The record-union., 1898-02-27

mere no use IN beating about the
bush any longer. We never were en-
gagged You never saw me before IL
all Your life. I'm not the Dick Jones
-,
But before he can pour out any more
of his confession Miss Hastings rises
wrathfuily and turns her blazing eyes
upon him.
How dare You talk to me like this 81
she demands fiercely. It's bad enough
to have you treat me the way you have
DONE but it's adding insult TO injury 10
leone into my presence in an inebriated
condition.
And before the unhappy Mr. Jones
can utter a. Word of protest she turns
and flies from him.
Here's a pretty mess says Dick
aloud. apostrophizing the empty air.
What under the shining sun am l TO
do now? She not only refuses TO be-
lieve me, but tells me to my face that
I'm inebriated, when every one knows
that 1 never drank anything stronger
than brandy and soda in my life
Here the afflicted youth buries his
head in his hands and groans aloud.
while Carlo sits beside him and looks on
with great sympathetic brown eyes.
I've good notion TO drown myself"
says Mr. Jones. and when they find
my body all wet and limp maybe shell!
feel sorry
He arises and settles his hat firmly on
his head. Their sudden thought as
sails him. by Jupiter. forgot Maude.
poor little Maude. No. I'll not drown
myself, not for ten Harriet Hastings.
Iii go to Maude and tell her all about
il; she will listen to me. She VIII not
tell me I'm inebriatcd." and followed by
Carlo he turns his steps homeward.
Arriving at the farm house he bus,es
himself all afternoon in packing. He
does not even go down 20 dinner, hut
walks into the village instead. where he
purchases a ticket for the city by the
early morning train.
Returning in the dusk of the summer
Tevening, he sees that a man. a stranger.
is sitting in his favorite chair in his own
particular part of the piazza.
Upon closer inspection Mr.. Jones
makes the startling discovery that he is
gazing upon his double. The man notes
the resemblance, too. and comes for
ward half hesitatingly.
| Il don't know who you are" says DICK,
who is the first to recover himself, but
you look deuced!y like me-" with an
apolegetic little laugh.
My name" replies the stranger in a
voice so like Dicks own that that young
gentleman involuntarily jumps, lis
iJones-Richard Jones. Here is my
card.
so is NINE replies Dick, giving the
stranger his card in return.
For a moment the two men look at the
bits of pasteboard in their hands and
then at each other; then the ludicrous
part of the situation dawns upon them
and they laugh long and loud.
Let's be friends" says Dick, holding
out his hand, which the other cordially
grasps.
As Dick shakes the Strangers hand
heartily he knows that he is talking
- the man engaged to marry Harry
Hastings. Looking at him, even at
close inspection, Mr.. Jones ceases to
wonder at the error Miss Hastings had
fallen into. In every respeo-- they are
Identical
I've heard of cases of mistaken
identity before thinks Dick, but
never did double so completely fill
the bill I've got to settle things up
some way with an inward squirm-
Il can't leave him to face her wrath
without explaining matters, and it's
going to be harder to tell him than 1t
was to tell her. l hope he isn't bad
tempered because I've got to do it,
And as a preliminary preparation, Mr..
Jones orders brandy and soda for two.
Under it's soothing influence the
/ stranger wakes confidential, and tells
Dick all about his engagement. Mr.
Jones listens as in a dream, his mind
busy with thoughts of how best to tell
| his story He brings his scattered
thoughts together with an effort and
hears the stranger saying:
| Promised the little girl I'd be here
| two weeks after her arrival but at the
last moment the man work for de-
! cided to take vacation himself.
Thought he'd only be gone a week,
and ended up by staying a month.
! didn't write to her, as l expected day
| by day to be able to get off and come
! down here and tell her all about it.
But with my usual luck I wasn't able
| to come until to-day. l haven't seen
her yet I'm rather expecting a scene
when l do And the stranger takes a
/ long, meditative drink and lays down
| his empty glass. Here is Dicks oppor-
| tunity.
| Did 1 understand you to say he
asks anxiously, that you haven't seen
| Miss Hastings YETI"
/ The stranger mods his head
We'll, if 1 were you, when | did see
her, l wouldn't say anything to her
| about not being able to get here before,
because she thinks you've been here
| the past week And in answer to the
strangers look of mystified surprise
| Dick tells the story of the mistake ana
| the attendant consequences.
| Mr.. Jones No. > gives vent TO q long
low whistle of surprise. Here is a row
and no mistake" he says. After this
he is silent for such a long while that
| Mr.. Jones grows restless.
See here old man; / hope you don't
think it was my fault he exclaims
IF you'll take my advice and act as
| though you'd been here all along I'm
sure it will be all right. She thinks an
awful lot of you,'' adds Mr.. Jones Dip
lomaticaly. To this advice the stran
ger listens and finally consents. Then
Dick exhibits his return ticket.
You need have no further fear of me-
| go to Maude on tomorrow mornings
| train"
And the two men shake hands and
separate.