A RIVERSIDE EPISODE.

Western Star, Issue 2253, 4 November 1898, Page 5

A RIVERSIDE EPISODE.

" Drat tbe thing !" be muttered in an undertone. " I never can find that latchkey. I'll have some of them at the door before I get in if I don't make haste, and theu it's all up with my little surprise for Nellie. Dejr, clear 1 where is the thing ?" And his hand went blundering from pocket to pocket in a vain search after the missing key, while he fumed and fretted within like a volcano gel ting ready for au eruption. " What's the good of a fellow coming homo a day earlier than he's expected, an J a pleasant surprise in his pocket, and theu be found on the doorstep looking like a loat sheep waiting to be let into the fold ? Drat it ! I'll have to get Nell to stitch a piece of tape to the thing and sew the other end to the inside of my pocket." And again he went the round cf his pockets ; then, looking down, he discovered the missing key hanging to the end of his watchchain, he having put it there for safety, aud tucobied it out while seaiching for it. " Well, bless me ! Who'd have thought the thing was hanging there, I wonder. Now, to surprise my lady fair," and disconnecting the key he quietly inserted it, gently opened the door, noiselessly itepped isside, and softly closed it bshiud him.

" Suppose I shall find her busy sewing, or musing, aud wishing me home," he muttered.as he stood for a moment ou the door mat. *• Jove, tbn house is quiet, and wlftit's tne passage gas so low for, 1 wonder ? Oh,it's Thursday night; of course. Bitsy is out. Most likely Ni Hie is reading ; 1 don't hear her machine going," And he crept silently along and peeped into the back parlour. The gas was very low, and he Htcpped softly in and turned it up, theu gazed around and found the room empty. " Not here. Very well, I'll try again," aud quielly slipping off his boots and thrusting them under the couch he drew forth a pair of list slippers, iu which he silently went from room to room until he discovered that he was the only occudant of the ground floor.

" Hans; it," he muttered under his breath ; "my surprise for Nellie is losing its edge and tun ing out a surprise for me. I'll see if she's upstairs." And he climbed to the upper regions, where he st arched every room to the attic, but found no one. ' Deuco take it," he grumbled ; •« she's out. Wish I hadn't come home until tomorrow Never mind, I'll lie down. It's infernally hot Then I'll creep on her by-and-by." Anil after opening the window he threw himself on the bed and fell asleep. Ten minutes later Betsy, the servant, entered. " I wonder if missus 'as come in," she said, as she closed the door behind her, " No," she said to herself, after having looked into the rooms on her way to the kitchen. " It's a good thing she let me 'ave the latchkey, or I'd 'ave 'ad to wait outside an' listen to that fellah's blarney." And taking off her hat and jacket sho put on au apron At this moment the street door opened and a voice called softly : " Are yon there, Betsy ?" " Yes, mum," she replied. "Do you want me. ?" "No ; I only wished to know if you were in." " Oh, yes, mum ; I've bin in a long time." " Very well ; get yourself some supper." Aud Mrs. Richards went upstairs while Betsy hurriedly spread tha cloth, put the few necessary articles upon the table. While Betsy was engaged in the pantry a knock at the front door disturbed her, and she went to see who was knocking. " Does Mr. Richards lire here, please ?" inquired a man who stood without as Betsy opened the door. " Yes, sir." " Can I see him ?" " E's out, sir ; but " Here Betsy suddenly stopped, stepped aside, stared hard at the man for a moment, looked stupefied, then smiled vacantly, aud continued, " Come in, please, missus will be down in a minute," and she ushered the man into the back parlour, aud returned, grinning, to her bread and cheese in the pantry. " Wotever's 'e mean, I wonder," and another piece of cheese disappeared. " Blest if I don't think 'e's tryin' to 'ave some fun with missus, spite 'ov 'is lookiu' serious. 'E needn't thiDk as I doesn't know 'im ; cos I does." At this juncture Mrs. Richards began to descend the stairs, and Betsy met her at the foot and whispered—- " Please, mum, master's come 'ome." " Has he ?" in surprise. " When ? " " 'Shish, mum, 'e's just come. 'E hasked fer Mr. Richards, an T I showed 'im inter the back parlour 'ere. I think as he's tryin' ter 'ave a bit o' fun, mum." And Betsy indulged in a slient giggle. " Are you sure it's the master ? " Yes, mum, as sure as day/' " Very good, you can go and finish your supper." And Mrs. Richards stepped towards the back parlour door, while Betsy returned to the kitchen. The whole of the above conversation bad been carried of in a whisper, so that the man admitted by Betsy heard not a word of it.

Mrs Richards opened tbc door of the room, and there, sure enough, stood her busbaud on the hearthrug with bis back to the tire. " Oh, Owen, dear, why didn't you tell me in your letter that you were coming home tonight ? " and hurrying forward she lifted her arms as it' to place them round his neck. •' My good woman ! Whatever do you mean !" and he stopped back with uplifted hands and a look of stupefied amaze. " What do I mean ? Why, Owen, what do you think I mean ?" in surprise, and hurt at having her kindly advances ho abruptly chicked. " ' Owen ?' my dear woman, Owen is not my name ! You must be labouring under a delusion." and his look of surprise grew deeper. " Not your name ! Oh, Owen, how can you ? Whatever is the matter with you ? . . . Come, now.l know you're trying to have a little tun with me, dust as if I didn't know you and your liicks," and, with a reassuring and winning smile, she affectionately moved towards him. She approached him as a loving wife would her husbsud whom she wished to greet in her own way, " But 1 tell you Owen is not my name. 1 came hern to see Mr. Richards, and if 1 cannot see him, and you will kindly tell me when I can. then I shall be pleased to nail again." His manner was now ptrfectly calm aHd serious. For a moment Nellie stared at bim in amazement, then laughed, and again approached him with lovelit eyes, saying, " You dear old silly, what arc you talking about ?" He evaded her by stepping aside, but she followed bim up and said, as l,er smile vanished, " Whatever is tho matter with you ? Why didn't you tell me you were coming home to-night? Here I've no supper ready for you, and I suppose you're hungry, just off your journey." " My dear madam, I am just off a journey, but I fail to see how that tact can make me out to be Mr. Owen Richards, whom 1 assure you I am not, but " " Oh, Owen ! How can you say such a thing?" and she looked at him in an injured manner. " Really, you are carrying your joke too far. Do drop your acting and be sensible." A knock at the door and Betsy entered. " Shall you want supper now, mum ?" " Yes Betsy ; your master is hungry afte hn journey ; so you had better bring some in." " All right.mum," and the girl left the room. "Come now, do cease this foolinbijesF, Owen.

You're very good at playing a part, 1 know ; but you shouldn't carry it too far," and Nellie pouted and looked cross.

" My dear Mrs. Richards —for I suppose that is your name " " Yes, I should think it is my name ! Do stop this foolery. Owen. I really haven't patience with you." She sat down looking anything but pleased. Betsy entered with the supper tray, and ",Owen " stood a prisoner to surprise, knowing not what to do. • Jf you will kindly allow me to explain," he begau as the girl left the room, " 1 will endeavour to clear up this mystery. For Mrs. Richards " " Don't ' Mrs. Richards ' me. If you can't talk sensibly, Owen, do, for goodness sake, hold your tongue and have your supper." *' My dear sister " " Really, Owc-n, if you don't stop this I'll leave you aud go to bed. A nice way, this, to come home; but there, it's like you—you always carry things too far," and the pout grew stronger. " Mrs. Richards "—his tone was grave and bis look more serious and less surprised—" I have travelled many miles to see— —" " You needn't tell me that; 1 know you have " " To see your husband " " Well, turn round and look in the glass, then. Really, Owen, you are beyond everything." " Will you please listen calmly to me ? I am not your husband, and " " If you don't put an end to your foolery I'll just go to mother's for a day or two ! How dare you ; how can you say you are not my husband and look as serious as a judge giving a death sentence ? I'm ashamed of you." " Will you kindly tell me, Mrs. Richards, if this has been prepared for my coming, to make me, in,a way, free of tbe house and at home from the outset ? Because, if so, lam much obliged to you If, on the other hand, it has not, will you please tell me if your husband is at home ?"

•' Yes, you donkey." Nellie was now fairly losing her temper.

" Can I see him, please f" calmly. " Yes—no—Owen, you're a fo " " Madam, I'll call again to-morrow." And he moved towards the door. " Where are you going?" Nellie sprang to her feet, confronted him, s.nd blocked the passage to the door by standing between the table aud the sideboard. " That I presume, m'm, is my business." " Your business, indeed ! It you leave this house to-night I leave it, too." " Kindly allow me to pass." " I tell you you're not going out of this house to-night !" "My dear woman, will you please understand that lam not your husband, but " At this moment the door opened. Nellie turned her head and saw so exact a type of the man on the hearthrug that she grasped the table behind her for support, scarcely knowing whether to bslieve her senses or not, and then gazed helplessly from one to the other. The man on the hearthrug stood speechless, his eyes almost startiug from his head. And Owen looked like one just awakened from a trance, and brought face to face with his own self. Suddenly he started forward, then stopped and gazed in bewilderment at his own reflection in the overmantel and at the man before him. "Great heavens !" he gasped out, "am I two? Or am I you ? Have 1 two si parate forms, or what?" And for a moment the whole three gazed in utter stupefaction at each other. Then Nellie said in a frightened tone : " Oh ! Owen, which are tou ? I—l—l cannot understand it. Are you--are you double, Owen ?" "1 dou't know, Nell ; but itstrikes me there's something wrong somewhere. " Say "—turning to the stranger— " who in the name of all that's uncanny, are you ? And what are you?" " That is a question I feel inclined to ask you.' " Well, I am Oweu Kichards, and I livp hero. Or, at least, I was ; but I'm blest if I know now who or what I am. Pray, who are you ?'' " I'm Gwylym Richards," and be smiled. •« From Sydney ?" eagerly. " Yes." "My brother Gwylym ? My twin brother ?" " Yes, the same.' " Thank goodness the mystery is explained. I began to think I had a double." They shook hands all round, and laughed heartily. " And 1 began to think I had two husbands. Please forgive me, Mr. liichards," said Nellie, looking nt ber brother-in-law, while a rich colour spread over her face. " Certainly, with pleasure," and all laughed again.

" You see, Nellie," Owen explained, " Gwylyin was taken to Sydney by Uncle Iltyil when father aud mother died. That was when we were little boys,and this is the first time I've 6eeu him since."

" Well, let us hare some supper, and you can tell the story after. Then 1 think I must put a mark on you, or I shall be getting contused again."