Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-06-22
Sflftteo MiseelIann.
THE WRONG MAN.

Many years ago, my health having be-
come much impaired by over study, was
recommended to pass a winter in the south
OF France. Of so agreeable q prescription
readily availed myself. I was without
wife or child to cucumber my departure
And, armed only with aportmanteau, made
most celightly journey of it to the charm.
ing town of v.
Shortly after my arrival, whilst sitting
at the window of my hotel, a man passed
by, SO very much like myself that, struck
with the resemblance, I arose, and leaned
forward, followed him with my eyes. His
Dress bespoke him an Englishman. He
was tall; SO was /. Slim; I was slim. His
eyes were blue, his skin fair, his hair deep
auburn, his nose aquiline. ALI this was
my portrait.
When he reached the bottom of the street
he paused, looked around, then SLOWLY re-
turned, crossing the road, however. and
taking the opposite pavement This en-
abled me to get clearer view of the man
L confess was much impressed with the
resemblance, and hardly liked it. The
Psychologist, I thought, may delight as
he pleased in such condolences; for my
part decidedly object to being made a
portion OF any sort of phenomenon. had
read of very unpleasant consequences fol-
estly hoped that this individual, whom ma
ture, short of moulds at the time. had une
doubtedly cast in mine, would speedily
clear the neighborhood of his presence
A week or two after this, in taking a
walk across beautiful bit ofadiacent coun-
try, | suddenly encountered nv likeness
seated on rustic bench beneath a tree,
with his arm eircling the waist of verv
beautiful peasant girl. Her skin, ofa pure
and cream-like tint, finely contrasted the
beautiful luxuriance of her black hair
Her eyes flashed upon me as passed,
and noticed her drew herself erect with
rapid hauteur, as if indignant or impatient
OF detection. The man py her side, who
would have passed very well for ne to any
other person but my mother and myself,
still maintained his caressing attitude.
He did not condescend to raise his ewes
to me as | passed, but kept them fixed upon
the face OF the girl, who, could see watch
ed me with species of sullen eagerness
as if wishing me we'll out of sight.
AS passed them / must confess to hav-
ing 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, / reflected the beautiful
peasant girl might have been originally de-
signed for me; but the intention of nature
has been defeated by her love of coinci-
dence. l laughed at my thoughts as I
walked on, and then, turning a corner, I
lost sight of the lovers.
On reaching the bottom of the lane I
found | had fallen upon cuE de sac. The
passage terminated in series of fields.
across which could discover no foot path.
had no wish to be arrested for trespass-
ing, so [ decided on returning the way I
had come.
On sighting the bench [ found it was de-
serted. | was not sorry. [ would by no
means have disliked another peep at the
beautiful brunette; but at the same time I
had no ambition to inspire the couple with
the notion that / was watching them
hal got to the top of the hill, and was
passing between row of thick bushes
making q sort of natural hedge for broad
area of trees, like a gigantic park, when 1
was suddenly startled by the report of
pistol, discharged to my left At the same
moment l heard the hollow sound of ball
striking my hat, and that article of dress
rolled to the ground.
/ looked round with pale face, The
attack was horribly sudden. Who, in the
name of heaven, wanted my life? For what
crime was my blood demanded? What had
I done2 I saw the blue smoke curling in
from the densest portion of the bushes and
heard the cracking of the fu1ze and twigs,
oaased by the hasty flight of some one
/ picked up my hat, The ball had pass
ed clear through it. Had it struck two
inches lower it would have entered nv
skull.
1 hastened toward the town, possessed
with much the same sort of enviable feel
ings as you might imagine Tipperary
landlord or agent would feel who sees
threats of his life carved on every other
tree. Bravery in a situation of this sort
was quite out of the question. Of what use
is pluck when you have to deal with invisi-
BILE foes.
I might almost confess to having broken
into downright flight as I neared the town,
SO extremely anxious was I to escape the
vicinity of every sheltering bush, tree or
hedge in the neighborhood
On gaining my hotel I began to reflect
on my narrow escape. I had been too
much excited to attach to il the significance
it demanded. But the hole in my hat con-
veyed the most shudderlng information of
my narrow escape. Beyond all reasonable
doubt my life within that hour had only
been worth two paltry inches.
repeated the question to myself, 'Who
wants my life? And If anybody wants it,
what are his claims9 What have I done to
merit assassination"
Being wholly unable to answer these
queries, [ resolved to make confdant of
my host, the hotel-keeper. l called him
to my room, and told him what had hap
pened. He shrugged his shoulders as he
exclaimed:
Monsieur, like the rest of mankind,
must pay the penalties of making love-"
ssBut," said |, shocked at his sG1,Q frOid
i have not made love. Since have been
here, am not conscious of even having
ooked at woman, much less spoken to
one."
ssThen it is an enig ,ma," he replied
'"rhe only solution th1t I can offer you is
you have been mistaken for some one
else"
"Mon Dieo!" I replied 'tYou have
undoubtedly hit the mark. have been
mistaken, and know for whom. Have
you not seen man IN this town who bears
a striking resemblance to me?"
''No, was the answer.
''Well, my friend, have. The moment
| saw him / felt uncomfortable. 1t was
presentiment of evil. Oblige me by letting
me have your bill shall go to Paris to-
night. If I stop here another day, my life
which left England to fortify, will be snuf-
fed out like candle"
Che hotel keeper, seeing matters come
to point that affected his interest, endea-
vored to laugh down my doubts.
He argued that the ball 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.
'sphat may be all very well, ;" l answered,
i;bqt suffer me to tell you that your excuse
only makes me more resolute to leaYe the
place-for of what value is a mans life in
4 district which abounds with sportsmen
who can mistake hat for a crow?"
A train left for Paris at 2:25. 1t was an
express, and | found it to be due at eight
o'clock. I dispatched my portmanteau by
a porter to the station, and having twenty
minutes before me, sat down to light TO-
mast of cold fowl and Din ordinqire. The
position of my table enabled nae to get {"
view of the street. As the porter strodo
away with my luggage | observed man
cross the road and accost him. In reply