Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-11-14

.1ssa's'zaaaz'saa nzEassss
forward and saluted me, calm
me his "dear son." and cuttin;
short everything l attempted t
say by his joyful volubility.
The folding doors separatin;
the sitting room and parlors wer'
thrown open. l heard the rustic
of silk; and waiting in the alcovet
arch of 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 emo
ton, "and may God prosper you
We will then have the most i'm.
portant thing first, and the dinner
afterwards. The guests are al
ready getting impatient"
l glanced at Alice's dress. 1t
was bridal white; and her beauti-
full hair was crowned with a wreath
of orange blossoms.
The sight gave me tremor.
I felt weak and faint. My pallor
must have alarmed Alice; for she
clutched my arm wildly and look
ed into my face with painful anx-
iety.
"What is it, Richard? Are you
i'll? Merciful heaven! Helen,
look at him! He is ill!'
"It's nothing-nothing! 1
gasped. ''Only | cannot-cannot
marry you! /"
"Oh" cried Alice, in Mortified
dismay; and seeing she was about
to fall, l threw my arm around
her for support.
At this moment, the hall door
opened, and turning at the sound,
l saw with mine own eyes my
second self enter the room-myex-
act counterpart-Richard Smith,
No. 2.
His fierce eyes took in the scene
at one glance. He rushed toward
me with a wild ejaculation, and
tearing the halt-fainting Alice
from my arms, he planted his
grasp on my throat. | put my
hand on the same locality of his
body.
"Whatare you doing?" he thun-
dered in my ear.
"What are you doing?" / thun-
dered in response.
"Your life shall pay the forfeit"
he exclaimed, with violence
"The man who dared to win AL i
ice Hereford's love shall die!'
Gentlemen" interrupted the
sweet voice of her whom they |
had called Helen, "be patient
there is some mistake. Which of |
you is named Richard SMITH
81 ami" replied /.
81 am !" replied my counterpart.
"But which of you is Richard
Smith-son of Archibald Smith,"
81 am!' said my second self.
"And | am not!' said /, "my
father was named Robert"
Helen looked at me O 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 careless mistake of
my own. Can you forgive me?"
l thought of the kisses she had
given me and wished the same
mistake might be made over again,
though I was wise enough not to
make known my wish.
"Let me EXPLAIN" she contin-
led frankly. awe were expect
ng my brother Richard home from .
he South, where he has been for
our or five months past and were
,uite sure he would arrive on the
rain which brought you; he has ]
,een some years engaged to Miss
hereford, and the ceremony was J
o take place Immediately on his
Irrival. l went down to the de-
,ot to welcome him, and because 1
# the similitude in your respect
We personal appearance, mistook
stranger for my brother. This
s all. Brother Richard, Mr. Smith t
8 entirely blameless Of any wrong. f
We gave him no time for an ex- /
'lanation. Let me present you to r
ach other as friends" t
My counterpart shook hands
With me, and begged my pardon
Or dislocating my neck-tie. | q
Il