Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-11

Siiheu 10 be JeulOuS- MI mart WdAu'
Jenny, a decidedly original young lady,
resided with him.
One night Phil. the shopboy. received
n fright that he remembered for many
a long day. His master had gone out,
leaving word that when Mrs. Hart
came in the boy was to let him know.
\ few minutes after he had let in his
master he had at once proceeded to his
wards room.
I'm blist IL there won't be trouble
when missus returns" lie thought.
''Missus" did return, and in Il tone OF
profound mystery he Informed her mas
ter was in Miss Jenny's room.
Mrs. Hart flew up the rickety stairs
and burst into the young lady's room
without waiting To knock for admit
lance. And there scene met her view
that made her pulse throb with anger
and her dark eyes flash as they had
never done before.
In the center OF the apartment stood
Miss Jenny, her husbands ward. and
by her side. with an arm about her
waist was one whose countenance was
well known TO her. for IL was her hus-
bands.
"Villain, Brutew calculated the en-
ragged woman as she sprang into the
room and stood confronting the pair.
I'm have n divorce tomorrow, you
guilty cur At this stage of the pro-
ceedings Miss Jenny sank into n chair
aud covered her face with her hands.
but whether she was laughing or cry
ing Mrs. Hart could not determine.
You are dumb. are you? All. you
ought to be. What n life YOU have led
me for 20 years. If l hadn't been a
saint. | couldn't have stood it."
And now Mrs. Hart discovered that
Miss Jenny was actually laughing, and
her anger turned on fhe girl.
"Oh, you artful MINK she cried.
Here is my husband, that has been
the best of men for these 20 years,
now led astray 10y you. I'll deal with
you in the morning if you have the i'm
pudence 10 remain here until then"
Here, pausing to take breath. she dis
covered that the older offender was
trying 10 slip out of the room, and,
springing forward. she caught him by
the coat collar and endeavored to shake
him soundly.
Not succeeding very well. however,
she pushed him into the entry and,
after shaking her fist at the girl. said-
Now, get you into the shop
The man reluctantly obeyed, follow
ing her down the rickety stairs to the
little, narrow door which opened into
the shop.
This she threw open and walked
quickly into the room, only to retreat
as quickly: for. horror of horrors. there,
in his great armchair. quietly smoking
his pipe, sat the exact counterpart of
the man at her side.
'Oh. all, What does this mean"
exclaimed the fat man i'm the chair.
staring at his own apparition.
II believe that the devil Is in the
house, cried Mrs. Hart, CHANGING from
one to the other of the men.
That's what / always thought" said
the jolly possessOr of the armchair.
Madam. are you trying TO prove that 1
am dead by producing my ghost?'
Goodness only knows" replied the
bewildered lady. (which is my hus-
band.'
II believe l am that-ahcm-that for
tunate individual" said the fat man OF
the armchair.
And 1 am happy to say that l am
lent.
"And pray. sir. who are you?" asked
he of the armchair.
II am John Tumble" returned the
other.
what! John Tumble. the maker of
wax fgures?"
1.-The same. sir
THAT accounts for your close resem-
blance to myself, l suppose
lit does, sir.'
And. pray. what do you want here?"
asked he of the armchair. beginning to
wax wroth.
But before the other could reply
pretty, white ROBBED girl, brown haired
and blue eyed. glided into the room
and, sinking at the questioner's feet,
clasped her little white hands together
and cried imploringly:
"Oh. guardy, forgive him and me"'
Hey, Jenny. what for:" asked the
old man, with a merry twinkle i'm his
eye.
"Oh, sir, he is my husband"' she re-
piled.
''Your husband. mink, How is that?"
"Oh, guardy, do not he angry, for we
loved one another and have been mar
ried these six months
And why did / not hear of this be-
fOreT' asked the old man.
81 will tell you," responded the girl,
ninging back her brown curls from her |
white brow. you know that uncle's /
will says that if l should marry with |
out your consent before coming of age |
l should lose my fortune, and. fearing /
your displeas sure. / resolved to keen my /
secret until my majority. But |
John, wishing to see me sometimes,
was enabled TO come here whenever
you were away by donning the dis
guise that he wears now. Still. he is
n good boy, and am sure that you can
love him, guardy, IL you try."-New
York News.