Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-07-27
A Mistake



Sept. 4. 1897, 1890 a. m.-Just now,
when ! took dad his cup Of coffee. |
found him porting over a bill and look
ing worried to the verge OF distraction.
AZ last / drew from him thai The
Weekly Wag is wagging all the wrong
way and Is bound to go to the wall
unless he can secure n few articles
from some comic writer OF note. But,
though he has written to several with
that object, nothing has come of II.
in a word. the paper has turned out
n rulnous Investment for me-" he con
cludcd bitterly.
As I came up stairs, feeling utterly
miserable and depressed. a happy
thought dartcd into my mind. Men
don't like refusing n request when
framed By feminine lips, 20 perhaps
may succeed where poor dad has
failed. AT any rate. without a trial
there's no denial and a recent Incl
dent opens the way for Inc to make
the trial.
A few days ago. while aunt and !
were Willing away an Lour In the Brit.
ish museum. she bowed to n librarian.
He responded "a her recognition with
n conrtly bow. and n polite smile re.
Taxed for the moment his clean shavcn,
i%nscrutablc face.
That was the celebrated Mr. Rut-
land. the writer Or those clever artl-
elcs, my dear. / met him last week
at Mrs pcltam's." she explained as
we passed on into another room.
Seeing that She had turned as rcd as
n pcony. I concluded that he was q
c~clitatc as we'll ms q celebrity! But he
certainly did not look n Bit like I lmag.
ined him. for. strange TO say. dad had
been speaking Of him TO me that same
morning. when hc had obviously
pointed ont an attractive announce
incnt In n rival weekly to the effect
that a series OF brilliant sketches from
the pen Of tho widely known humorist.
Rolf Ruiland. would shortly appear in
its columns. ! am very glad now that
we CHANGED 10 SEQ him. since II pavcs
the way FOR NC to call OIL him and ex-
bialh IN confidence the sad straits OF
The Weekly WAC and beg OF him to
contribute something 10 It's pages.
Aunt mentioned that he lives at For
est Gate. In n beautiful residence
known as Olive Lodge. SO tomorrow
morning ] shall take heart OF grace
md start on this forlorn hope.
Sept. Q. 1897. l:i0 p. m.-Whata day
bf days this has beenl ! really ought
20 have dated II IN red Ink. This morn
Ing directly the dear. unsuspecting dad
had started for the city. ] put on my
sailor hat aud sailed forth on my Sc
eTct mission.
About two hours later I mounted n
broad flight Of steps "a the threshold OF
Olive Lodge. and | must confess that
while / waited Ambulance my courage
seemed 70 Ooze out OF my finger tips.
you are a little simpleton. Rose Har-
vcy. quakinR and shaking as though
you were going TO face an ogre instead
OF q wit" said angrily to myself as q
boy In buttons ushered me into a large
driving room. very handsomely fur
nished. but lacking In pretty trifies
Giving the boy my card ] subsidized
into an easy chair. AS I did 80
caught sight OF myself in a pier glass
and was relieved TO see that | looked
perfectly SELF possessed-whieh I GER
tAlnly did not feel.
The next minute the curtalned dooI
swung open. and "the celebrated Mr.
Rutland" entered the room. Unless !
was much mistaken a CLEAN of relief
flashed from his steel gray eyes as they
alighted on me. Possibly. since my
aunt and ] bear the same names. he
had expected 10 see her. and Of "twc
evils" would rather deal with the less
eri Producing the current number OF
The Weekly Wag. | explained-ratheF
abruptly, I'm afraid-the nature OF my
visit.
While be listened his gaze Of polite
attention became a stare OF unbounded
amusement, and. instead Of accepting
the ~prorered paper, be sprang TO his
feet with IN exasperated gesture.
This Is a most prepOsterous request
young ladyl II Is utterly out OF thC
question that any article from my per
should appear through the medium Of
The Weekly Wag."
The sighting en- phasls with which
he named the poor little weekly. ant
the wltbering glance he cast on It
made me Jingle With rage and NORTH
cation.
"Thep there Is nothing more 20 bC
said. except To apologize for having
troubled yOu with this '%preposterOui
request said. rising to my feet
Ard making him a stiff little bow.
moved toward the door. he had th'
pOlIteness TO hasten 10 open II for ue
and I passed out With all the dignity
couId summon. At the same momen.
the hall Loo was hastily opened. and
fear blurred vision OF n tall, stralgh'
figure In crlcketing iannels made m'
redouble my efforts to repress my 10
eiinstiou 10 burst out crying.
RepVy1Sg bls cap TIE y9vpg fellow