Amador ledger., 1904-11-25

you-fOr the one girl l cared about"
"Oh-h! But was it at a ball we first
met? | remember your telling me that
three years ago, but 1 didn't think il
was at ball that that knowledge
where was it?"
"At-at-it's idiotic, but for the life
Of me / can't remember for the mo-
ment You were the important matter,
all else'---
ITS hardly to be expected yot
should recollect," she said, compassion.
ating his confusion. "It was at the
Thorntons."
"Of course, the Thorntons l knew,
but | couldn't think of the name. l re-
member Harry telling
Harry? What Harry?"
"Er = Harry - Harry Thornton, Of
course"
"Oh, never knew there was broth.
er. And he told you
"That he wanted me to meet you.
He said, Phil, there's az
"Why, | thought your name was
Harry, but possibly that's changed in
three years too. You used to be called
Harry"
"a man may have two names, mayn't
he?'
at seems like it."
II mean he may have more than one
name. My name is Henry Philip Nor
ton. All my old chums at college called
me Phil"
81 might have understood stupid
of me. So Mr.. Thornton was a chum
of yours at college?'
"Yes. Great friends we were"
"And that's how you came to know
his sisters? Charming girls, weren't
they?"
every, very charming. only 1 don't
want to talk about them now. It's
such a waster'
"Why, have you quarreled?'
mo, not exactly"
81 thought perhaps you had, because
Clara Thornton just passed, and nei-
ther of you spoke. 1 thought it curl
ous"
eyes. OF course l saw her-but-
it's rather a painful subject with me-
and so if you don't mind let's get OFF
it,
He looked off sadly, with perturbed
expression of countenance, due nat
urally to the pain he was feeling
There was silence for moment or SO,
and then, hearing a little sobbing
sound, he turned toward her
She was bending over, her face
buried in her hands Like a flash il
came over him what was the matter
She cared for him and thought he
cared for the Thornton girl
Margaret" he said Margaret. dearl
1t was nothing of that kind I've nev-
er cared for any other woman but you
honestly"
Suddenly she lifted her face. There
were traces of tears in her eyes.
"Oh, you fraud!' she cried "You
utter fraudr'
Il tell YOU
You impostor! And you fancied 1
believed you?"
She drew a folded letter from the
folds of her gown and found place
in it.
''Read that, Mr.. Philip Morton, and
them
Morton read the part she indicated.
And now the greatest news! Of
course, you sly puss, l know of your
Irritation with Harry Morton three
years ago and that you gave him your
photograph. Well, my dear, it seems
that Harry's twin brother Phil, saw
the picture and rescued it when Harry
was burning his scalps just before his
marriage. Phil's kept it on his mantel
| for three years. Now he is going west
and what do you think? He proposes
to stop off at Glendale and pretend he's
Harry, stay at the Johnstons and pick
up the ends of the affair with YOU
right where he dropped them. Isn't
that impudence? He has made a bet
with Harry that he can do this, and he
should be taught lesson. He is exact
ly like Harry, as good looking and
nicer, and I'm afraid"-
"You needn't read the rest" Miss
| Travers interrupted "It's nothing to
do with you" She turned a severe
countenance toward the culprit. ut is
a very nice trick to try and play on a
girl, isn't 1t? So gentlemanlyr'
Il suppose 1t wasn't fair, but
"But what? l want to be just"
"Well, it wasn't all lie The picture
was all l said to me, and 1 have known
ever since l met you that 1 cared for
you, but l suppose you are awfully Of
tended, and it's all over"
ut should be, shouldn't it, as a pun
ishment? There ought to be some pun
ishment surely"
II shall lose my bet. Isn't that
enough unless you'll let me win it?"
"Why, how can IT.
"The threads, you know. Let me pick
'eIn up where Harry dropped them.
Then I'll win. You said you were go
Ing walking, weren't you, that day,
and you couldn't because of the rain?
fancy tomorrow will be a fine day.
The stars are very bright. Look up
through the palms there. Mayn't
come tomorrow for you?''
You don't deserve it, and l won't
promise, but shall be home at and
Your waltz, Mr.. Ackerly? Yes, so 1t is
Too bad you had such hunt for me. ]
was just going in
Miss Travers' hand fumbIed for
moment adjusting her roses. then she
moved away to the ballroom, leaving
behind her on the floor a bud just open
ing to the world.
Morton picked it up and put it in his