereker, and have just
come from London to see my brother on
business, and failing to find him at his
hotel came on here, where they told me I
should be certain to see him."
"He was to have been here now" said
Nellie, struggling with the shyness which
was fast overpowering her. ~ am Nellie
Joyce, Mr.. Joyce's granddaughter.
$50 presumed-and now, Miss Nellie,
will you not shake hands with me on the
strength Of our future relationship"
Nellie was furious with herself for the
color which, In spite Of her efforts to look
cool, would persist in invading her checks;
yet was she not accustomed by this time
to being pointed out as Dick Workers.
flanceep
II SEQ no necessity for doing So" she
answered, taking refuge in an attitude Of
defiance, and telling herself that she hated
this man, "for an quite sure we shall
never DO friends"
"And why not--what have donep'
"You know WHAT And then again
she stopped short, for the curious smile on
his lips and the odd look in his eyes were
things that could no longer be ignored.
"But must ask you to remind me
what ! have done--my memory has be-
come perfect blank
Nellie flashed swift, wrathful look on
him--then sho turned and fed ignomini-
ously-and in the seclusion Of her bedroom
sat down to think over the situation.
What a wretch he was to be sure-a
nasty, oonceited-well, no-he didn't look
conoeited exaotly-and then she wondered
what Dick would say when he heard of 1t
as hear OF 1t, of course, he would.
Reflections Of this kind were no longer
endurablo, 80, changing their nature, Nell
lie bounded to her feet and carefully in
speoted herself in the mirror, to see II her
hair was tidy"
1t was not, of course-being Of that re-
bellious order of ohevalure which laughs
at combs and brushes-yet for all that
those latter reflections gave her more COM
fort than the Others, and sho congratulated
herself on having had on her "pale blue"
1t was so necessary to create favorable
impression at first, she told herself grave
ly, for when ono was about to enter FAM
lily In the aggressive capacity of-anything
at all In law-1lrst impressions were dis
tinctly valuable.
my dear Nell," exclaimed Dick an
hour later, as the young lady entered her
grandmother's private sitting room, down
stairs, II have been waiting fof you for
nearly an age, and my brother here-Jack,
Miss Nellie Joyce-had made up his mind
that you must belong to the race of
myths"
Indeed" said Nellie, with cold bow
In the direction Of the tall figure in the
background, and wondering why she had
never before noticed what proyokingly
complacent smile her hances was. but
you know you were to have been here at
half past L." And then she sat down on
stool at her grandmother feet.
"Diok, will you ring for tear" smiled
tho old lady, softly stroking her darling's
curly head, and then, turning to the silent
figure on the hearth rug, observed that she
had never seen so extraordinary likeness
before between brothers.
1t appeared to Nellie that Dick seemed
anxious to change the subject, but when
grannie was once launched on topic 1t
was not easy to arrest her, and presently
she was giving her opinion on the mys-
terious tie existing between twins and the
wonderful love they had for each other
Dick endeavoring, meanwhile, to enter in |
to half whispered conversation with his
flancee, an endeavor that was distinctly u
failure.
And how long are you going to remain
in Rostrevor2' asked tho old lady at last,
smiltngly looking at Jack, as be turned