Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-03
"sS:~S:~:"-:~-:-:. . :~-:~::~:~:-:.:~:~
SHORT STORY
OF THE DAY..
THE OTHER Mr.. SMITH.


From Ally sloper.
1t was a typical autumn London night
the streets flowing with greasy mud, the
air yellow with smoky fog. and a cold
sieety drizzle falling. as Hilda Smith ar.
rived at P~addington station.
1t was her first experience of the great
metropolis, but she had received her in
etructions. and selecting her portmanteau
she had 1t removed to a cab, and jumping
IN. ordered the man to drive to the Bal
larat mansions in Victoria street, West.
minister.
Apart from the fact that this was her
irst visit to London, Hilda was not a little
anxious because. owing to the arrange
1nents at home in Gloucestershire-the fam
lily were all turning out in order that the
house might be painted and papered-sae
had arrived in town a day ahead OF her
invitation, and she was not certain wheth-
er her bachelor brother. with whom she
was going TO stay for a month or six weeks,
would be ready to receive her.
By the time she had mentally discussed
the pros and cons of this question, and
left herself more worried than before, the
cab pulled up at her destination, and IS
q man in uniform came TO the door she
inquired:
Is this Ballarat mansion?"
yes, miss" replied the man.
~ H. ia ' 1T IOlllill2tl
Filda. determined to take every precau-
ton not to be wrong.
Quite right. miss said the porter, re-
Epeetfully: and having paid the cabman
dilda ollowed her guide. who carried her
1~ortmanteau into the building until he left
her on the first floor, having previously
pushed the electric bell.
The door WAS opened in a few minutes by
2 MISUNDERSTANDING woman of the char
woman type. who stood gazing at her with
out moving away from the entrance.
Is this Mr.. Smith's?" asked Hilda.
Yes. miss replied the woman, without
offering to let her in, however.
is he at home?"
No. he amt, and 1 don't know when he
But did he not expect me? He is my
him" w
oh! indeed. miss. Well, he didn't say
nothing to me about it, answered the
the spare room" and she stepped aside
with a grudging air as she allowed the fair
girl to enter.
Turning on the electric light, she showed
fiilda into a handsomely furnished bed
focm whose white and gold paint and
blue satin furniture caused her 10 open
her eyes in wonder, for her brother was
not supposed at home to be in luxurious
circumstances, and by the time she had
keeper brought her a cup of tea and some
bread and butter, after which she retired
70 rest and did not wake until late the
following morning.
Mr.. Smith came home late last night,
tniss," said the housekeeper. when she
aroused her with the hot water, and told
l ns :" say that he would join you at break
The breakfast table was a picture TO the
eyes OF the frugally brought up country
girl, for 1t was covered with every del
cscy in or out of season. and Hilda was
edmiring the priceless china when she
heard footsteps approaching and turned
oh, Jack" she exclaimed, dancing to-
ward the door with her arms outstretched,
I'm SO glad
Then she stopped suddenly as though
che had been shot, for a tall, dark, hand
some man, quite the opposite of her
brother in appearance, entered the room.
3oyed the spectacle before him-the. dainty
little country girl, with her innocent
beauty accumulated by the vivid Bushes
which kept chasing one another across
her expressive countenance, but at length
Il am afraid that somebody has made a
mistake. he said in a soft, kind, reassur-
Ing voice. But i cannot be sufficiently
I IaE #s such a charming sHsss to break FsaE=
y expected to meet my brother-Mr.
smith observed Hiida; nearly choking
My name is John Smith," said the
stranger, with an amused smile.
nof No. S Ballarat mansions" continued
"Ah! now 1 see how the mistake occur
yed." exclaimed Mr.. Smith. This is No.
8. but there is another John Smith at No.
s, and our letters frequently get mixed
up. / can only say that / am sorry 1t is
the other John Smith who is the lucky
man on this occasion. And now, my dear
young lady. let us go to breakfast"
At first Hilda could neither eat nor speak.
but her host was one of those men who
thoroughly understood women, and in a
abort time he had succeeded in putting her
so much at her ease that she was chatter
ing away to him about her family. her
home. and all her little domestic affairs.
That ~ faGf ynING hn.r- 1~---I
considerably long period. but Mr.. Smith
did not appear to be DESTROYS of hurrying il.
and everything was so delightfully."- strange
and novel to Eilda that she did not notice
the lapse OF time. until her companion sug-
Gested that If they went around now they
you'd most probably find the other Mr..
Emith' at home 10 lunch.
Hilda hurried away to put her hat on,
end the more she looked at the exquisitely
Furnished room with its cut glass per-
fume bottles. chased silver powder boxes
and all The hundred and one little addi-
fions that go toward making a woman
happy. the more she wondered who it had
been prepared for.
Fortunately. when they arrived at s Bal
larat mansions they found the other MIR.
smith' at home on the top floor. and Hilde
could not help noticing how wonderfully
civil he was TO her host, and how eagerly
he accepted his offer TO dinner on the fol-
lowing evening, for himself and sister.
After he had gone, however, the matter
was explained.
That IS John Smith, the millionaire"
faid her brotaer, lfnpreSslVely, and he is
the managing director Of the company /
work for"
The dinner passed off delightfully."-, and
was ollowed by a theater and a supper;
ana SO IL went on. until! the night before
she should have gone home Mr.. afnith
asked her II she would change her appella-
ton from Miss to Mrs. Smith.
Hflda consented to do so. so she has al
ways said, by an overwhelming desire to
penetrate the mystery of the spare room,
hut all the Information she could obtain
from hPr hISh4n nd uFnG that hn kant -
fitted up I'm that manner In order that he
might be able TO entertain an ange If one
called upon him and he always
precaution. my dear. ] should not have had
the dearest and sweetest little wife in the
world"