St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-11-12

| my peep hoie.
Then | peered out. There they sat.
more of that bakers dozen. in formal
line in the outer office. One woman l
did not know at all, the next vaguely
remembered to have met at a charity
bazar. the third was book agent
with whom had had occasional deal
ings in a business way, but the fourth
lady whose somber attire was set off
with a red rose at her corsage-l near
ly fell from the chair when saw her!
| As soon as had sufficiently recov-
cred I climbed down, opened the door
slightly and motioned for Tort. He
came in at once.
'Well," said he, "what do you think
OF them?"
| Tort" I answered. ''have you par
ticularly Motel the lady on this end
of the row, the one with the red rose ?"
"Yes; she's No. 6, and the prettiest
of the lot"
what does she claim?"
''She claims that you proposed to
her at Newport in June, 1895; that she
| accepted you, and that you were mar
ried, and that she was governess in
the family of one OF your friends"
"Tort," said I. ''here is an oppor-
tunity for revenge. ! love that girl.
and l did propose to her in June, 1895.
but she refused me. For this reason
I went abroad and began to climb ice
bergs. ! want ycu to dismiss the 9th
er three out there. and have little
conversation with No. S, whom know
as Miss Gunderso along certain lines
that / will lay down to YOU"
In five minutes he returned beaming
IL to the forlorn widows. The three
not wanted were Immediately sent
away, and thereupon the following
conversation took place between Tort
and Miss Gunderson:
MRS. Baker, you loved the decedent
Benjamin Baker, very Cearly, did you
not?"
''Oh, so dearly!" and she sobbed in
her handkerchief.
'.If fate would only give Elm back
you would cherish him fondly?'
Il would devote my life to his
happiness!"
'.lAh, this is most touching!" MUIR
INJURED the relentless Tort. You are
not now and have not been in any
trance, catalepsy or hypnotic condi-
tion:"
"Sir!"
I'm other words, you are of sound
mind and free agent?"
''Of course"
'.Then there is blisSful surprise in
store for you. Behold!"
This was our prearranged signal,
and l burst from the room in which /
had been hidden and advanced upon
the lady with outstretched arms.
"Darllng!" I exclaimed, raptur-
ously.
But she eyed me colGly. "What is
the meaning of this?" she asked, calm |
ly looking at Tort; who is this man?"
Don't You know me, my loye?' /
cried, fearing my revenge was about |
to be snatched out of my hands. I'm
Baker, alive and well, back from the |
tomb. and wasn't killed after ALL"
There is some mistake" said Miss
Gunuerson. tapping hef DroW renee
lively, while troubled look came over |
her face. "You are not Baker. not my
Baker. How were you supposed to
have lost your life?''
''Why, fell over precipice-"
Then there has been a mistake, a |
great mistake" she interrupted, with |
a dazzling smile. MY Baker was
blown up on steamboat. Iregret ex-
ceedingly that mixed the Bakers; but |
they are SO plentiful how could you ex-
pect grief-s;ricken woman to dis
criminate? Good-day, Mr.. Tort Sorry |
to have troubled you."
BY that time / had lost all interest |
in the remaining IL widows, and Tort |
is still negotiating with them. II he
weeds them out as successfully as
weeded out two, I shall feel tolerably |
safe and happy, although l shall al
ways cherish lingering regret that
/ didn't prove to be Miss Gunderson's
Baker. after ail.-CincinEati CONNER
cial Tribune.