The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-04-21
HoYT & CO., Proprietors-
a TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER.
Love, Jealousy, Mistaken Identity, and
-, SO - Tragedy.

Love, Jealousy, Mistaken Identity, and a
~ Tragedy.
Many wears ago, my health having become
much impaired by over study, was recon-
mended to pass winter in the South of France
Of so agreeable q prescription readily ayailed
myself I was without wife or child to encum-
Der my departure; and, armed only with q
portmanteau, made most delightful 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, ] rose, and leaning forward, followed
him with my eyes. His dress bespoke him an
Englishman. de was tall so wss I. Slim /; ]
was slim. His eyes were blue, his skin fair, his
hair deep auburn, his nose acquiline. All
this was ray portrait. When he had reached
the bottom of the street, he paused, looked
round, 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. The .physi-
ologist thought may delight IS much as he
pleases in such condolences; for my part de-
-cidediy object to being made 9 portion of any
sort of phenomenon. had read OF very un-
pleasant consequences following personal re-
diyidpal, whom nature, short of raoulds 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, sud-
denly encountered my likeness seated on rus
tic bench eeneath tree with his arm encir-
cling the Ivaist of very beautiful peasant girl.
Her skin, of pure and cream-like tint, finely
contrasted with the splendid luxuriance of black
hair. Her eyes flashed upon me-, as passed,
and notifea her draw herself erect with rapid
hauteur, AZ aa. i. q. Indignant or impatient OF de-
lection. os..l
The man by. her side, who would have passed
very well for me to any other person but my
mother and myself, still maintained his cares
sing attitude. He did not eondescend to raise
upon the face of the girl, who, could see,
watched me with species of sullen eagerness,
as if wishing me well out of sight.
AS passed them, I must confess of having
experienced a,momentary sensation of envy OF
the man. Since nature has put him in my skin,
thought, it seems only fair that should put
myself in his shoes. For all ]. know, l refec-
ted, 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. laughed at my thoughts as walked
on, and turning corner l lost sight OF the
lovers. 80
On reaching the bottom of the lane, found
that had fallen upon a cul-de-sac. The pas
sage terminated in series of fields, across which
I could discover no footpath. had no wish to
be arrested for trespassing, so decided on re-
turning the way had come.
On sighting the bench, found it was deser-
ted. was not sorry. would by no means
have disliked another peep at the beautiful
brunette; but, at the same time, had no am
bition to inspire the couple with the notion that
was watching them.
. had got to the top of the hill, and / was
passing between row of thick bushes, making
sort of natural hedge for broad area of
trees, like gigantic park, when was sudden
ly startled by report of pistol discharged to
low sound of ball striking my hst, and that
article of dress rolled on the ground.
Hooked round with q pale face. The at
tack was horribly sudden. Who, in the name
of heaven, wanted my life? For what crime
was my blood demanded9 What had l done
saw the blue smoke curling up from the dem
sest portion of the bushes, and heard the crack
ling 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 entered my skull.
hastened toward the town, possessed with
much the same sort of enviable feelings as you
might imagine Tpperary 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. OF
what use is pluck when you have to deal with
invisible foes? I might also confess to having
broken into downright fight 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 reflect on my
narrow escape. had been too much excited
to attach to it the significance it demanded.
But the hole in my hat conveyed the most
shuddering information on my narrow escape.
Beyond ali 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 their claims? What have done to
merit assassination ?" Being wholly unable to
anSwer these queries, resolved to make a con-
fd,nt of my host the hotel keeper. called
hira to my room, and told him what had hap
pened. He shrugged his shoulders and ex-
claimed:
Monsieur, like the rest of mankind, must
pay the penalty of lovep
"But' said /, shocked at his sang-froid Il
have not made love. Since I have been here 1
am not conscious of even having looked at a
woaaan-much less spoken to one."
'Then it is an enigma" he replied. "The
only solution that can offer you is-that you
have been mistaken for some one else."
"Bon Dieu r' I exclaimed. "You have un-
doubtedly hit the mark. have beer mistaken
and l know for whom. Have you not seen
man in this town bearing q striking resem-
blance to me?"
"No," was the answer.
'Well, my friend, have. The moment I
saw him, felt uncomfortable. had pre-
sentiment of evil-you will oblige me by letting
me have your bill. Ishall go to Paris tonight.
If stop here another day, my life, which left
England to fortify, will be snufed out like a