The Somerset reporter., 1899-08-24

were engaged. He has attached him
self all the evening to Elsie
tried to laile at Mrs Fishers anx
ieties and talked commonplaces of PHI.
losophy to hor, telling her that these
! little eccentrieities of lovers should not
be dwelt upon too seriously. IF you
will only give him time said, you'll
see that it is some little tit1 sprung up
since he went west Haven't they been
correspondence
Constantly. But Jennie herself
seems to take 1t seriously; otherwise
wouldn't care one iota. Mr.. Brainerd
may 20 to Jericho FOR all | care"
| But Mr.. Branerd seemed not in the
least inclined to go in that direction
| just at that time. for as Mrs. Fisher
! spoke he walked in from the supper
room with Elsie-not Jennie Fisher on
his arm. Elsie had preoecupied look
| on her facein fact. | may say. an EN-
! barrasscd look. In one hand she held
a bunch of roses. and she dropped his
arm to arrange them-as a pretense
! IN II vase.
And for what now follows | have to
thank that kindly Catana palm thai
sheltered Mrs Fisher and myself from
! the view of these loverlike two.
"Sit still" | said to Mrs Fisher.
"Eayesdropping is fair in case like
this
Though evidently not quite sure that
my casuistry wns sound. Mis-. Fisher
/ Ill 70 bo 4 ii
we heard scrap of conversation,
which | am going to try to report AZ
closely as my memory will serve:
Elsie-Now, Just listen TO me for five
| minutes.
Brainerd-I have come a thousand
miles for that very thing and would =
another thousand for another five min.
| utes
She-Be quiet Just tell me, please.
what is the matter with you? You
never used to drink.
He-I do now Didn't you see me
| swallow all that Roman punch Il mil
ute ago?
She-Mr. Brainerd, if you're 10.
| tipsy. you ought to be ashamed os
| yourself
He-How? DO you think no.
ought to be tipsy on one tumbler Of
Roman punch2
She-I mean, If you are in yos
senses. what can have made you treat
my cousin Jennie as you have?
He evidently startledD-Your cousin
| Jennie? Who on earth
! =, 10 I
/ 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. if Mrs.
| Fisher did not-mutter to himself.
N"1'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 hall. pulling at his
mustache. Then it was time for us to
break cover We came from behind
| the palm and walked out into the hall,
where Brainerd was found arguing
with servant about a crush hat and
oyorcoat.
II think you have made a mistake,
sir" said the servant. This is Mr..
Barry's hat. And he pointed to the
initials H B." inside the crown in
gilt letters.
oh" said Bralncrd, 81 see. Those
are Mr.. Barry's initials. are they?
| Well, you see, it's mistake. The fool
man who put those letters in took me
for Mr.. Barry Harry Barry, ell? Or
he thought my first name was Harry.
ua, Ia! Here's half a dollar for you.
| that's my hat all right"
"Gong alreadyY' said Mrs Fisher
standing close to his shoulder.
OH he said. with a start. Il didn't
know where you We're. Yes, I'm afraid
| must he off. The journey has rather
knocked me out, you know I've had n
delightful evening of it,"
The servant stared and Mrs. Fisher
stared and | stared as Brninerd walk
ed hastily out through the swinging
doors
Now, there is a wide. covered veIanda
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 yeranda.
Almost at the same moment that
Brancrd, in evening dress with cape
and crush hat-whether his or
Barry's--went through the swinging
doors TO the yerandH, Brainerd, in II
rusty tweed suit, with IA golf cap and
IA light overcoat. bounded in at the
same door.
We three-A1rs Fisher, the servant
and all stared. SO did half a dozen
people who stood behind us. Elsie.
who was standing talking confidential
ly ~ her cousin Jennie tainted, with a
piercing scream. though Jennie, strange
to say, managed to keep perfectly cool
"AIr Brainerd"' Mrs. Fisher almost
shricked. You went out Of that door
a second ago.
Jack Brainerd," said. you have a
double
lie stQpd stock still for one moment;
then, mutterng Il thought so" turned
and dashed out again
In few minutes-whlc we all
crowded out on the porch. most of us
believing We hnd spent a social even
ing with ghost-the mystery was
cleared up
Brainerd in tweeds breathless. re-
turned with Brainerd in evening dress
n prisoner