The bee., 1916-01-28
A MISTAKE
IN IDENTITY
By OSCAR cox

Having been invited to spend snn
week end at seabright, on Friday af(sl-
noon, suit case In hand, appeared at
the railway station. A pale faced child
poked a bunch Of violets under my
nose and looked an appeal to buy them.
I did 80. and putting them In the but
tonhole Of my coat l strolled toward
the door through which passengers
were going to the trains.
"Are you WinT
The voice came from a very pretty
girl who was looking into my face IN
Quiringly. Ny name is william, and
II Il 90 common for men that I was
not especially surprised at being asked
the question by a stranger, thinking
her to have made mistake in the per-
son. Ny reply was:
'Tt f."
II supposed 20 by the violets. Come;
let rs get on to the train. have my
ticket"
b She slipped her arm through mine a.
conHdingly aS II belonged to her. Not
knowing what to do / did nothing. but
l fully intended to make her aware OF
her error at once. .... ..
That last letter Of Clara's," she said
a. We walked to the train, decided
me-"
Curiosity here stepped in to take a
hand I wondered what Clara had
said In the letter. r..
"Um," said by way Of saying moth
ing. But by this time we reached the
car steps, and l handed the young lady
In. She took a seat, and / sat down
beside her. I had thus far taken no
advantage Of her mistake. would let
her 60 on q little further before head
ing her Oh. I have noticed that if a
woman has anything to say shO WIN
usually say IL without announcement.
''Clara is just too lovely for any
thing" said the girl.
"UmP' .a-...a
"She has been very kind to me,
When che wrote me that you had
grown tired Of your lonely life, that a
big city like New York Is Of an places
In the world the most desolate, that
you wished she would INTRODUCES You
to some girl who would make you a
good wife and without the bother Of a
courtship, realized that 1t was the
same for men as for women, and, while
didn't like your words-'the bother
OF eourting'-I felt that in the main
you were right. Then l received her
letter making the arrangement for US
10 spend the week end with her and
saying that you would meet me for
this train and would wear a bouton.
niere Of violets."
I had got the whole story In a nut.
she'll There was none Of that shooting
put in different directions like burst
Ing rocket, but a concise narration of
facts. Just then the conductor came
along taking tickets. Ny companion
showed one for Dune. station not
quite so far as seabright. Both tickets
we're taken up, and she did not see
that mine was for a different station
rom hers. began to explain:
u dare say you WIN blame me Yhen
Iou have heard
''Clara told me all about your mar
rage and divorce" she interrupted.
II may as well say right here that
don't consider you in the least to
blame. Indeed ! don't see how you
could have acted otherwise"
Why not make the break right here7
concluded to plunge.
II am not a divorced man." | said.
II have never been married. think
you must have made a mistake. For
whom have you taken meY'
She looked at me in astonishment.
Clara gave me no name except VIII.
She said your other name would come
later IL the affair proceeded"
II am quite sure there has been a
mistake. | began to tell you a few
minutes ago. when you interrupted
me-"
"Oh, my goodness graclous!'
Don't disturb yourself. Your secret
Is perfectly safe with me. But re-
gret that you should have fallen into
the wrong hands. Is there anything
can do to right matters?
mo, no, no"
How do we know that il you have
made a mistake Fate has not?"
The young lady was apparently at
least calmed by this. At any rate, she
seemed interested. took out my card
case, drew a card and, having pen
ciled my address on it, handed it to
her, asking her to let me know how
her affair with Will came out. A
few moments later the train slowed
up, the guard cried, "Dunep and 1
handed my new found friend out Of
The train. She gave me an embar-
-assed smile at parting. saw her en-