Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-06-20
and then blushing boiling hot to think of

the door of fine old mansion, on an ar
istocratic street; and mechanically, I
alighted, and lifted out my companion.
The hall door was flung open. The
clasping hands of the young lady drew
me within the vostibule Her musical
voice called softly at the door of bou-
doir.
"Alice Richard has comep
Instantly the door flew open, and
dark haired, beautiful woman came forth.
She gazed at me an instant with unutter-.
able tenderness, and then embraced me
with mingling of fervor and shyness alb
solutely bewildering.
Verify I was favored individual.
An elderly gentleman supporting him
self by cane, now came forward and sa-
luted me, as his "dear son., cutting short
everything attempted to say by his JOY
full volubility.
The folding doors separating the sit
ting room and parlors were thrown open.
| heard the subdued hum of voices, the
rustling of silks waiting in an alchoved
arch in an east window, saw clergy
man in gown and bands
The elderly gentleman took the hand
of the dark haired Alice and placed it in
mime.
"Take her." he said with emotion, "and
may God prosper you. We will have the
most important thing first, and dinner
afterward. The guests are already get
ting impatient"
| glanced at Alice's dress. 1t was bri-
dal white; and her beautiful hair was
crowned with wreath Of orange bios
SONS.
The sight gave me tremor. felt
weak and faint. My pallor must have
alarmed Alice, for she clutched my arm
wildly, and gazcd into my face with pain.
full anxiety.
"What is it, Richard are you i'll
) Merciful heaven! Helen look at him
He is i'll !"
at is nothing-nothing!" I gasped.
"Only | cannot-cannot marry you! p
80, heaven p cried Alice, in horrible
dismay, and seeing that she was about to
v fall / flung my arm around her for sup
o port.
At this moment the hall door opened,
> and turning at the sound, l saw, with
my own eyes, my second self enter the
room-my exact counterpart, Richard
Smith, number two.
His fierce eyes took in the scene at one
7 sweeping glance He rushed towards me
with wild ejaculation, tearing the half
7 fainting Alice from my arms, he planted
his firm grasp on my throat. l put my
hand on the same locality of his body.
"What are you doing?" he thundered
, in my ear.
7 "What are you doing?' l thundered in
!. response.
"Your life shall pay the forfeit p he
exclaimed, with mad violence. "The man
who has dared to win Alice Hereford's s,
!, love shall die p
Gentlemen" interrupted the sweet
! voice Of her who he had called Helen,
7 "be patient; there is some mistake.
Which Of you is Richard Smith"
II am" said I.
r II am, replied my counterpart.
d "But which of you is Richard Smith
e the son Archibald Smith,"
v ~ am, said my second self.
!. "And | am not said !, my father was
o named Robert. y ..f
Helen looked at me moment, half in
doubt, evidently, how to treat me after
:. what had occurred. Finally she held out
! her hand.
e IL beg your pardon, Mr.. Smith, it was
:. a careless mistake Of my own. Can you
,e forgive me?"
is ] thought of the kisses she had given
, me, and wished the same mistake might
,e be made over again, though | was wise
70 enough not to make known my wish.
,r Let me explain" she continued frank
% ly. eve were expecting my brother
! Richard home from the South where he
n has been for some four or five months