New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-28

the scintillating bulbs a score Of pretty
maidcns' faces looked down from the walls
with glanccs Indicative Of some particular
mood in which the artist had chosen 20
fancy his fair subject.
Christie was in cXuberant spirits yet a
suggestion Of tenderness Crept into his voice
as he acknowledged his friends congratula-
tions. which limited at the food Of happiness
filling his soul In response TO dclugc Of
questions hurled at him concerning his
future bride, he returned singularly eyas.Ee
answers. In more than one instance SO
skilfullv did he parry an inquiry that de-
mandcd a direct reply, that a suspicion us
10 the gcnuineness Of the hosts alleged ou-
gagemcnt began 20 dawn in the mind o.. AZ
least one Of the guests.
81 tell YOU there is something queer aHou,
this whole affair, Latham conided % Hut
ton in an undcrtone.
"Nonscnsc." smiled Hutton. "You may
be sure Christie will explain everything
when the time comes; but deep down in is
heart there still huttered a nameless dread
that Latham might be right, and all through
dinner the thought haunted him.
WHEN the last course had been removed.
w and the glasses filled, Dacre rose and
in felicitous speech proposed thchealth and
happiness Of the bride-elect, and amid q
chorus Of good wishes that kind Fortune and
prosperity might increasingly attend the
future Of Mr.. and Mrs. Christie, the toast
was drunk
INV good friends, | thank you sincerely.
responded Christie when he had drained his
glass. lam not going % inci,c your smiles,
he continued with nervous laugh, "by say
ing that this is one Of the happcst moments
Of nv life: but, Fellows, it is, all the same.
And. instead Of indulging in a lot Of pla',-
tudcs. and losing myself in a tange Of sCn'.-
mental rubbish, I'm going % tell you "a
storv,-I believe a story IS always allow
able when good fellows meet togethcr,-aud
that the characters in this story are taken
from life may not detraCt from It's interest.
The story opens with herO-your hum
bic notwithstanding about three months
ago "a most charming little letter bearing the
signature Of Marion J. Goldman Miss Cod
man begged 20 offer as an excuse tor writing
10 me the striking similarity in our names.
Among other gracious things She expressed
her admiration for my work suggested the
possibility Of an existing kinShlp between
us, and in conclusion, with subtle dehcaeE,
asked me for my autograph; and ], IN
spirit Of true galdn,ry, granted her request.
From this rather unconventional beginning
there might have sprung q very pretty little
romance-but there didn't; though | have
carefully preserved some ten or a dozen
most seductive letters from this fascinating
Young woman. | will venture 20 say that
probably clever young lit,era,eur Of my
acquaintance still retains in his possession
an equal number Of arden, epistlcs from me.
| will no longer speak IN fables; but come
down 20 material facts.
ION the receipt Of the fair Nlarion's Sec
ond. or perhaps third, clever dccoy | began
90 suspect that was being made the victim
Of a practical Joke y few words that | ur-
Willingly overheard at the club strengthened
my suspicious. The exercise Of little mild
duplici,y convinced me that my alleged cor
respondent was virtually myth. The rest
was easy In my desire 70 get even with
my would be tormentor, pretended 10 play
into his hand, and continued my correSpon-
dcncc with the mythical lady until recently,
when an affair Of far more serious import abe
sorbcd my undivided attention. For the
prompt book, properties. and other acCcs-
series used in launching this original COM
ely refer you-without permission-to my
rcsourcciul friend Ellis Latham
THE tumult Of laughter and applause that
l. f,ll,ual ,,-gs ,'rrsffr4'si Inv cries 81