The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-01-06

tempt is mere trifie. If you would only
accept my help. l am sure there might be
future for you in fiction. Can't we form
sort of friendly partnership-call it mas
ter and pupil. if you will-but"-
you would have the dullest pupil that
ever lived she cried. And as for the
story
"If I had never seen YOU" said he,
your story would seem less improbable. .
She did not understand what he meant
and frankly told him So Abbott was
frightened. He had not tact enough to
evade an explanation, and he was afraid
to make one. This pretty game of hearts
was new to him. and it made him nerv-
GUS. yet he felt incapable of stopping. AS
a beginner with the bicycle when he sees
that his inexpertness has brought him
into peril is seized with frantic impulse
to pedal faster and faster. so Abbott
plunged straight ahead, though absurd
disaster doomed plainly in his path.
Having seen your face said he, II
could never believe in the adventure of
the hero of your story. Do you fancy
that by sunlight or moonlight 1 could fail
to recognize
Really, Mr.. Abbott, don't you think
that our friendly partnership is getting
along almost too well?' she asked. "Of
course I perceive that you are speaking
merely by way of illustration but if Mr..
Hilyard should hear you or my sister
there might be some slight misunder-
standing
your sister, echoed Abbott.
Yes" said Miss Leigh. "She has just
come in. hear her in the hall. Mr.. Hill
yard and 1 have been waiting for her
At this moment a young lady appeared
in the doorway.
"Why, Mr.. Abbott!' she exclaimed
"You can't have received my note al
ready?"
Abbott had arisen and was standing
with one hand upon the back of his chair
for support and the other pressed against
his forehead.
''Your note?' he repeated mechanically.
II mailed it this afternoon" said the
girl, advancing into the room, ''but
didn't suppose that you would get it be
fore tomorrow. However, l am just as
glad to see you, though my amiable plan
for your amusement has been spoiled"
mo, it hasn't. begging your pardon,
Kate" said Hilyard 'It has worked to
a charm
'You don't mean to say
Eyes, l do said Hilyard. "He has beer
talking to Mile for an hour under the
impression that she was you"
"I-I-really. this is very remarkable"
stammered Abbott. Il wonder that you
didn't mention to me-
THAT l had a twin sister? I came very
near it that day in your office And then
well. I'll confess that 1 didn't like it be-
cause you seemed to think that l was
when l said that l
knew two sisters who were as much alike
as the two in my story. So I resolved to
play a trick upon you. Mr.. Hilyard and
Mile and 1 arranged plan by which you
were to meet her in such way that you
might easily be deceived by the resem-
blance between us. You'll forgive me,
won't you, the more especially because I
really didn't do it?'
Abbott was beyond words. His mind
held nothing but a fierce. unreasoning
wrath against Hilyard, whose intuition
revealed that condition to him perfectly.
you're right. Abbott he said. Il die
1t. Stay me, and you will be properly
avenged. When l heard you in the hall
I said to Miss Mile Leigh with whom l
had the great happiness to be conversing
at the time: He has come to talk about
the story. to apologize. Receive what he
says precisely in the spirit in which it IL
uttered meaning, Of course, that she
should receive it as If it were addressed
to her sister. And she played the part to
nicely. Wasn't it fun?"
"Rare sport" said Abbott "a very
clever game. And as I seem to be the
loser ! must pay the forfeit-that IL,
print the story. II you will be so good as
to let me have 1t once more, Miss Leigh,
I will publish 1t word for word. letter for
letter. And then-er-the less said about
all this the better. Don't you think sof'