The Western news., 1904-08-10


Randolph took up the slate upon which
the menu was written.
"Soupe tomato" said he contentedly,
"and poulet roti with creme d'asperges.
Also petits pois. Doesn't 1t take you
back chez Juliette in the rue St
Beuve?"
1T was Gabrielle in my day." smiled
the consul.
Il keep forgetting you're not Hark-
ness,' went on young Randolph, put
ting down the slate. You're SO awful
ly like him, you know"
ALAS! 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 1
suppose it has had its pleasant fea-
lures, too"
1T 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 a French
potage knows the secret of being. He
regarded the young man meditatively.
II haven't told many persons" he
said at length. but l think l shall
rather like to tell you. You're very like
your uncle, Douglas. l had just left
him in New York on the very day 1t
happened.
II was sitting in the drawing room
car on the Washington express when
the young lady appeared. We had just
stopped at small station 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 identi-
fed for some time, and had rather
forgotten my misfortune, SO that was
quite unprepared for the phenomenon
However, l recovered from my sur
prise as soon as possible, and assisted
her to an adjacent chair while I
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 covert
pressure, whispered:
40, Tom, I'm SO happy. really
don't in the least mind eloping with
you
"A cold chill took possession Of me.
] was some one else again, and was
also eloping. 1t was terrible. I didn't
even know her name.
YOU'RE quite sure you love me bet.
ter than you do MollieT she question
ed, evidently greatly in earnest.
fastened to say reassuringly. Yes, In
deed, hate Mollie.'
II had never known a Mollie, 10
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
ry you
THAT was a lie,' said I, calmly. 4
have never asked Mollie to marry me.
~ was sure Of it, DEAR said she.
| 4 knew 1t when got your note beg
! ging me to elope with YOU She smiled
sweetly across at me. But l didn't ex-
pect to find you on the train. You
promised to meet me at Washington
II 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 terrible, yet delightful,
journey down to the capital. tried
my best to live up to the part l was
expected to play, but felt sinking
sensation as we neared the city.
Suppose the real lover should turn
nasty and demand reparation3 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 It was she.
even before she reached out her hand
for 1t.
"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.
1.-The man whom l resembled &c
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, suppose l needn't go into
all the details. 1t was an elopement
after all. and we sent a telegram to
my double and his Mollie, which was
very satisfactory to us both. l have
always blessed Mollie and her treach.
eryw
"Jove! commented young Ran
| dolDh "What A situationi Anv man