The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-04-22

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From tho GenilemAns Msgaxins.
L TERRIBLE ExUeCxfER.
Love, Jealousy, Nlssaken Identity
and a Tragedy,
Many years ago, my heslth having
become much impaired by over study
I was recommended to pass winter
In the South of France. OF so agreea'
bic q prescription freadiiy iiyNvAifetmy,
self. i was without wife or Child 10 en-.
cumber my departure; and, armed on.
lyI with a portn,anteau, made q most
delightful journey Of Y TO the charming
town of "
Shortly after my arrival, whilst sit
| ting at the window of my hotel, q man
passed by.so very much like myself
That, struck with the resemblance,
rose, and, leaning forward, followed
him with my eyes. His dress bespoke
him an EnglishInaH He was tall; SO
was /. Slim !; 1 was slim. His eyes
were blue, his skin fair, his hair deep
auburn, his nose aquiline. All this
was my portrait When he had reach
ed the bottom of the street, he paused,
looked round, then slow}y1 returned,
crossing the road, however, and taking
the opposite pavement; This enabled
me to get a clearer view Of the man. ]
confess was much impressed with the
resemblance, and hardly liked it. 4 The
.pbysiologist, I thought, may delight as
much as he pleases i'm such q coinci-
denee; for my part / object to being
made portion of any sort Of phenome-
non. L had read of very unpleasant
consequences following personal re-
semblances, aad earnestly hoped that
this individual, whom nature, short OF
moulds at the time, had undoubtedly
cast in mine, would speedily clear the
neighborhood of his presence.
a week or two after this, in taking a
walk across q beautiful bit of adjacent
country, I suddenly encountered my
likeness, seated on rustic bench, be
meath q tree, with his arm encircling
tile waist of q very beautiful peasant
girl. Her skin, Of q pure and cream
like tint, finely contrasted with the
splendid luxuriance OF black hair. her
eyes flashed upon me as 1 passed, and
/ noticed her draw herself erect with
rapid hauteur, as If indignant or impa-
tent of detection. The man by her
side, who would have passed very well
| for me to any other person but my mo-
tier and myself, still maintained his
carFessine attitude. He did not conde-
scend to raise bis eyes to me as pass
ed, but kept them fixed upon the face
of the girfi, who, 1 could see, watched
me with d species of sullen eagerness,
| as If wishing me well out of sight.
las l passed them, I must confess OF
having experienced q momentary sen-
sation of envy Of the man. Since ma
ture had put him in my skin, ] thought
it seems only fair that l should put
myself in his shoes. For all know, /
reflected, that beautiful peasant girl
might have been originally destined
for me; but the intention of nature has
been defeated by her love of coinci-
dence. I laughed at my thoughts as /
walked ON, and turning corner, lost
sight of the lovers.
On reaching the bottom of the lane,
found that had fallen upon Guide
sac. The passage terminated in Be-
ries of fields, across which i could dis
cover no foot-path. / had no wish to
be arrested for trespassing, so | decided
on returning the way had come.
On sighting the bench, / found it was
deserted. / was not sorry. / would
by no means have disliked another
peep at the beautiful brunette; but, at
the same time, had no ambition to
inspire thescouple with the notion that
l was watching them. { 81 - 81 =
had got to the top of the hill, and l
ives passing between a row Of thick
bushes, making sort of natural hedge
for q broad area of trees, like a gigantic
park, when was suddenly startled by
a report of pistol discharged to my
left. AT the same moment heard the
hollow sound of q ball striking my hat,
and that article of dress rolled on the
ground.
looked around with pale face
The attack was horribly sudden. Who
I 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 furze 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 inches lower, it would have enter
ed my skull.
hastened toward the town, possess
sed with much the same sort of envia-
BILE feelings as you might imagine a
Tipperary landlord or agent would feel
| who sees threats of his life carved on
every other tree. Bravery in q situa-
| ton of this sort was quite out of the
question. Of what use is pluck when
you have to deal with invisible foes p
/ / might also confess to having broken
into downright flight as I neared the
town, SO extremely anxious was i to
escape every sheltering bush, tree or
hedge In the neighborhood.
On gaining my hotel began to re-
| fleet on my narrow escape. had been
too much excited to attach to it the
significance 1t demanded But the
hole I'm MY hat conveyed the most
shudding 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, if any.
body wants it, what are the claims
What have I done to merit assassina.
ton ?n Being wholly unable to an
swer these queries, resolved to make
a eonfidant of my host, the hotel-keep-
! er, / called him into my room and
| told him of what had happened. He
shrugged his shoulders as he eNclaim.
ed: -tiIfe II ~
- Monsieur, like the rest of mankind
must nav the penalty of love-
a But said ], shocked at his sang.
froid, 81 have not made love. Since
have been here am not conscious o.
even having looked at woman, mucl
less spoken TO one."
"Then il is an enigma he replied
"g'he onlysOlution i can offer you is
that YOU have been mistaken for sonl'
one else."
"Bon Dieu, | exclaimed. "You
have undoubtedly hit the mark. ]
have heen mistaken, and ] know fo
whom. Have you not seen man in
this town bearing "A rtrikiDg resem
blance TO me:"
',Ies,n was the answer.
swell. my friend, have. The mo
ment | saw him, j felt uncomfortable
had presentimento of evil. You will
oblige me by letting me have my bill
shall go TO Paris to>night. If l sto]
here another day, my life, which Islei
England TO fortify, will he snuffed on
. like candle"
4 The hotel-keeper seeing matters com
to a point that affected his Interests
en,leayored to lauph down nv doubts