The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1918-08-16
A MISTAKEN
IDENTITY
BY EDITH v. ROSS

he could look into attractive grounds.
Suddenly he heard a voice call:
.Bob!''
Turning, he saw a girl dressed in
dainty white costume coming down
slope. She was looking intently at
him, SO he stopped and waited for her.
when saw you coming" she said.
evidently much agitated. u supposed
you had made up your mind not to
believe that malicious story and were
intending to tell me 80. When ! saw
you pass my heart sank. Do come In
and listen to what have to say"
Mr.. Hamilton was young; the girl
was very pretty. She had evidently
mistaken him for some one else. prob
ably her lover. Surely the likeness
must be something remarkable. He
was about to set her right when 1t oc-
CURED to him that he could do 80 a
few moments later just as well. he
stood looking at her without speaking.
do come, Bob" she pleaded. Il
can explain the matter to your salts
faction II you will only listen to me-"
Here Is a girl. thought Hamilton. who
has been maIigped to her lover. He
has got up on his ear and gone or In
a hun. Quite likely i may be Of serv-
ice to her. He mounted the wall and
entered the grounds. Still undecided
as to Just when he had better make
himself known. he said nothing. acting
a part that might mean that he was
or was NOT the person the girl evident
~ mistoek him for. She stood before
him. her eyes moistened with tears.
and told him story Of woman's ma
lightly that astDnished him.
He resisted temptation to take her
TO his breast and assured her that her
explanation was perfectly satisfactory.
But while he was straining point OF
honor In listening to story intended
for another he would be expected to
bestow q caress intended for that
other. He rdcked his brain for a sub
terfuge In order to avoid doing so. his
intention being to take advantage or
the girls mistake to benefit her. More
over, he believed he could serve her
better in his present position than I'M
der his own identity. Turning to her,
he looked her In the eyes with reas-
surfing, a kindly expression. and said:
II believe every word you have said,
but there are reasons which ! cannot
explain to you why any outward rec
onciliation should not take place be-
tween US at present"
There can be no other reason than
that you have put her in my place and
don't feel that you can be untrue to
her until you have heard her reply to
the charges I have made against her,
What luck! How kind of her tC
give him a far better reason than nc
could hive invented himself.
Nevertheless" he said. lit Is only
the form that needs to be observed"
when shall see you again?"
mot till hold every ace. bower and
trump In the pack. including the Jolly
Joker"
"Oh. what a reliefr' she exclaimed
giving his hand a fervent pressure ant
looking up at him through fearful eyes
He remounted the wall and dropped
to the sidewalk. Turning. he saw he
throwing kiss. which his conscience
permitted him to return In kind. Then
passing out OF sight, he said to him
self:
by Jove! II fail to bring the fel
low round I'll lose my identity in hi
and do all the lovemaking myself"
Mr.. Hamilton made the acquaintance
OF friends mutual to himself and tn
parties concerned, keeping himself Il
the background. Those who saw hin
We're astonished at his likeness to Boz
Mesereau. the recent fance OF Mis-
Leila BarthoIow. Through them Ham
lton transmitted his explanation. On
fortunately It came too late. Mese
reau. unknown to Miss Bartholow. ha
been dividing his attentions betwee
her and the girl who had traduced he
and had gone too far with the latter t
withdraw. He proved to be a wea
man, and 1t is questionable II he dare
withdraw. Her influence was stron
enough to hold him.
Hamilton now considered how 3
could become Mesereau's substitute
He had found Miss Everett. bosor
friend of Miss Rartholow. throug
whom he had sent his explanation. an
with this lady he consulted. She full
exonerated him for the pGrt he ha
played. and after the failure Of he
efforts to move Mesereau assisted hiI
In extricating himself with the lad
whom he had sought to benefit Mis-
Everett volunteered to explain his a.
ton to Miss Barthobow.
All that passed between the tw
friends was never made known {
Hamilton. but after a time he recei'
ed II note from Miss Bartholow than
ing him for his kind intentions towal
her. Later Miss Everett went Wi