Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-26
CHAPTER XIV.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.


MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Each attempt to unravel the mystery
which lay like black cloud over our
lives had only served to deepen the
gloom. Here was darkness indeed.
Destiny was treating us too cruelty.
Who was this, this scoundrel who had
hoodwinked our detective and actually
meditated the personation Of father in
his own housef Could it be my precious
uncle, escaped somehow from Siberia
Where was fatherH Did this man know {
Was he concerned in fathers disappear
anceH
Ny brain ached with the hopeless
weight of these questions as | drove
rapidly homeward. And as | neared
the house another came crushing down
upon my heart. How should l break
this news to my poor mother. waiting
at this moment in joyful expectation
to clasp her beloved husband3 God
grant the shock did not kill her.
l had no time to think or invent or
to arrange my scattered thoughts. /
rushed up to mothers room.
"Has he comet" che cried, meeting
me. "Is he wellH Oh. Boris what Is
it?"
"Be brave. mother. darling, and brace
yourself for a cruel blow" I began.
speaking so huskily that wonder she
understood me-
"Tell me at oncel" she muttered.
suddenly seating herself on the nearest
chair. "He is dead-is that its He was
mad and
"No, no, dearest. not that, thank
Godl" faltered. "This man is not ia.
ther. have seen him. and it is not ia
therl"
"Ah, can bear that. if that is 1t,
she said "But perhaps you are mis-
taken. Borisl Stop-I could not bear to
greet and speak to him if he were not
my Vladimir. What shall l do. Boris
Can I see him and remain unseen 2
Where could we 90, you and II We
will make sure. quite sure, that we
must be disappointed before we will al.
low our hearts to break over It :"
Dear mother, you are brave" l
said. kissing her "Let US cit in the
porter's little room in the great hall.
We can peep through the window and
watch them arrive. "
"Comel' said mother, and together
we made for the wide staircase that led
down into the huge entrance hall. But
before we had reached the hall the car
riage drove up. Mother heard and
grasped my hand
"We are too late che whispered.
"But now we are here. we will stand
e1r ground together.
The hall porter, an old servant, ran
to the big doors and flung them open'
bowling low and greeting "Vladimir
Antonich" (my fathers patronymic).
A tall man entered with Percy and
Borofsky. He took no notice of old
Gregory's greeting, which seemed to
surprise the porter. who looked panied.
Conversing with Borofsky. while
Percy followed, silent and depressed.
the new arrival came toward US. Moth
er's hand frightened over mine. She
gave me a convulsive grip and then
loosed me again. saw her eyes bright
en- as she caught sight of his face and
quickly grow dull again. He was like
enough to father to fatter her hopes for
but one second; then she saw, as she
must inevitably see, how unlike was
the likeness. The little group reached
US and paused moment Borofsky was
about to speak. but he suddenly realized
how matters stood and refrained.
Mother bowed and passed down stairs
with me. Percy turned and came with
u.s. Borofsky and the other continued
their journey up .etairs. I distinctly
heard the fellow ask Borofsky who
the lady was. This man that was her
husband, forsooth, and my father
Poor mother sank upon couch in
the hall and cried quietly. Thank God
that she did that 1 could cay nothing
to comfort her. excepting to blurt out
that we should yet find father and re-
store him to her one day.
"At all events, he is not mad, as we
feared, mother" 1 added. almost
ANYTHING is better than that. Have you
the heart to 60 on hoping. in the face
of this blow2"
Mother played the heroine that night.
Not only did she assure me that she
was still full of hope and confidence
but she comforted poor old Percy. who
was disconsolate, declaring that this
last miss fire and all the disappointment
of it was entirely his fault (Which it
certainly was in a way, by telling him