Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-08-19


tentatiously reversed chairs. Young
Randolph took up the slate upon which
the menu was written.
"Soupe tomato" said he contentedly,
and pouiet roti with creme dasperges
Also petits pois. Doesn't 1t take you
back chez Juliette in the rue st
BeuveT"
1T was Gabrielle In my day" smiled
the consul.
II keep forgetting you're not Hark-
ting down the slate. You're so awful
ly like him. you know"
"Alasl I'm so awfully like every
body" sighed the consul. 1T has dark
ened my life, assure you"
How very interesting exclaimed
young Randolph, delightedly. And l
suppose 1t has had It's pleasant fea-
lures, too
at did once" admitted the consul,
smiling as the trim little Frenchman
served the soup, but only once-and
that Is nearly fifteen years ago"
Il would like to hear about It" sug-
gested young Randolph. eagerly.
The consul began taking his soup
which spread before him. hot, savory
deliciously alluring, as only French
potage knows the secret of being. He
regarded the young man medltatively.
81 haven't told many persons" he
said at length, but l think | shall
rather like to tell you. You're very like
him In New York on the very day Il
happened.
II was sitting In the drawing room
car on the Washington express when
the young lady appeared. We had just
stopped at a small sta tion to water the
engine and she was the sole passenger
to enter the car.
"She was an unusually beautiful
Southern girl, and the few persons in
the car turned to stare enviously at me
as she made directly for my chair, and
seized my hands In hers.
II had not been mistakenly ident1-
fed for some time, and | had rather
forgotten my misfortune, so that was
quite unprepared for the phenomenon.
However, | recovered from my sur
prise as soon as possible, and assisted
her to an adjacent chair while
gained a short respite to collect my
scattered wits in arranging her lug
gage
"She smiled up at me in perfect hap
piness, and giving my hand a covert
pressure. whispered:
40, Tom, I'm SO happy. really
don't In the least mind clipping with
you
"A cold chill took possession Of me-
was some one else again, and was
also clipping. 1t was terrible l didn't
even know her name.
You're quite sure you love me bet.
ter than you do Mollier she question
ed, evidently greatly In earnest.
fastened to say reassuringly, Yes, In
deed, hate Mollie.
IT had never known a Moliis, 80 /
felt quite secure In the assertion.
She told me yesterday went on
the girl, smiling, that you were false
to me; that you had asked her to mar
ny you
That was lie,' said l, calmly. 4
have never asked Mollie to marry me.
81 was sure Of It. dear said she
L knew 1t when got your note beg
cling me to elope with you She smiled
sweetly across at me. But didn't ex-
pect to find you on the train. You
promised to meet me at Washington.
'T told her she must excuse every
thing. since the affair was SO sudden
and unexpected to me. and she said
very kindly that she would overlook
everything because she loved me so
much
I'VE had q terrible, yet delightful,
journey down to the capital. l tried
my best to live up to the part | was
expected to play, but l felt sinking
sensa tion as we neared the city.
Suppose the real lover should turn
nasty and demand reparation? I must
either marry her myself or disclose my
identity In case he did not appear.
The problem was certainly becoming
serious when the porter came through
the car with telegram for Miss An
toinette Richmond. l knew II was she,
even before she reached out her hand
for It.
she tore 1t open quickly and the
next instant held her fainting In my
arms. l crushed the telegram In my
coat pocket, but had caught Its mean
ing.
The man whom l resembled so
closely that the eyes OF love had failed
to detect the difference had telegraph
ed her of the heartless hoax he and
'Mollie' had played upon her The tele-
gram announced their marriage.
well. l suppose needn't go Into
all the details. 1t was an elopement,
O flor all and we seut a teleurau IN