Morris tribune., 1916-01-28
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A MISTAKE
= - .r,
IN IDENTITY
By OSCAR cox

Having been invited to spend the
week end at Seabright, on Friday after
noon, suit case in hand, appeared at
the railway station. A pale faced child
poked a bunch of violets under nv
nose and looked an appeal to buy them.
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 was
not especially surprised at being asked
the question by stranger, thinking
her to have made a mistake in the per-
son. My reply was:
1T is"
Il supposed so by the vioIets. Come;
let us get on to the train. l have nv
ticket"
She slipped her arm through mine as
confdingly as if l belonged to her. Not
knowing what to do did nothing, but
| fully intended to make her aware of
her error at once.
THAT last letter of Clara's," she said
as we walked to the train, decided
me-"
Curiosity here stepped in to take
hand. l wondered what Clara had
said in the letter.
''Um," l said by way of saying moth
ing. But by this time we reached the
car steps, and handed the young lady
In. She took seat, and l sat down
beside her. l had thus far taken no
advantage Of her mistake. | would let
her go on 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.
"Um!'
"She has been very kind to me.
When she wrote me that you had
grown tired of your lonely life, that a
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 a
good wife and without the bother of a
courtship, l realized that it was the
same for men as for women, and, while
| didn't like your words-'the bother
OF courting'-1 felt that in the main
you were right. Then l 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 a bouton-
Mere of violets."
| had got the whole story in a nut
she'll. There was none Of that shooting
out in different directions like a BURST
ing rocket. but a concise narration of
facts. Just then the conductor came
along taking tickets. My companion
showed one for Dune. a 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. l began to explain:
Il dare say you will blame me when
you have heard"-
SSAN AAC dOOut YOUR mar
rage and divorce" she INTERRUPTED.
Il may as we'll say right here that i
don't consider you in the least to
blame. Indeed l don't see how YOU
could have acted otherwise
Why not make the break right here?
concluded to plunge.
Il am not a divorced man." I said
Il have never been married. I think
you must have made mistake. For
whom have you taken meY'
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 a few
minutes ago, when you interrupted
me-"
"Oh. my goodness gracious!'
Don't disturb yourself. Your secret
is perfectly safe with me. But | re-
gret that you should have fallen into