Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-04

K-1icffN fN1rN
sS1b in good old England. My marriage
with Daphne is fixed for Christmas
Day. and 1 shall not regard the ceremony as
valid unless you are my best man. So come
come-COMEl No time to say more. You can
guess how busy 1 am. Write or wire by return.
Yours, GEORGE"
Such was the letter received by me, Frank
Willard, student in Odenwald College, Heidel-
berg, the Irst day of the last month of the
year. The writer was my brother, captain in
the-something.
The letter was accompanied by a portrait of
George, representing him in ful-dress uniform.
He looked every inch a hero. 1 looked-well, no
matter. In the lottery of love the prizes not
always drawn by the handsome. The Daphne
referred to was cousin, maiden with raven
hair, dark blue eyes, and a face as lovely as a
Maids.
Her father, Gerald Leslie, was wealthy city
merchant, who, after the death OF our parents,
became the guardian of George and myself, be-
slowing on us warmth of affection and
wealth of pocketmoney that made the transfer.
ence to his roof seem rather desirable than other
wise.
My first impulse on reading the letter was to
pen refusal to the invitation. Four words will
explain the reason: l myself loved Daphne.
And had told her so, only to find that she had
given her heart to my brother George.
Thus my brothers letter was far from being
source of pleasure to me, though it was kindly
meant on his part (for he was ignorant, so
subsequently learned, of my own love for
Daphne). For several days I fought with my
despair, but at last l resolved to be present at
the wedding.
Christmas Eve, midnight, found me on board
the packet-boat steaming out of Calais Harbor
Wrapped in my cloak, leaned over the side of
the vessel, listening to the silver carlton of the
church bells.
was reused at length from dreamland by the
sight of Dover Harbor looming through the
snow-dotted gloom of night.
At the pier-head lantern shone, and among
the persons assembled beneath its light sol
dierly-looking figure in long grey coat was visi-
bic. 1t my brother George. His presence
the pier seemed, in my excited state of mind |
a confirmation of daring hope had begun to |
entertain. II
"The dear fellow!" I murmured "He has
down expressly to meet me, and to resign
Daphne to me-"
As our vessel drew alongside the pier 1 waved
my hand to him, but at this greeting he instant
ly vanished.
I was the first to quit the steamer, and,
emerging from the inspection of the Revenue
officials looked eagerly around for my brother.
He was not to be seen on any part of the pier.
1 entered the station and sought knowledge
from the first porter I met tired-looking youth
with sprig of holly stuck in his buttonhole |
who gaped vacantly at my questions till the
glitter of silver coin impaired certain de-
gree of briskness to his faculties.
ga military-looking gent, sir? Yes there was
the platform few minutes ago."
Describe him." said I bluntly, as my fellow
passengers from the boat began to crowd into
the station. What was he like?"
"Well, sir, he wasn't very ta--at least, not
for soldier; but then Bonaparte wasn't"
ooh, hang Bonaparte! Go on" I said snap
pishy, for l was cold, hungry, and tired
He was wearing a long grew cloak and had
travelingbag with him. marked with the letters
"G W." l noticed the bag particularly, because
it came open as he was stepping from the car
riage My! didn't he shut it sharp! quick as
lightning if he didn't want any one to see i
what was inside. offered to carry it for him,
and he told me-" Il
WHAT"
''Io go to the devill" {
"You didn't CO. I see" said I, attempting to
be facetious. "Well, go on. What about the
mans face?" t
Face? He looked rather white and excited:
perhaps because he was in passion with the I
carriage-door; it didn't open easily. He had
dark scar on his temple and
Left or right temple?'
George had dark on his left temple, the
relic of fall from cliff at TTsala His initials s
too were &c. W." Good! The figure on the f
pier was not an illusion, then. The porter's a
words convinced me that the man he had seen
"How long is it since he was here?" in.
quired.
"How long," repeated the official, Jerking his 7
head backwards to get a glimpse of the Station t
clock. "Only ten minutes since. He came down
bv the express from Charing Cross 1t was a a
few minutes late owing to the snow" 7
whats the next train to London?' r
Zone just on the move now, sir. The next in c
two hours time. Better travel by this one Go !
ing by this one sir?" he continued, swinging /
open carriage door. "OnIy minute to spare"
IL don't know yet. Hold my portmanteau /
for 4 moment" Z
quickly ran the whole length Of the depart +
ing train. but the grey coat not in any of J
the carriages This train was the cne I should r
have travelled by, its departure being timed for J
the arrival of the Continental boat; but I now
resolved to delay my journey till the next in a
order TO travel in company with my brother, for
George must return by the latter train other
wise he would be barely in time to meet the
wedding party in the church at half-past nine
] returned to the porter who was surveying me
with a curiosity the reason of which soon be-
came evident, and said:
II shall travel by the next train. Take charge
of my portmanteau until then
Right you are, guvnor! What's he done?
Forgery? Murder? He looks quite capable of r
it."
Ozone? Who" I said, astounded at this sud
den familiarity.
"Why, the military cove!" returned the youth
cts go; can see you're tee with half u
an eye"
l suppose the halfeye that had discovered so 7
much his right one, for he proceeded to d t
minish it by screwng it up into wink express c
sive of the penetration of it's owner
A multitude of questions came surging over ,
nv mind. What George doing at Dover
only few hours before his wedding?