New-York tribune., 1900-12-09
THE RECTOR'S DUTY.


landlady. knocked at the bedroom door.
somebody to see me?' The Rev. AIOysius
turned rather pale. "a lady?'' he asked appre-
hensIyeIy.
mo. my buck" said the visitor appearing in
the fashionabIy dressed person OF the Rev.
Aloysiuss twin brother Alured.
"YOu?" calculated the Rev. AlOysius. 'In
town-in September"
Because town is the last place where any,
body would think of Iookin for me. old chap
pie" said Alured.
80 it has come to this that you must hide
from your creditors." said the Rev. Aloysius.
''DisgracefulP' He grew scarlet to the ears as
the dngy maid servant knocked at the door
with telegram He perused the missive scOwI-
ingIy, and hurled il into the empty CRATE. Then
he strapped the pOrtmanteau and rose. "Alured."
he said, Il regret that cannot offer you any
hospitality, as 1 leave Victoria by the o'clock
train for Dover. and my cab is already at the
door. 1 have been for the last three months
doing duty for the rector Of MangoId WurzeI-
combe. and now ! am about to take Conti-
rental trip with
with the usual trimmings?" said AIured.
With clergyman's sore throat said Aloysus,
buttOning his elericalIy cut Overcoat, putting on
his soft felt hat and graspng his travelling bag.
pOrtmanteau. plaid and umbrella. He nodded
and strobe past Alured out of the rOOm- Alured
was alone. The young man glanced out of the
window of the combination bed and sitting
room. and saw On the opposite side of Cover
st. an individual connected with the service Of
the law. "Confound the beast." he mused. hes
followed me here. Why didn't he take old Ally
for me and follow the cab? What's the good Of
havin a twin brother if he's Of no use in putin
High Court bailiffs OFF the scent? 1 suppose It's
the mustache," he said. peeping into the manteI
glass. IF it was shaved of, and were to bor-
row a suit Of old Ally'S not a beggar OF
'em all would know me- Not - BY the Iiv-
ing jingo," said Alured. Its worth trying
He went to the wardrobe. pulled out his keys
and inserted one successfully in the common
place lock. The door yielded. I'm hangedr'
said Alured. contemplating the goodly stock of
garments within. If old Ally hasn't gone away
in his worst clothes. and left the swell ones Ge-
hind. Careful chap: Here's a morocco case OF
presentation razors. toO!' he chuckIed, and bore
the Instruments to the toilet table.
In another ten minutes AIured Cottle the
man about town. had vanished and a smooth
faced young clergyman stood smiling at the
toilet glass as somebody knocked at the door.
Come in shouted AIured
My dear COttle." cried little man with a
rel head, what fortunate mistake, I was as
sured downstairs that you had just driven off in
4 cab for the Continent. I insisted. as an old
acquaintance, on coming up here TO write an
urgent line TO you at your own table-and Z End
yourself NV dear frend"' He grdsped both
Alured's hands. Il the bearer Cf an urgent
entreaty from Mangod Wurzelcombe. The rec
tor has relapsed; his medical man insists on his
remaining at Monte Carlo for another month
six weeks. Come back and undertake the duty,
as before with Mr.. ChOom the curate. as a
subordinate. and We are prepared. Cottle. to
promise that the weekly hOnOrarium shall be
raised from two guineas 10 two pounds ten
The deuce you are said Alured.
Fact, as sure my name is Peter Daveyi"
said the red headed man. Alured made mental
note of the name. and the visitor continued;
Mrs MantOwl sends kind regards and joins
with us in begging you 10 return. And Geraldine
Halkett. COttIe-CieTaldine owned to me only the
other day that the place seemed duh without
you"
That's very kind of Geraldine said Alured
Then pack nv dear fellow" said Peter
Davey; meet me at Charing Cross in two hours,
and I'm take you down. He darted out
$50 Mrs. MantowI begs me to return, and
Geraldine misses mer' said AIured- He picked
up the erumpIed telegram and smoothed it out
The message ran thus:
Come back or will tear mask from false face
and publicly denounce you for villain
Lavinia-"
Strong enough said AIured. What has Old
Ally been up to. / wonder? Under the circum-
n .Q,rNv~ fo