The Ravalli Republican., 1898-09-14

In the meantime, also, among
strange faces in strange lands, he
had! missed very keenly the society
of his IDEAL, Nellie Marsh, and the
many pleasant recollections he in
dulged in concerning. her had all
the more charm for him now that
he was at length; in a position to
confess his love.
He hnd' left. Charing Cross and
was turning into, the, Strand when
voice behind him said: "Loml
Wherever have you sprung from2'
He turned, and his heart, gave a
leap Of delight. 'Ne]liel What a
fortunate meeting!"
The surrounding commotion pre-
vented any display Of sentiment. He
managed, however, to explain the
cause of his absence and convey to
her some idea Of his recent success; (;
whereat she looked at him proudly
and smiled with all her old kindli-
ness as sh> said: -...Z ..-5...
II cam tell you how delighted l
am, Tom, but I'm not surprised to
hear of your getting on. You know
Two always believed in you. /"
"Of course you have, Nellie" he
responded, and he felt that the mo-
ment was the happiest he had ever
known.
But you are not the only one
with a story to: tell she added,
smiling significantly.
"Indeed2 Out with. it, then" he
answered lightly "Your bus; won't
be here for ten minutes.
"Well, once upon a time-that is
to say about a: month: ago-somo
person or persons unknown put a
matrimonial advertisement in q
daily paper.
He gave start and looked at her
sharply, but her eyes were wander
ing for the moment, and she contin-
ued, "Now, it happened that a very
intimate friend Of mine named Miss
Townshend answered the ADVERTISE
ment for the fun of the thing, and
gavo the address of her milliner,
whom she took into her confidence !"
"WellS" he asked, prepared by
this time,for further surprise.
"Well, what do you, think, Tom /
The advertisement turned:out to be
a huge hoax, and instead Of meeting
the advertiser as arranged, the lady
made the acquaintance Of a Mr. AL
fred Pollingham."
"Pellingham? l fancy I know the
gentleman.
"You see, he kept the appoint
ment out Of sheer curiosity, not
knowing who the lady was OF why
she had written to him. OF course,
the joker had written to her first
Of all from, the wrong. address.
hope you follow mo- .....@
"Of course I follow you: But,
cay, Nellie, what on earth has all
| this''-
"Wait minute. I'm coming to
tho denouement, as they say in the
novels. -
pardon me" said Tom, with a
smile, II: think l can guess the
sequel Your. lady friend and Mr..
Pelling1lam fell desperately in love
at the first meeting and have met
several times since, with the resul(
that they are now engaged to be
married.
''They are married.
Really, that is a romance. I sup
pose, Nellie, you were the principal
bridesmaid2
"Oh, no, Tom
MOP BY tho way-this Miss
Townshend that was-who is shea
"She is my most intimate friend. ,
He looked up with puzzled ex
preston. II ought to know tht
lady"
"It's your own fault if you don t
for you've been friendly with hel
all your life:''
His eyes widened. Really, Mel
lie, don't understand
"Oh, Tom,'' she exclaimed, will
humorous petulance, chow very
stupid you arel Miss Townshent
never existed. She's a myth. Don
you see, that was the name that
: assumed when | answered that ad
vertisement?
"You2' he gasped.
Eyes, |, Tom,' she replied, add
ing some words of friendly parting
which were a vague recollection b,
the time the bus had Whirled be
out of sight and he had begun t
realize the truth.
"She was right" he groaned. "
am very stupid. london Tit Bits
: A Sanitary Reform For the Mind.
It is easy to demonstrate that tn
mental health Of the community
q much higher concern than tn