Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-12-14
The Gentleman
From Cupidville
By ALAN HINSDALE

rette. Presently he looked up at a man
passing him and saw that he was the
very counterpart of himself. Each
stopped and stared at the other.
Upon my wordr'e
"By Joye!"
you're myself, only better looking"
said Lane.
Permit me to return the compli-
ment.' :
you must be a near blood relation
of mine. What is your manner"
"Spencer-Raymond Spencer. And
yours?"
Howard Lane. Come; let us sit
down on one of the benches and com
pare notes. ! don't remember any
Spencer connections"
Nor l any Lanes"
The two passed an hour together,
each now and again looking up at the
other in wonder, almost f%ancying he
had a mirror before him; but, while
they we're identical In face and figure,
they soon noticed that they were very
unlike in disposition. Lane was philo-
sophical, analytical, critical, cynical
indeed, everything that ends In al
but he was a man Of intellectual vigor.
Spencer was an optimist and very
shallow. He was on his way from San
Francisco to Europe.
81 have an idea," said Lane.
"How does 1t feel?"
"You are a stranger to me, but you
are a gentleman. Pm going to take
you into my confidence. I'm in love-"
"Poor fellow! Is it more bother than
having an idea?"
st have been unsuccessful with the
lady. She likes me, but says I'm too
dead and alive for a life companion"
"Why not turn her over to meP'
"That's just what I'm thinking Of"
A bargain was made, and when the
two left the park they went to Lanes
rooms, where Spencer was put in tenn
porary possession of the owners ward
robe. That evening Mr.. Spencer ap-
peared at the residence of Miss Mar
garet Thorne and sent up Mr.. Lanes
card. Miss Thorne came down with a
settled purpose, That purpose was to
give her lover his final quietus.
81 have been thinking NJ the mat
ter between u.s." she said, "and have
come to the, conclusion that l am
wrong in permitting you to hope. A
man who has reasoned himself into
the belief that life is but an empty
dream | could not be happy with. l
will never be yours"
The man grasped the back of a chair
for support and brushed back his hair
dramatically.
TOO later he exclaimed In the tone
of one for whom the bottom had drop
ped out of his life.
slave you a coldT' asked Miss
Thorne, surprised especially at the
tone of his voice, which was deeper
than usual. She was still more sur
prised when her lover rushed toward
her and, Selling her hand, poured forth
an impassioned appeal.
Until our last meeting" he said, 81
did not realize that you were right and
1 was wrong. Life is not an empty
dream, and you have made me see it..
Life is real, life is earnest l had re-
cO1Ycd " lHIOW Oh IhC aCPAC oo1h6 pm
losophy by which l have been bewitch-
ed. l had set a goal-nnder your In
spiration-determined to do or die. We
need one gentleman in political affairs.
I had resolved to enter upon a career
which, beginning with the state legis-
lature, might end in the White House.
But, alas, without you I am powerless!
N4-o-AHIN-~ 7 -JO1I mr. abu4a1 sn~l
sink away into a degenerate globe trot-
ter"
"what has come over your she
asked.
"Your influence. 1t has had its effect
at last"
"Mr. Lane-Howard, 1 cannot under
stand this sudden change. Do you
mean all you sayT
II swear it."
Looking up, he saw a puzzled, unde-
? cided look on her face. Rising, he
clasped her in his arms, and, while she
turned away her face, she did not
struggle to be released. In three min
utes-ten since he entered-she had
promised to. be his wife.
Ine next morning the TWO
parts sat in Lanes room. Spencer was
smoking; Lane was reading a note
from Miss Thorne. 1t was to say that
a previous engagement prevented her
seeing him till the next evening. 81
cannot realize my happiness" she add
ed, 'in the love Of a man of your abil-
ity inspired by that love for me. l
predict a great career for you"
Spencer had enacted to his counter
part the scene between himself and
Miss Thorne, and Lane asked him to
enact it again and again. Then Spen-
Ger personated the lady, and Lane en-
acted the lovers part himself. Thus
coached, he felt quite able to carry on
the work his double had SO suspicious
ly commenced. Convinced that to be