The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-23
An Unregretted
Mistake
By ALAN HINSDALE

half dozen girls and as many fellows
who associated principally with eacf
other. We made it a rule to addres.
one another by our Christian names
We We're all excellent friends, but SC
! far as knew there was nothing lover
! like between any couple If there was
! any one of the girls that | was more
drawn TO than the others 1t was Edith
| Cloverlie. but our intercourse was en-.
tirely friendly and nothing more.
We became scattered in the spring,
some of the girls going to the country
early, some Of the fellows going Off to
different places to make their start In
career. | remained In the city where
we had been so happily united. One
morning on arriving at my place of
business ] found ON my desk a tele-
gram reading as follows:
Chatsworth, N Y. June :,
#. r. Emerson, Victoria N Y:
You are expected by the o. clock train.
Come to Il South Prospect street at D. m.
sharp. Barbara has arranged between us,
EDITH c.
II ever fellow was puzzled that
fellow was myself. am Francis Rob
ert Emerson. The signer seemed to
be Edith Cloverlie, and Barbara Stew
art was one Of our social clique. But
what | was wanted at Chatsworth for
was more than / could imagine.
Chatsworth was but an hours ride
by rail, and l determined to answer
the telegram In person. On my arrival
there | dined and spent the evening in
the park smoking till o'clock. when
| rang the doorbell at Al South Pros.
pect street. | was received by q maid,
who took my card upstairs and, re.
turning, said that Miss Carter would
be down In few minutes.
Miss Carter! Here was a solution
in nutshell. The telegram had not
been sent by Edith Cloverlie. After
all, mistake had been made through
a coincidence of names. What should
| do? Doubtless when the young lady
appeared and met man she had never
seen before an explanation would be
reached.
Miss Carter came down dressed to
go out. She displayed no surprise at
all on meeting stranger. She was to
me on sight intensely attractive. She
received me cordially and began In
this wise:
Il presume Barbara or, rather, Mr..
Underwood, has explained just what is
required Of you, and there is nothing
for me but to do what she requires of
me. l have kept her secret, and no
disarrangement Of her plans will occur
from my having communicated them
to any one. OF course, now that you
are to be one of the actors In this lit
tie
Pardon me. cannot receive a Sc
cret under a mistake. Before proceed
ing further will you tell me who do
you think l ann"
why, Barbara Martins betrothed,
Of course"
"And who is Barbara Martins be-
trothed?"
WHO is her betrothed! Why, Fred
Emerson. Why do you ask these ques-
tions?"
Because there has been a mistake. !
| am Frank Emerson not Fred. This
morning / received a telegram from
one | supposed to be Edith Cloverlie. :
1t was doubtless intended for one the |
initials of whose name are the same
as mine l did not understand why !
I ~ hut Y
of you not to tell me what l have no
right to listen to-"
"Oh, my good graciousr
took out the telegram and explain
ed the coincidence of names as have
explained 1t here. But the young
lady's mind was on something else.
This Is very unfortunate" she said,
much disturbed. "AIr. Emerson and
were expected to do certain things
tonight. A carriage is to cali for us at
half past o. We were to go where the
would take US, and
"Can l not act In the other fellows
stead?"
'That don't know. have not been
given the details Of this affair. am
expected to do what shall be told
% do"
Then it would not be wise to intro
luce me as this Fred Emerson. You
ire not authorized TO bring a stranger
nto secret belonging to others"
But If we do not appear the whole
flair may collapse" I:
AT this moment q maid appeared and
to Miss Carter that she was
wanted on the telephone. She left me
or few minutes and on returning
eemed very much relieved.
"It's been postponed" she said. at
anne to light late in the afternoon that ,
his Fred Emerson had not received
~ telegram"
For which l am duly thankful"
why do you say thatT
Because If he had received II l ,
'ould not and should have been de-
rived Of the pleasure of this inter- /
lew" !
She did not appear at ali displeased [
this speech, which she mistook for {
lere gallantry. 1t was much more '
lie case was one of love at first sight. Z
But you have had all this journey S
IT nothing" q
MY time will hang heavily on my 7
ands unless you permit me to remain 4
your company for the rest of the S
7ening." r
Il shall be pleased to entertain you" \
The part Mr.. Fred Emerson had a
cen expected to play was best man I
secret marriage. Miss Carter was '
} have been the brides attendant. q
en- the cause of more nnstnnnnd 81