The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-30

w. DoAn - -
The scene that followed Is inde-
scribable. Mr.. Soames was naturally
enraged. At first he thought himself
the victim of an elaborate practical
joke, and he was not to be molllned
even when he found that his host
and the doctor were as much sold as
himself, as he phrased it. "Why the
devil didn't you ask to see my pa
pers?" he reared at them.
This very proper precaution mao
never occurred to them, because no
doubt of his !identity had ever entered
their minds.
To do Mr.. Lawrence Soames JUS
tice, however, after the first outbreak
of indignation, and after Lord war
tlebury had sufficiently abased him
self, going so far In his anxiety to
show contrition and make amends as
to swear eternal friendship with Mr..
| Soames, and promise the use OF his
interest in the Consular service or.
| any other branch of the Legislature
to him and to his heirs forever; also
Il must mention it-after a salts
flying share, Ola bottle Of champagne,
he began to be genial again. He was
even Immensely tickled when he
Thought over all that had occurred
the way he had been chased from
place to, place by a lovely lady, cap
tured by a peer of the realm, carried
off in a floating palace and guarded
by an eminent physician, without once
suspectipg the object of all this care
and attention! 1t was all too funny,
really; and when the story came to
be told it was evident that the laugh
would not be at his expense at all
events. And, after all, he had lost
nothing by the mistake. On the con-
trary, he had made a powerful friend
and had had a very good time. And
now If his lordship would be good
| enough to put him on shore at Malta
he would be able to catch the very
steamer on which he had taken his
massage for Frisco when she touched
there, and, might go on his way re-
ioicing, certainly none the worse for
his novel experience; which was ac-
cordingly. done.
He was a communicating fellow,
without the faiptest resemblance to
Leslie Somers in the face, but he was
about the same height; his hair was
the same color, and grew in the same
way; and he happened to have been
wearing much Of the same sort OF
summer tweed suit; all of which, with
the circumstance Of his leaving TreW-
port Station at the time he did, ac-
| counted for the mistake. The diff
Guilty now was how to repair it. The
| Star was, of course, headed homo i'm
mediately; but what precious time
had been lost. Poor Gertrude sat on
deck all day long and half the night,
with her hands before her, thinking.
| She was very quiet and very patient,
but seemed to dislike being spoken
to. DR.. Mansell distracted her a
| little by reading to her, while Lord
FWartlebury tried to comfort Miss
| Somers, who was naturally nearly as
anxious on her brothers account as
his wife was. On arriving at London
the case was at once put into the
hands of competent detectives, as all
now felt it should have been at first.
Gertrude went with Miss Somers to
see If anything had been heard of her
husband at his home or chambers,
but both were still closed and de-
serted. The house especially looked
blank and dreary, like a face without
eyes, with all the blinds down; she
wished she had not seen It. Having
done allFthat there was to, be done in
London, she went at once to Trewport
to see her boy. She arrived late, one
afternoon, and walked down from the
station, leaving her luggage to be
sent for, there being no vehicles sent.
to- meet trains from that primitive
place unless specially ordered, a pre-
caution she had neglected, wishing to
see how her boy had Jared In her abb,
sence, as she might exactly, If she
took the household by surprise, CIV
ing them no time for preparation.
1t was a lovely afternoon, but sui
try, and she found all the doors and
windows wide open and the sun
blinds still drawn. No one appeared
to be about, so she walked into the
hall and looked around. 1t seemed
smaller than when she had last seen
It and felt strange.
The drawing room door was ajar
ard She went in there. A. gaunt
figure sprung from a couch with a
glad cry. ~ >.F IT,.
@Gertrude!"
@Laslie!" . . =