The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-07-06

correspondingY
Constantly. But Jennie herself
seems to take it seriously; otherwise I
wouldn't care one iota. Mr.. Brainerd
may go to Jericho for all care"
But Mr.. Brainerd seemed not In the
least inclined to go in that direction
Just at that time. for as Mrs Fisher
spoke he walked fn from the supper
room with Elsie-not Jennie-Fisher on
his arm Elsie had q preocrupied look
on her face-in fact, may say, an en-
barrassed look. In one hand she held
bunch Of roses, and she dropped his
arm to arrange them-as pretense-
In a vase.
And for what now follows I have to
thank that kindly Catania palm that
sheltered Mrs. Fisher and myself from
the view of these loverlike two.
'Sit STILL" I said to Mrs. Fisher.
"Eavesdropping Is fair IN case like
this"
Though evidently not quite sure that
my casuistry was sound, Mrs. Fisher
allowed herself to be persuaded. Then
we heard a scrap Of conversation,
which I am going to try to report as
closely as my memory viii serve:
Elsie Now. Just listen to me for Eve
minutes.
Brainerd-I have come q thousand
miles for that very thing and would go
another thousand for another five min
utes.
She-Be quiet. Just tell me, please,
what is the matter with your You
never used to drink.
Hell do now. Didn't you see me
swallow all that Roman punch min
ute ago?
She-Mr. Brainerd, If you're not
tipsy, you ought to be ashamed Of
yourself
He-How? Do you think a man
| ought to be tfpsy ON one tumbler Of
Roman punch?
She-I mean, If you are In your
senses, what can have made you treat
my cousin Jennie as you have?
He evidently startled>-Your cousin
Jennie? Who on earth
At this point the young lady turned
and fairly ran away, leaving Brainerd
standing alone in the middle Of the
room. He seemed puzzled at some
thing. We heard him-or did, II Mrs.
Fisher did not-mutter to himself.
"I've gone and made a botch Of It,
guess"
Then he laughed to himself
In another minute we saw him walk
slowly out into the ball, pulling at his
mustache. Then 1t was time for Us to
break cover. We came from behind
the palm and walked out into the ball,
where Brainerd was found arguing
with q servant about crush hat and
overcoat.
81 think you have made a mistake,
sir" said the servant 'This is Mr..
Barry's hat And he pointed to the
initials "H-s B." inside the crown In
gilt letters.
"Oh," said Brainerd, II see. Those
are Mr.. Barry's initials, are theyf
Well, you see, it's mistake. The fool
imam Mho put those letters in took me
for Mr.. Bazry-HHrxy Bar5y, eh7 Or
he thought my first name was Harry.
Ha, ha! Here's half q dollar for you.
That's my hat all right"
"Going already?" said Mrs. Fisher,
standing close to his shoulder.
"Ohv' he said, with start. II didn't
know where you were. Yes, Pm afraid
I must be off. The journey has rather
Knocked me out, you know. I've had a
delightful evening of it,
The servant stared and Mrs. Fisher
stared and stared as Brainerd walk
ed hastily out through the swinging
doors.
Now, there is wide, covered yeranda
outside the front door Of that house,
and the floor Of the veranda is boarded.
That night-the house being in festival
trina bright light burned under the
roof Of the veranda.
Almost at the same moment that
Brainerd, in evening dress, with cape
and a crush hat-whether his or
Barry's-went through the swinging
doors to the veranda, Brainerd. in q
rusty tweed suit with golf cap and
a light overcoat, bounded In at the
same door.
We three-Mrs. Fisher, the servant
and I-all stared. So did half dozen
people who stood behind US. Elsie.
who was standing talking confidential
" to her cousin Jennie, tainted, with a
piercing scream, though Jennie, strange
to say, managed to keep perfectly cool
'Mr. Brainerdw Mrs. Fisher almost
shrieked you went out Of that door
a second agor'
slack Brainerd," said, you have a
doubIe.'
He stood stock still for one moment;
then, muttering II thought so!' turned
and dashed out again.
4 In a few minutes while we all
crowded out on the porch, most of us
believing we had spent social even
ing with a ghost-the mystery was
cleared up.
/ Brainerd in tweeds, breathless re-
turned with Brainerd in evening dress
prisoner.
Here he IS" said Brainerd in
weeds. MRS. Fisher, my disgraceful
twin brother Harry. I ran up against
him ON my way back here yesterday
He heard about-about Jennie only
didn't tell him her first name He pre-
4 tended ho uoc fru vo1fpo tho nfhos xxyav