The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-03-31
Chr 8eafora Gazette.
a TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER.

ed only with portmantau, made
most delightful journey Of it to tht
charming town OF v
Shortly after my arrival. whilst SIT
ting at the window of my hotel, a
man passed by so very much like my
self that, struck with the resemblance,
/ rose. and leaning forward, followed
him with my eyes. His dress bespoke
him an Englishman. He was tall, SO
was |. Slim; | am slim. His eyes
were blue, his skin fair, his hair deep
auburn, his nose aquiline. All this
was my portrait. When he reached
the bottom of the street he paused,
looked around, then slowly returned,
crossing the road, however, and taking
the opposite pavement. This enabled
me to get clearer view of the man.
confess / was much impressed with
the resemblance, and hardly liked it.
TIE Psychologist, thought, may de-
light as much as he pleases in such CO.
Incidence; for my part l decidedly OBJ
ject to being made portion OF any
sort of a phenomenon. / had read of
very unpleasant consequences follow
ing personal reseInblances, and earn
estly 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 a beautiful bit Of adja-
cent country, suddenly encountered
my likeness, seated on rustic bench
beneath tree, with his arm encirciing
the waist of very beautiful peasant
girl. Her skin, of pure and cream
like tint, finely eontrasted with the
splendid luxuriance Of black hair
Her eyes flashed upon me as passed,
and | noticed her draw herself erect
with rapid hauteur, as if indignant or
impatient of detection. The man by
her side, who would have passed very
we'll for me to any other person but
my mother and myself, still tain
ed his caressing attitude. He did not
condescend to raise his eyes to me as |
passed, but kept them fixed on the
face of the girl, who, / could see,
watch me with species OF sullen ca
gerness, as if wishing me well out Of
sight.
AS l passed them, must confess to
having experienced a momentary
sensation of envy of the man. Since
nature has put him in my skin, l
thought it seems ouly fair that / should
put myself in his shoes. For all l
know, reflected, that beautiful peas
ant girl might have been originally
destined for me; but the intention of
nature has been defeated by her lOveOf
coincidence, laughed at my thoughts
as l walked on, and turning a corner,
lost sight Of the lovers.
On reaching the bottom Of the lane,
found that / had fallen upon Guide
sac. The passage terminated in Sc
ries of fields, across which l could dis
cover no footpath. had no wish to
be arrested for sraspassing, so decid-
ed on returning the way had come.
On sighting the bench, found it
was deserted. j was not sorry. /
would by no means have disliked anoth-
er peep at the beautiful brunette; but l
at the same time had no ambition 10
inspire the couple with the notion that
was watching them.
/ had got to the top Of the hill, and
was passing between a row of thick
bushes, making sort of natural hedge
for broad area OF treSS, like gigan-
tic peak, when / was suddenly startled
by e report of a pistol discharged to
my left. At the same time heard
the hollow soundof ball striking my
hat, and that article Of dress rolled TO
the ground.
/ looked round with pale face
Theattack was horribly sudden. Who,
in the name of heaven wanted my
life? For what crime was my blood
demanded What had / done? /
saw the blue smoke curling up from
the densest portion of the bushes, and
heard the cracking O. the furze and
twigs caused by the hasty flight of
some one.
picked up my hat. The ball had
passed clear through it. Had itstruck
two inches lower, it would have enter.
my head.
/ FASTENED toward town, possessed
with much the same sort of enviable
feelings as you might imagine TippeI-
airy landlord or agent would feel who
sees threats of his life carved on every
other tree. Bravery in situation Of
this sort was quite out of the question.
or what use is pluck when you have
to deal with invisible foes? / might
also confess to having broken into a
downright flight as l neared the town
so extremely anxious was to escape
every sheliering bush, tree or hedge in
the neishborhood.
On gaining my hotel l began to re-
fleet on my narrow escape. had been
too much excited TO attach to it the
significance it demanded. But the
hole in Iny hat conveyed the most
shuddering evidence of my narrow es-
cape. Beyond all reasonable doubt my
life within that paltry hour had only
been worth two inches.
/ repeated the question to myself:
Who wants my lifeI And. if any
body wants il, what are his claImse--
What have done to merit assasina.