Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-10-18
An Embarrassing
Mistake
By OSCAR COX

After that he haunted concerts for
months. hoping that he might meet
her He did not. But one Sunday
morning. passing IA cathedral. he con
Guided to 20 ia for the service Ills
entrance was at the moment of the
elevation OF the host All was silent,
then the three soft strokes intended t.
concentrate the minds Of the cOngrc-
the other side Of the church was the
girl he sought. She was kneeling. and
her Madonna like face seemed 10 glow
in light from heaven.
The next time he saw her he was
very fortunate. He was spinning
through the park In his runabout. sud
denly car coming from the opposite
direction swept past him. As by a
lightning fash he caught an instanta-
neous glimpse of his divine face. An
Old gentleman sat beside her, and she
was looking AT him with the tender
ness If daughter who idolizcd him.
I;icketts pulled up SO suddenly that
lie nearly went through the glass wind
shield. then turned The road was
narrow. and he was obliged 10 90 for
ward and back several times before
he could get around He succeeded
barely in time TO see the object that
held him in thrall carried around u
corner. He went around that corner
OH two wheels ana at the risk of his
I h.. fl. hn
pun UP before IA handsome stone front
residence. The girl helped out the
old man ana supported him into the
house Ricketts, noted the number and
drove on.
BY this time the worshiper was be-
side himself with desire TO know. 10
possess. the object of his alteration.
But he was deferred by conventionali-
ties. There seemed no possible hope
Of an introduction. Might he not act
through her father? lie could call at
the house. ask for the old man. tell him
that he had seen his daughter and de-
sired TO know her.
Urged on by impatient love, he adopt
ed this plan one afternoon he APP
pcared at the house where he had seen
his inamorata alight and rang the bell.
The Madonna girl answered the sum
mons Ricketts, was taken flat aback.
lie stammered "A query if the gentle
man OF the house were AT home. She
said that lie was. but seldom saw any
one. If Ricketts, would state his busi.
ness she would see. Ricketts, said tina
No wished 70 see the gentleman upon a
private matter which might have inn
portant results for both of them ana
one other The girl went away with
the message aud. presently returning.
Invited Ricketts, to follow her. He ia
50 in fear and trembling walking as
though he feared some one might hear
his step
On entering the room where the old
man was Ricketts, saw him in an easy
chair proppcd up with pillows. The
cir handed HIM un car trumpet then.
instead Of leaving the two together
She stood near her father, ready ia
minister to him during the coming in
tcrvicW.
An od man with an ear tWmpct
into which l,iekeit~ must shout his ir.
quest for one who was prc>en, and
could hear every word even if spoken
IN "a low tone, Ii-kctts was not EI
to such Il test II De hal iad his wits
about him be might have invented
some reason for his call other than the
real one. even if it were only that he
had come 10 sell plastcrs f0r a weak
back But Ricketts, lost his head com
plctely He could think of no substi.
tatc for his real object and made a
mess Of the truth.
IL have called, sir," he began. 10 say
10 YOU
Louder, please"
II have called. sir, though stranger
to you
u can't hear YOU; you must rails,
your voice
Great heavens" exclaimed Ricketts,
mentally. How can | prepare hin
for what | have 10 say Brieiness Is
terrible Ia this case. but must II
brief" Then he dashed az his an
nouncement as regiment Of soldier.
would storm fortifcation
IL love your daughter" lie shouted
What"
IL want 10 marry your daughter
yelled Ricketts,. coming nearer with ev
cry statement to the object he had II
view
That is the worst of saying anythin.
to deaf persons II is so hard To maxi
them hear that one has TO cut ii short
~ haven't any daughter
Ricketts, started as though mule
{ had kicked him in the abdomen. Hi
eyes darted inquiringly at the Madon
na-like creature who was taking thi
all In. Had it not been for his tell
tale eyes she might not have under
stood the situation. As il was. she did
you don't hear right. dear sh
said. putting her lips very near tn
horn 1.-THE gentleman says he has go
into the wrong house and has apollo
gized for his mistake.
Ricketts, understood. He had bee
asking an old man for his young wife
Red and white by turns. Ii, arose an
: beat retreat. The girl" Il neare
: view OF whom Indicated a woman nea
thirty. followed him to the door A
ne bewildcringly bowed himself on
| she gave him Il smile
4 year later the old man died. an
Ricketts, married lis widow
But She Is Much the Younger.
mil s....t. -. n q. =. gfII,, a. n sound