The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1916-02-18
A MISTAKE
IN IDENTITY
By OSCAR cox

l d1d so. and putting them In the but
tonhole of my coat | 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
1t is SO common for men that I was
not especially surprised at being asked
the question by stranger. thinking
her to havemade a mistake in the per-
son. My reply was:
ut is"
II supposed so by the violets. Come;
let US get on to the train. l have my
ticket"
She slipped her arm through mine as
confdiDgly as If 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 a
hand | wondered what Clara had
said In the letter.
"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 seat, and sat down
beside her. had thus far taken no
advantage Of her mistake. would let
her go on little further before head
ing her off. have noticed that II a
woman has anything to say she will
usually say it without encouragement.
clara is just too lovely for any
thing" said the girl.
"UmP
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 q
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'-I felt that in the main
you were right. Then ! 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.''
l had got the whole story in nut.
shell. There was none of that shooting
out in different directions like burst
ling rocket, but a 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 different station
from hers. began to explain:
II dare say you will blame me when
you have heard
"Clara told me all about your mar.
riage and divorce" she interrupted
II may as well say right here that
don't consider you in the least tc
blame. Indeed don't see how you
could have acted otherwise
Why not make the break right here:
| concluded to plunge.
II am not divorced man." | said
II have never been married. thint
you must have made a mistake. Fol
whom have you taken me?"
She looked at me in establishment
CLARA gave me no name except Will
She said your Other name would com,
later if the affair proceeded"
Il am quite sure there has been {
mistake. began to tell you a few
minutes ago. when you interrupted
me-"
"Oh, my goodness graciousr'
Don't disturb yourself. Your secre
is perfectly safe with me. But | re
greet that you should have fallen int
the wrong hands. Is there anythin,
I can do to right matters?"
mo, no. no."
How do we know that if you hav'
made a mistake Fate has not?"
The young lady was apparently a
least Gained by this. At any rate, sh,
seemed interested. ! took out my care
case, drew a card and. having pen
ciled my address on it. handed it t,
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 o
the train. She gave me an embar
raised smile at parting. l saw her en-
ter carriage driven by coachmal
in livery and roll away.
heard nothing more Of the matte
till one day l received note signet
by name did not recognize a
among my acquaintance. AS soon al
had read few lines knew it wa
from the girl who made the mistake
To keep her promise she informed M
that the matter which had come +
my knowledge had not materialized
She seemed much mortified at havin
entered upon it in the way she had.
wrcte asking permission TO call an
received it. found one who ha
lived in affluence. but having bee
reduced to want. had gone to the cit
to earn her living. She had so suffere