Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-16

arch in an east window, / saw clergyman in
gown and bands.
The elderly gentleman took the hand of the
dark-haired Alice, and placed it in mine.
''Take her" he said, with emotion, ''and
may God prosper you. We will have the
most important thing first and dinner after
ward. The guests are already getting impa-
tent.
glanced at Alices dress. It was bridal
white; and her beautiful hair was crowned
with a wreath Of orange blossoms.
The sight gave me a tremor. felt weak
and faint. My pallor must have alarmed AL
ice, for she clutched my arm wildly, and
gazed into my face with painful anxiety.
''What is it, Richard? Are you ill? Mer-
ciful heaven! Helen, look at him He is
ILL.,"
'It is nothing-nothing :" gasped. "Only
l cannOt-cannot marry you! p
go, heaven." cried Alice, in horrible dis
may; and seeing she was about to fall, flung
my arm around her for support.
AT this moment, the hall door was opened
and turning at the sound, 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
sweeping glance. He rushed toward me with
wild ejaculation, and, tearing the half-faint-
ing 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 Numbered in my
ear.
'What are you doing?" 1 Numbered, in re-
Spouse.
''Your life shall pay the forfeit :" he ex-
claimed, with mad violence. 'The man who
has dared to win Alice Herefords love shall
die"
Gentlemen" interrupted the sweet voice
of her whom they had called Helen, ''be pa
tent; there is some mistake. Which of you
is named Richard Smith,"
II am, replied l.
81 am, replied my counterpart.
''But which of you is Richard Smith-the
son of Archibald Smith,"
Il am, said my second self.
''And am not" said / my father was
named Robert"
Helen looked at me a moment, half in
doubt, evidently, how to treat me after what
had occurred, Finally she held out her hand
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Smith; it was all
a careless mistake of my own. Can you for
give me?'
l thought of the kisses she had given me,
and wished the same mistake might be made
over again, though l was wise enough not to
make known my wish.
''Let me explain" she continued frankly.
owe were expecting my brother Richard
home from the south, where he has been for
some four or five months past, and were quite
sure that he would arrive on the train which
brought you. He had been some years en-
gagged to Miss Hereford, and the marriage
ceremony was to take place Immediately on
his arrival. | went down to the depot to well
come him, and because of the striking simili-
tude i'll your respective personal appearance,
/ mistook stranger for my brother That is
ALL Brother Richard, MIR. Smith is entirely
blameless of any wrong. We gave him no
time for explanation. Let me present you to
each other as friends"
My counterpart shook hands with me- and
begged my pardon for dslocating my neck
tie. | granted it, and begged his pardon for
committing like depreciation on his neck-tie
And then, at a sign from the elderly gentle
man, we all walked into the drawng-room
where, in brief space of time, my counter
part was made the husband of the blushing
Alice
The acquaintance so singularly begun with
the Smith family, soon ripened into friendship
and became one of the most precious of Iife's
blessings to me.
Helen Smith had kissed me, and she could
not forget it. If a man can get woman to
think of hint hardly matters in what way
he has claim on her; it was so in my case
believe that | never met Helen but she
blushed at the memory which stole over her.
Three months after our first meeting, she
kissed me again, and called me ''Dear Rich
ard" And this time she was well aware that
she was not addressing her brother.
Is it a fortunate, or an unfortunate thing, to
have a counterpart? When | think of the
clearinghouse keeper, say ''No;" but when
| look at Helen, and recall the circumstances
of our introduction, | am accustomed to say,