The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-09
Selected story.
A Fight in a Tunnel

"A I lSuL LII
Many wears ago, my health having become
much impaired by over s.uuy' : was s autSn "
France. OF So agreeable prescription rea-
div awaited myself. was without wife or
child to cucumber my departure, aud, armed
only with a portmanteau, made most de-
lightful journey Of it to the charming town of
Shortly after my arrival, while sitting at the
window of my hotel, man passed by, SO very
much like myself, that, struck with the resem-
blance, l rose and leaned forward, following
him with my eyes. His dress bespoke him an
Englishman. He was tall; so was l. Slim,
! was slim. His ayes were blue, his skin fair;
MS hair deep auburn, his nose aquiline. All
this was my portrait. When he had reached
the bottom of the street he paused, looked
around, then slowly returned, crossing the
road, however, and taking the opposite pave
ment. This enabled me to get clearer view
OF the man. / confess was much impressed
with the resemblance, and hardly liked IL. aIe
Psychologist, thought, may delight as mu nr,
as he pleases in such condolences; for my par
/ decidedly object to being a portion OF any
sort of nhenomenon had READ Oh very un
pleasant consequences following Personel !e
semblances. and earnestly hopeu tnaI Inis III
d,viduaI. whom Nature, short OF moulds at the
time, had undoubtedly cast IN mime, would
snaedily clear the neighborhood of his pres
ence.
A week or two after this, in taking a walk
across a beautiful bit of adjacent country,
I suddenly encountered my likeness seat
ed on rustic bench beneath a tree, with his
arm crcling the waist of very beautiful peas
ant girl. Her skin, of pure and cream-like
tint, finely contrasted with the splendid luxur-
lance OF her black hair. Her eyes flashed upon
me as passed, and noticed her draw herself
erect with rapid hauteur, as il indignant or
impatient OF detection. The man by her side,
who would have passed very well for me to any
other person but my mother or myself, still
maintained his caressing attitude. He did
not condescend to raise his eyes to me as
passed. but kept them fixed upon the face OF
the girl, who, could see, watched me with
species of sullen eagemess, as il wishing me
well out of sight.
As passed them, must confess to having
experienced momentary sensation of envy OF
the man. Since nature has put him in my
skin, l thought, it seems only fair that should
put myself in his shoes. For all know, re-
dected, that peasant girl might have been
originally destined for me; but the intention
of Nature has been defeated by her love OF CO.
incidence. 1 laughed at my thoughts as I
walked on, and turning corner, lost sight of
the lovers.
On reaching the bottom Of the lane, 1 found
that had fallen upon cul de sac. The pas
sage terminated in a series of fields, across
which could discover no tOotpath. l had no
wish to be arrested for trespassing; SO 1 de-
cided on returning the way had come.
On sighting the bench found it deserted.
Twas not sorry. 1 would by no means have
disliked another peep at the beautiful bru-
nette; but, at the same time, had no ambi-
ton to inspire the couple with the notion that
I,was watching them. l had got to the top
Of the hill, and passing between row OF thick
broad area of trees, like a gigantic park, when
Twas suddenly startled by the report of pis-
tol discharged to my left. At the same mo-
nent heard the hollow sound of ball strik-
Ing my hat, and that article of dress rolled to
the ground.
Hooked round with pale face. The at
tack was horribly sudden. Who in the name
Of heaven wanted my life? For what crime
was my blood demanded? What had done
l saw the blue smoke curling up from the
densest portion OF the bushes, and heard the
cracking of the turze and twigs, caused by the
hasty fight of some one. picked up my hat.
The ball had passed clean through it. Had it
struck two incher lower, it would have enter
ed my skull. fastened toward the town,
possessed with much the same sort of envia-
BILE feelings as you might imagine Tipperary
landlord or agent would feel who sees threats
of his life'carved on every other tree. Brave
ry in situation of this sort was quite out of
the question. Of what use is pluck when you
have to deal with invisible foes? I might
almost confess to having broken into down.
right flight as neared the town, so extremely
anxious was to escape the vicinity of every
sheltering bush, tree or hedge in the neigh
borhood.
On gaining my hotel, l began to reflect on
<1o H.
cited to attach to it the significance it demand
ed. But the hole in my hat had conveyed the
most shuddering information on my narrow
escape. Beyond all reasonable doubt. nv life
within that hour had only been worth two
paltry inches.
repeated the question to myself. Who
wants my life? And it any body wants it, what
are his claims? What have done to merit
assassination? Being wholly unable to ans
wer these queries, resolved to make a conf
dant OF my host, the hotel-keeper. I called
him to my room and told him Of what had
happened. He shrugged his shoulders as he
exclaimed
Monsieur, like the rest of minkind, must
pay the penalty of making love-"
But" said l, shocked at his sang.froid,
have not made love. Since have been here,
am not conscious of even having looked at a
woman, much less spoken to onen
Then it is an enigma" he replied. "The
only solution can offer you is-that you have
been mistaken for some one else.
"Bon Dieuw exclaimed "You have un-
doubleday hit the mark. have been mis-
taken-and know for whom. Have Won
not seen man in this town bearing a strik-
ing resemblance to me?"
NO." was the answer.
swell, my friend, I have. The moment I
saw him felt uncomfortable. I had pre-.
sentiment of evil. You will oblige me by let
ting me have your bill. I shall 60 to Paris to
which left England to fortify, will be snuff.
ed out like a candle"
The hotel keeper, seeing matters come to a
point that affected his interests, endeavored
TO laugh down my doubts. He argued that
the ball had received in my hat might have
been destined for bird; that it was the shot
OF some wretched marksman, who might have
mistaken my hat for crow.
That may all be very WELL" answered
"but suffer me to tell you that your excuse
only makes me more resolute to leave the
place for of what value is mans lite in a
district abounding with sportsmen who can
mistake hat for crow?
A train left for Paris at 2.65. 1t was an ex-
press, and found it to be due at O'Clock, L
dispatched my portmanteau by a porter to
the station, and, having twenty minutes be-
fore me, sat down to light repast of cold
fowl and vim ordinaire. The position of nv
table enabled me to get view of the street.
As the porter strobe away with my luggage,
observed man cross the road and accost him.
In reply to what was obviously question, the
porter, with the gesticulation of French
man, pointed with his thumb to the hotel,
and vigorously nodded his head. The man
crossed over again to the pavement, came on
until ne was opposite the hotel, caught sight
OF me through the window, and abruptly
turning on his heel, walked off in the direc.
ton taken by the porter.
thought nothing of this The man. I con-
lectured, probably wanted the job had given
the porter. He was communicating fellow.
dressed in leather CATERS, a blouse, slouched