The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-02-15
A MISTAKE
IN IDENTITY
By OSCAR COX

l
the railway station. A pale faced child
poked bunch Of violets under my
! nose and looked an appeal to buy them.
did 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 Will?'
The voice came from Il 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:
ut is"
II supposed so by the vio!cts. Come;
| let us get on to the train. | have my
ticket
She slipped her arm through mine as
conf1dingly us il 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 $, she said
as we walked to the train, decided
me.
Curiosity here stepped in to take
hand. wondered what Clara had
said in the letter
I'm" 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 so on Il little further before head
ing her off. ! have noticed that if
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
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 4
courtship, | realized that it was the
same for men as for women, and, while
| didn't like your words-'the bother
OF courting-l felt that in the main
you We're 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 houton-
Mere Of violets.
had got the whole story in nut
she'll 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. Ny companion
showed one for Dune. 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. l began to explain:
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 I
don't consider you in the least to
could have acted otherwise"
Why not make the break right here?
concluded to plunge.
II am not divorced man." said
Il have never been married. think
you must have made a mistake. For
whom have you taken me?''
She looked at me in astonishment.
CLARA gave me no name except Will.
She said your other name would come
later If the affair proceeded
II am quite sure there has been
mistake. | began to tell you few
minutes ago. when you interrupted
me-
ooh. my goodness gracious!"
Don't disturb yourself. Your secret
is perfectly safe with me. But l re-
gret that you should have fallen into
the wrong hands. Is there anything
can do to right matters?"
mo, no, nor
How do we know that IL you have
made mistake Fate has not?''
The young lady was apparently at
least Gained by this. At any rate. she
seemed interested. I took out my card
case, drew 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. "Dune!' and
handed my new found friend out OF
the train. She gave me an embar-
rassed smile ut 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 a name did not recognize ms
among my acquaintances. As soon as
had read a few lines knew It was
from the girl who made the mistake.
To keep her promise she informed me
thok thu Sm0tfnP which had como fO