A Comedy Of Errors

I f ITAT DO TOL r? l I think- L Jack Der StXI mottr f#f 5riSS Oeorgina l'oole had dismisseó her maid. Shc asked the qustior of her cousin Polly Miss Georgina Poole was a grreal heiress from the west. Polly was b no means anheiress Georgina was the handsomer, Polly the prettier of the two. There was five years difference in the ages of the young ladies. And there, Polly, if poor, had the advantage. "Jack Dermott? Ah, yes; a heavy swell frotn New York, who oame last night. Why 'Jack' so familiarly to you?1' Georgina tapped the floor so impatiently. "Don't be so provoking. Every one knows Jack Dermott and calis him so. He's almost a public character. Society papers have been full of him foi years." "Oh! We did not see society papers at the Plain City Academy for Young Ladies," Polly yawned. "Wel!, his eyes are - killing. So dreamy. Dresses well, too. Naturally. Dresses like a New York man." Georgina's eyes had grown dreamy, too. She let them fall on the mirror at her elbow. The mirror threw back the reflection of a face improved by heightened color, transformed by a subtle something that made Polly jump to her feet. "You're not in love with him?" Georgina flushed the brighter. "Absurd. A man who only carne Iaat night, and who I've never spoken to," she said; but she stammered as she spoke. Polly nodded three Unies, deliberately. ""Well, well, well! What is there about the man that should fascínate at flrst sight. Has he a reputation of being dangerous to women, of having had 'affairs?' " Georgina made no reply. Presently - "He's bankrupt. Gone through all his money. So they say." "Ah- Probably would not mind marrying an heiress, then. Polly's pretty eyes gleamed beneath their narrowed lids and a dimple showed. Georgina looked angry. "You are provoking! Do you think no one would marry me save for my money? Heiresses are married for love sometimes." "Sometimes." The dimpli dsepened. Georgina watched her ccusin. Her handsome eyes gave a flash. She stood up and folded her arms. "Supposing that I had fallen in love at first sight; supposing that I did want him to propose to me. I say, supposing these things! I'd be willing to show you that I could rely on some attraction in myself, independently of my money. You are a Miss Poole, as I am. Play the rich Miss Poole while v.-e are at this hotel, if you like. We've been here only two days, and no one will know the difference." Pretty Polly's laugh gurgled like running water. "Ah! that's an idea! We'll meet Mr. Jack Dermott, as you the poor, I the rlch Miss Poole, and then for the results!" She threw her arms above her head, piroutted, dropped a courtesy to her Image in the looking-glass. "I salute you, rich Miss Poole! Fortunately, Georgina, your dresses fit me, dear. And I'll wear your jewels on the proper occasions. Poor little pauper me, what novel sensations! But Jeanne must be in the secret, of course. And strict discretion must be enjoined on Jeanne. No gossiping from her." Jeanne was Miss Georgina Poole's French maid. At the hotel people made up riding partles, forded the shallow streams. and rivera that flow through these southern mountains, flirted under the shadows of the woods, in which the leafage was thickening, now that spring had come. Bpring at least had come down here. In the north and west winter lingered. The hotel people were idle birds of pasBage, though, and Hiles that toiled not; neither did they spin. They were congregated at this winter resort for pleasure, and they took it as it carne. "For my part, I should not mind havIng this sort of thing go on forever. Sou think I'm jesting? I'm in earnest - dead earnest." The speaker was Jack Dermott. He rode at Polly's side. He had not been In that position long. Georgina's stately shape, sitting a gray horse, threaded lts way, with another cavalier, through Woodland Park, just in front of them. Jack Dermott's post had been close to the gray horse's side most of the day; it was there most of every flay. A long look had accompanied hls last words- "dead earnest"- but not at Georgina's back, at Polly's small face, pink with exercise urider the brim of the boyish hat. "What sort of things? Making love to my handsome cousin." "Making love to- yes, your handsome :ousin." "Well, why not?" "My dear Miss Poole, how cruel you are! I'm a povert.y-stricken devil, you know. How can I afford to marry?" "Marry money, then." Polly said it composedly, and flecked a fly from her horse's ear. Jack looked straight ahead of him. "That is one way out of the dilemma. But suppose your heart goes In the wrong direction? Suppose it insists on loving where there is no money?" "My dear Mr. Dermott!" Polly's laugh gurgled out and rippled on and on; "only ill-regulated hearts do such things! As for yours " "Stop!" Jack caught her horse's bridle. They had come to a little river and the beast was in water to its knees for the ford. "Be careful here. This is one of the swiftest currents hereabouts.' 'he cried. Polly dragged her bridle away. "Xonsense! I can manage " But the horse slipped in the tussle and Jack had his arm about Polly's waist close and tight. The romantic situatlon was not unduly prolonged. Miss Georgina Poole and her cavalier, having crossed in safety, watched from the bank. Polly's mount scrambled up again, and she was still firm in her saddle, with no damage but a ducking to the bottom of her habit. Mr. Dermott had been, apparently unnecessarily alarmed. Miss Georgina Poole turned her horse's head rather sharply and rode on. That afternoon, when the party returned, the eider cousin took the other to task. "I should like to know, I must say, just whive we stand," was her remark. "I should like to understand Jack Dermott." "In what particular?" inquired Polly. "Isi he serious or is he not? He has been devoted to me for days- weeks- now I could swear that " "That he loves you? Well, so he does. The only thing that keeps him from proposing is that he thinks you're poor. Can't afford that, he says, being poor himself. But he'll come to it. He'll come to it all the same. Had a deal to say to-day about hearts that would not love according to policy and reason, etc. I tried to lead him on. Told him he'd better marry money, and so on. That looked like offering myself, didn't it? But no. He as rauch as declared that his heart was yours. Henee be satisfied. He thinks you're the poor cousin, and he prefers you to the rich. You have just what you wanted." Georgina flushed a little, looked pensive, then sighed. "If I could be quite sure - but he had a singular 'ook in his eyes, my dear, when he had his arm around you to-day in the middle of that ridiculous stream. How do you account for it?" "Natural look of his eyes. Born sentimental and killing, so to speak." "Teil me with your hand on your heart, Polly, he has not been flirting - coquetting - with you?" "Good gracious, no!" "W.ííi, we shall see." "You will see very soon, then. I prophesy that he'll propose to you in a week." It did not take a week. Polly was lying on her back in Miss Poole's boudoir when the latter burst in, and, breathless, sank on her knees beside the lounge. "lts donr Polly dropped the novel she was reading from her hands. "In d'je form?" "Absoliitely. Just now as we were comins;' back from our walk. He asked me to go and gather arbutus, you know. He saic. that he had long fought against hls heart, because he could offer me only poverty. He asked if I minded marrying a poor man. Think, Dolly, how proud I was! And I did not undeceive him just then; did not teil him that I was the rich Miss Poole whom he had chosen after all. I thought I would wait till to-night; Jeanne must dress me in my best! I'll resume my own role, dear, and dazzle Jack." "Very well, and I'll be poor Polly once more." Polly kicked off her little slipper and caught it again on her slender toes. "All's well that ends well. Glad the plaxi succeeded." "You don't - don't mind, Polly ?'Vsaid Georgina, a little remorsefully. "Dear, no." Ir. cor.omenting later on these occurrences in general and on her revelation to Mr. Dermott that night in particular, Georgina said that "Jack took it beautifully." "What do you mean by that?" said Polly in the seclusion of their own rooms. "I mean the disclosure that I was the heiress did not unduly elate him. He took it aimost as a matter of course. Wasn't it nice of him, darling?" asked Georgina, and then she sobbed a little. doubtless from stress of emotion. While this colloquy was in progress another was going on in the smokingroom, deserted save for the presence of Jcek Dermott and hls best friend, Tori Howe. Torn Howe arrived that evening and had just been told the news. "But, look here! What's this? I've already keard from a man I know here in the house, that you've been devoting yourself desperateiy to a poor Miss Poole here, and now you teil me you are to marry the heiress of untold western dollars. I hear that there are two Misses Poole. Now which is which? And which is to be Mrs. Jack Dermott?" "The rich one, my boy- alas!" Jack sighed- a sigh long and glimmer. "But I've been devoting myself, apparently, to the poor one." "Oh, don't talk in conundrutns." "Bricfly, then, the rich Miss Poole desired to be loved and wooed for herself, not for her money, exchanged roles with her cousin when they flrst came here. Every one took her for the poor cousin, and Polly," Jack sighed again, "for the heiress." "Ah! And you feil in love with the right one, after all, and courted poverty only to win riches? Very good. Virtue rewarded." "Not exactly." Jack got up and came and stood before nis friend with his hands deep in his pockets, and a gloomy brow. "Not exactly. You see, Miss Poole's French ward was an old sweetheart of my man's, and she gave the whole scheme of the two young ladies away, being, of course, in the secret. And - er- Jennings told me." Tom Howe smoked a moment. "So you were up to the racket from the first?" "As you say, I was up to the racket trom the first." "Well, considering the state of your ünances, and that only a rich marriage couie. put you on your feet, you've been .ucky." "Not altogether. You see - hang lt all! - I did f all in love with the wrong Dne, with Polly. Ah, Polly, I ihall never forget her, little charmer!" But Tom Howe observed drily: "Don't oe a fooi!" All the railway stations in Sweden lt which meals are served are known I y a sign bearing the suggestive emJlem of a crossed knife and fork.