The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-01-08
A Mistaken
Identity
..,-r''
By F. A. Mitchell

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that they part. not to e each other
for two years. II they were then of
the same mind no objection would be
raised to their union. They were not
to correspond. except during the last
week Of the two years separation, at
,, which time they would need to make
arrangements for their meeting.
One morning Albert Tucker mot a
relative nor even an acquaintance Of
the said Arnold Tucker) was handed a
letter by a postman addressed in q
feminine hand and asked II 1t belong
ed to him. The writing was so indis-
t1nct that Tucker could not be sure.
but replied by taking It in with other
letters handed hin, at the same time.
On opening it he read the simple ar
nouncement:
will be At the Grand hotel on Tuesday
and shall be pleased to see you that even
Ing. You will find me in Parlor B., second
door. at 8 o'clock. ALICE.
Albert Tucker knew a great many
girls, a number of whom he had made
love to for the purpose, as he express.
ed it, Of passing the time. and was not
conscious Of any of them accepting his
attentions through any more serious
motive. He did not remember any
particular Alice, nor did he recognize
the chirography. He simply made a
mental note of the appointment and
when the evening came around reach
ed the Grand hotel at 8 o'clock and
went to Parlor B.
A young lady whom he had eve
seen before rose from her seat with a
happy smile to meet him. but the smile
faded into a look of perplexity.
81 never believed" she said, that
two short years could have so changed
you"
If Albert Tucker was anything he
was gallant.
1.-TWO long years, you mean"
"Have they been long to your" some
thing of the smile returning with a
faint blush.
Each has been an eternity"
The lady looked up tenderly out of
a pair Of heavens blue eyes. Bert
did not mistake; it would have been
brutal for him to mistake-at least 50
he considered it. He bent forward and
kissed her lips.
Meanwhile he was racking his brain
to place the girl among those to whom
he had OF some previously forgotten
occasion made love. He could remem.
i Der a Betty, a Louise, an Ethel. but no
Alice. AS for the last patronymic he
could remember only two of them. Miss
Brainard resembled a girl he had me
at a house party at the home Of his
friend Charles Beale a couple Of years
before and had become spoons with
He suspected that she was this girl.
but was not sure. He determined to
take some risk to find out.
II would not suppose" he said, that
so much would happen since that de,
Iightful period we spent at Charles"
Charlie! What Charlie"
True. you were not with as at
Charlie Beale's. Two years is a long
while. especially when parted from one
we love. Events become confused"
II hope persons have not become
confused in your cas- Was there some
girl with whom you remember to have
had a delightful periody"
Not at all. Now l remember: it was
a stag party"
"A stag party! Do men have delight.
full remembrances of stag parties?
But this is not pertinent to our meet
ing. The question with us is, Having
been parted for two years. having
grown older. do we wish to accept the
promise made us when we separator
Bert would have given worlds to
know what that promise was; indeed.
he must know what it was or give up
this struggle at pretense.
Il have forgotten he stammered.
Just what that promise was"
Had an ice bolt been shot between
the two it could not have effected a
greater change. The girl started. then
recoiled from him.
what have I dOne?" he gasped.
what have you done? You have
stabbed me to the heart. While l have
counted the months, the weeks, the
days till we might take advantage of
that promise, you have forgotten what
it was. Oh. heavens! What shall l
do?"
She threw herself on a sofa and bur
led her face in the cushions.
There is something wrong here
said Bert in desperation. Are you
sure I am
She started up. You are ArnoldT'
II am not. I am Tucker"
ARNOLD Tucker, and you have for.
gotten
I'm Albert Tucker"
"Albert?"
! Commonly called Bert. And now.
for heavens sake, do tell me who you
are! l must admit l can't place you"
Tucker never forgot that whitening
look.
It was some time before Miss Brain
ard deigned to inform him who she
was, and there was an explanation.
Tucker was a cool chap. He apollo.
gized for his share Of the mistake.
/ a66ino.