The daily Alaskan., 1914-09-11
A MISTAKEN IDENTITY
By EDITH V. ROSS


 Suddenly he heard a voice call:
 "BOb."
 Turning. he saw girl dressed in a dainty white costume coming down a slope. She was looking intently at him. so he stopped and waited for her.
 When l saw you coming" she said, evidently much agItated, "I supposed you had made up your mind not to believe that malicious story and were intending to tell me so. When l saw you pass my heart sank. Do come in and listen to what have to say"
 Mir Hamilton was young; the girl was very pretty. She had evidently mistaken him for some one else, prOb- ably her lover. Surely the likeness must be something remarkable. He was about to set her right when 1t oc- cured to him that he could do so a few moments later just as well. He stood looking at her without speaking.
 Do come, Bob," she pleaded. T can explain the matter to your satis- faction if you will only listen to me-"
 Here is a girl. thought Hamilton, who has been maligned to her lover, He has got up on his ear and gone off in a hun. Quite likely l may be of serv- ice to her. He mounted the wall and entered tue grounds. Still undecided as to just when he had better make himself known, he said nothing, acting a part that might mean that he was or was not the person the girl evident lv mistouk him for She stood before him. rupr eyes moiStened with tears, and told ulm story of wOmau's ma Hgnity that astouIshed him.
 He resisted temptation to take her 10 his breast and assured her that her explanation was perfectly satisfactory. But while he was sTaining a point of honor in listening to a story intended for nnother he would be expected to bestow a caress intended for that other. He racked his brain for a sub terfuge in order to avoid doing so, his intention being to take advantage of the girls mistake to benefit her. More over he believed he could serve her better In his present position than un- der his own identity. Turning to her, he looked her in the eyes with a reas- surfing, a kindly expression, and said:
 'I believe every word you have said, but there are reasons which l cannot explain to you why any outward rec onciIiatlou should not take place be- tween US at present.
 'There can be no other reason than that you have put her in my place and don't feel that you can be untrue to her until you have heard her reply to the charges I have made against her."
 What luck! How kind of her to give him a far better reason than he could have invented himself.
 Nevertheless" he said, "it Is only the form that needs to be observed"
 When shall see you again"
 "Not till I hold every ace, bower and trump ln the pack, including the jolly joker"
 "Oh, what reliefw she exclaimed, giving hIs hand a fervent pressure and looking up at him through fearful eyes.
 He rcmounted the wall and dropped to the sidewalk. Turning, he saw her throwing a kiss, which his conscience permitted him to return in kind. Then, passing out of sight, he said to him. self:
 By love! If 1 fall to bring the fel- low round I'll lose my identity in his and do all the lovemaking myself"
 Mir. Hamilton made the acquaintance of friends mutual to himself and the parties concerned, keeping himself in the background. Those who saw him were astonished at his likeness to Bob Mesereau. the recent fance of Miss Leila Bartholow. Through them Ham, ilton transmitted bis explanation. Un- fortunately 1t came too late. Mese- reau. unknown to Miss BarthOlow, had been dividing his attentions between her and the girl who had traduced her and had gone too far with the latter to withdraw. He proved to be a weak man. and it Is questionable if he dared withdraw. Her influence was strong enough to hold him.
 Hamilton now considered how ne could become Mescreau's substitute. He had found a Miss Everett, a bosom friend of Miss BarthOlow, through whom he had sent his explanation, and with this lady he consulted. She fully exonerated him for the part he had played. and after the failure of her efforts to move Mesereau assisted him in extricating himself with the lady whom he had sought to benefit Miss Everett volunteered to explain his ac- tion to Miss BartholoW.
 All that passed between the two friends was never made, known to Hamilton. but after a time he receiV- ed a note from Miss Bartholow thank ing him for his kind intentions toward her. Later Miss Everett went with him to call on the tilted lady, and when the latter saw him she studied his face, then admitted that she saw a difference, but was not surprised that she had not seen 1t under excitement.
 HamiIton's first visit was not his last He had surmised that his like