The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-02-10
A MISTAKE
IN IDENTITY
By OSCAR COX

the railway station. A pale faced child
poked bunch of violets under my
nose and looked an appeal to buy them.
l did so, 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 WHIP"
The voice came from a very pretty
girl who was looking into my face in
quiringly. My name is William, and
it is so 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. My reply was:
1T is"
Il supposed so by the violets. Come;
let us get on to the train. | have my
ticket"
She slipped her arm through mine as
confidingly rs if | belonged to her. Not
knowing what to do | did nothing. but
| fully intended to make her aware Of
her error ut once.
That last letter of Clara's," she said
as we walked to the train, decided
me-"
Curiosity here stepped in to take a
hand. wondered what Clara had
said in the letter.
"Cm,' | said by way Of saying moth
ing. But by this time we reached the
car steps, and handed the young lady
in. She took a seat, and l sat down
beside. her. l. had thus far taken no
advantage of her mistake would let
her 60 on a little further before head
ing her off. have noticed that if a
woman has anything to say she will
usually say it without encouragement.
Clara Is just too lovely for any
thing" said the girl.
"Umr'
She has been very kind to me.
When she wrote me that you had
grown tired Of your lonely life, that
big city like New York is Of all places
in the world the most desolate, that
you wished she would introduce you
to some girl who would make you
good wife and without the bother Of Il
courtship, realized that it was the
same for men as for women, and, while
l didn't like your ,words-'the bother
of courting'-l felt that in the main
you were right. Them received her
letter making the arrangement for us
to spend the week end with her and
saying that you would meet me for
this train and would wear bouton-
Mere Of violets.'' ,ss IT,.
had got the whole story in a nut
shell. There was none of that shooting
out in different directions like burst
| ing rocket, but concise narration of
facts. Just then the conductor came
along taking tickets. My companion
| showed one for Dune. Il station not
quite SO far as Seabright Both tickets
were taken up, and she did not see
! that mine was for a different station
from hers. | began to explain:
L Il dare say you will blame me when
| you have heard
..Clara told me all about your mar
riage and divorce,' she interrupted.
Il 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 here?
concluded to plunge.
Il am not divorced man. | said.
Il have never been married. I think
you must have made a mistake. For
whom have you taken me?'
She looked at me in establishment.
Clara gave me no name except Will
She said your other name would come
later if the affair proceeded"
| Il am quite sure there has been a
mistake | began to tell you few
minutes ago, when you interrupted
me-
'Oh, my goodness gracious!''
Don't disturb yourself. Your secret
is perfectly safe with me. But re-
greet 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 if you have
made q mistake Fate has not o.
The young lady was apparently at
least Gained 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. \
| few moments later the train slowed
up. the guard cried. "Dune" and
handed my new found friend out Of
the train. She gave me an embar-
raised smile at parting. saw her en-
ter a carriage driven by coachman
in livery and roll away.
| heard nothing more Of the matter
till one day | received note signed
by name did not recognize as
among my acquaintances. AS soon as
l had read a few lines | knew it was
from the girl who made the mistake
To keep her promise she Informed me
that the matter which had come to
my knowledge had not materialized.
She seemed much mortified ut having
entered upon it in the way she had.
| wrote asking permission to call and
received it. found one who had
| L