The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-18


was full OF bright prospects.
In the meantime, also, among
strange faces in strange lands, be
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 had left Charing Cross and
was turning into the Strand when
voice behind him said: "Tom
Wherever have you sprung from2''
He turned, and his heart gave
leap of delight. "Nellie! What
fortunate meetingr'
The surrounding commotion pre-
vented any display of sentiment. He
managed, however, to explain the
cause of his absence and convey to
her scme idea of his recent success;
whereat she looked at him proudly
and smiled with all her old kindli-
ness as she said:
IT can't tell you how delighted ]
am, Tom, but I'm not surprised TO
hear of your getting on. You know
I've always believed in you.
"Of course you have, Nellie" he
rocrondod and he fp1t that the mo-
ment was the happiest he had ever
known.
"But you are not the only one
with story to tell,' she added,
smiling Significantly.
"Indeed? 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 month ago-some
person or persons unknown put a
matrimonial advertisement in a
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
gave the address of her milliner,
whom she took into her confidence. F"
"Welll' he asked, prepared by
this time for further surprise.
"Well, what do you think, Tom
The advertisement turned out to be
huge hoax, and instead of meeting
the advertiser, as arranged, the lady
made the acquaintance of a Mr.. AL
fred Pellingham.'
"Pellinghama I fancy I know the
gentleman. ="
"You see, he kept the appoint
men5 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 me-.
cot course 1 follow you. But,
say, Nellie, what on earth has all
this"-
"Wait minute. I'm coming to
the denouement, as they say in the
novels.
"Pardon me" said Tom, with a
smile, II think can guess the
sequel. Your lady friend and MI.
Pellingham fell desperately in love
at the first meeting and have met
several times since, with the result
that they are now engaged to be
married"
"They are married"
Really, that is a romance. I sup
pose, Nellie, you were the principal
bridesmaid
"Oh, no, Tom. -
"NoG By the way-this Miss
Townshend that was-who is shei''
"She is my most intimate friend. y
He looked up with puzzled eS'
preston. ~ ought to know the
lady"
cts your own fault if you don't,
for you've been friendly with her
all your life.
His eyes widened. "Really, Mel
lie, | don't understand
"Oh, Tom, - she exclaimed, with
humorous petulance, chow very
stupid you are! Miss Townshend
never existed. She's myth. Dom
you see, that was the name that |
assumed when l answered that adj
vertisement?
"You?' be gasped.
eyes, 1, Tom" she replied, add
ing some words of friendly parting,
which were vague recollection by
the time the bus had whirled her
out of sight and he had begun to
realize the truth.
"She was right, he groaned. 81
am very stupid. '-London Tit-Bits.
Humors of Clerical Life.