Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-12-03

foxy on my part ] WIS NOT SURF Dul
that | would like to win this girl. and
did not care TO do 50. rendering myself
liable TO II charge Of deception other
than IN permitting her TO continue IN
a mistake. We exchanged the slips,
and II turned out that my possessions
were double hers.
"Why," she exclaimed on looking at
the amount on my slip. "Mr. Markney
did not tell me that there was such an
inequality as that. don't understand
why you who had never seen me
should have desired me simply on ac-
count of n property consideration.
mine being but one-half yours"
IL said to you just now before this
interchange of Information that after
Il had been made the sordid part OF
this transaction should be dropped.
Now let us talk OF other matters"
BY skillful management learned
that the man | had been mistaken for
had gone away TO be absent several
weeks and that no communication was
likely to take place between him and
first / permitted myself 10 drift on
into the false posltIs / carelcssly but
now and again twin rs of conscience
would come 10 me and. more than all,
n dlstaste for the dcnouement that
was sure TO follow At the end OF this
our first meeting It was evident that
we were mutually pleased with each
other. ana II we continued to be so the
wishes of the ladys guardian would
be carried out. What these wishes
were or how far they would tend to
her enrichment didn't care When !
arose 10 go she said
But you are not going before See
ing my stepmother and my half SIS
tiers. They are my only relatives"
Pardon me-" l replied. ~ am rath-
or shy OF meeting strangers. especially
under the present circumstances. How
would II do for them to get sight OF
me the way you did-through the key.
holeT
IF you ever mention that again you
may consider the matter broken off be-
tween us forever. After all. think II
as well that you should meet them
during later visit"
I'm sure OF II. How often do you
think you can endure a call from me-"
"As often as You like"
wondered whether Miss EiIlng.
ham considered that we were engaged
and would grant me an engaged mans
privilege or. rather. expect me TO take
II. l didn't wish TO presume so far on
mistaken identity and was going
away without kiss. The lady must
have considered herself engaged. for
she made It plain that no such cold
departure would please her took
the kiss and, though ii was intensely
enjoyable. felt that ! had received
that TO which was not entitled
When ! stepped out Of that apart
mcnt house into the open air | was
fairly ovcrpowered by the change
which had come over me since ! had
entered It. There were plcasurable
sensations confused with horrible an
ticipations. What would do during
the next few weeks while this other
Townsend was away: Was | 10 try
to win the girl? conned over the
question as 10 whether or no II would
be honorable for me TO do SO. There
We're several points In my favor. IN
the first place. was twice as well
fixed in worldly possessions as the
other fellow. In the second. ! had
found favor In Miss Efingham's sight.
and she had yet TO see him. She
might on meeting him take a great
dislike 10 him. secretly hoped she
would took pleasure in depicting
him In my minds eye as a red headed.
frcckled. snub nosed chap with the
forehead Of mn orang outang.
| went straight home. sat down In
an easy chair and tried 10 think OF
some plan whereby | might come on:
OF the matter with eclat instead of con-
tempt. but failed TO find one.
What would have been the outcome
had not been pierced with an arrow
shot from the little god don't know.
1t would probably have been far diff.
ferent from what Il was ! vowed TO
keep away from Miss Eillngham and
the consequences of my first visit 10
her. kept my resolution by calling
the next day. and the next and the
next. for two weeks. every day in
tending a confession and never making
one. Meanwhile the matter between
us was case OF desperate love.
/ went 10 see my sweetheart one
day and learned that the sword sus-
pended over me had fallen. | found
her in the room where | had first met
her. talking In an excited state TO Il
man who, as | entered. looked at me
scrutinizingly Miss Eillngham. as II
10 shut us both from her mind. sank on
a sofa and concealed her face with
her handkerchief.
''who are you, slr?" asked. THE
lady does not seem inclined 10 intro
duce u.s."
II am Edward Townsend"
"And ! am John Townsend"
~ am the Townsend. sir"
Edith" | said. ITS all out. You
mIstook me for this gentleman, and