The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-22
A MISTAKEN
IDENTITY
BY EDITH v. ROSS


he could look into attractive grounds.
Suddenly he heard a voice call:
"Bob!"
Turning, he saw a girl dressed In n
| dainty white costume coming down o
slope. She was looking intently at
him, so he stopped and waited for her.
when ! saw you coming" she said,
evidently much agitated. 81 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"
Mr.. 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 q
few moments later just as we'll He
stood looking at her without speaking.
DO come, Bob" she pleaded II
can explain the matter to your salts
faction If you will only listen to me-"
Here is girl, thought Hamilton. who
has been maligned to her lover. He
has got up on his ear and gone Off In
huff. Quite likely may be Of serv-
Ice to her He mounted the wall and
entered the grounds. Still undecided
| as to just when he had better make
himself known, he said nothing. acting
part that might mean that he was
or was not the person the girl evident
| ly mistook him for. She stood before
him, her eyes moistened with tears.
and told him a story of womans ma
| Iignity that astonished him.
He resisted temptation to take her
to his breast and assured her that her
explanation was perfectly satisfactory.
But while ne was straining a point of
honor In listening to a story intended
for another he would be expected to
bestow 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 I'M
der his own identity. Turning to her.
he looked her in the eyes with q reas-
surfing, kindly expression, and said:
II believe every word you have said,
but there are reasons which | cannot
explain to you why any outward rec
onciliation 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 | 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 againw
Not till hold every ace. bower and
trump in the pack. including the jolly
| joker"
"Oh. what q reliefr' she exclaimed.
giving his hand fervent pressure and
looking up at him through fearful eyes.
He remounted the wall and dropped
to the sidewalk. Turning. he saw her
throwing a kiss. which mis- conscience
permitted him to return IN Kind. Then,
passing out of sight. ne said to him.
self:
"By Jovel If fail to bring the fel-
low round I'll lose my identity in his
and do all the lovemaking myself"
Mr.. Hamilton made the acquaintance
of friends mutual to himself and the
parties concerned. keeping himself in
the background. Those who saw MIN
were aStouished at his likeness to Bob
Mesereau, the recent iance OF Miss
Leila Bartholow. Through them Ham,
iltou transmitted his explanation. On
fortunately IL came too late. Mese-
reau. unknown to Miss Barthoiow. 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 weak
man, and it is questionable II he dared
withdraw. Her influence was strong
enough to hold him.
Hamilton now considered how he
could become Mesereau's substitute.
He had found 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-
ffOu rn Miss Rdrfh0InW
All that passed between the two
friends was never made known TO
Hamilton. but after time he receiv-
ed 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.
Hamilton's drst visit was not his
last. He had surmised that his like
less to Mesereau would be an advan-