Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-30

full man alive"
"I-I believe ami" exclaimed |,
as reaching up her sweet face: the lit
tie enchantress gave me another kiss
which l this time repaid with COM
pound interest, and then blushed to
think of it.
At this moment the ph@ton stopped
at the door of a fine mansion on an
aristocratic street, and mechanically
| alighted and lifted out my compan-
ion. The hall door was open. The
clasping hand of young lady drew
me within the vestibule. Her musical
voice called softly at the door OF
boudoir:
"Alice, Richard has come !"
Instantly the door flew open, and a
dark haired beautiful woman came
forth. She gazed at me moment
with mingled iervor and shyness, alb
solutely bewildering. Verify, was
a favored individual.
An elderly gentleman now came
forward and saluted me-calling me
his dear son, and cutting short every
thing intended to say, by his joyful
voIubility.
The fOIding.doors, separating the
sitting-room and parlor, were thrown
open. | heard the subdued hum Of
voices and rustling of heavy silk;
and waiting in the covered arch of an
east window, saw q clergyman in
gown and bands.
The elderly gentleman took the
hand Of the dark-haired Alice and
placed it in mine.
Take her." he said, land may God
prosper you! We viii do the most
important thing first, and dinner af-
terwards. The guests are already
impatient"
[ glanced at Alice's dress; it was
bridal white; and her beautiful hair
was crowned with a wreath OF orange
blossoms. The sight gave me a tre-
NOR; | felt weak and faint. My pal
Ior must hayc alarmed Alice, for she
clutched my arm wildly, and gazed in
my face with painful anxiety.
"What Is it Richard? ? Are you i'll I?
Mercilul Heaven ! Helen, look at him
He is I'LL"
1T is nothing-nothing !" / gasped !;
"only cannot-cannot marry ="
ooh, Heaven" cried Alice, in hor-
rifed dismay; and seeing she was
about to fall, l cIaspcd my arm around
her for support.
At this moment the hall door was
opened, and turning at the sound,
saw, with my own eyes, my second
self enter the room. My exact coun-
terpart, Richard Smith, No. 2
His fierce eyes taking in the scene
at swooping glance, he rushed to
me with wild ejaculation, aud tear
ing the halffainting Alice from my
arms, he planted his firm grasp on
my throat. l put my hand on the
same locality Of his body.
"What are you doing?" he thun-
dered in my ear.
"What are you doing?" I thunder
ed in response.
"YOur life shall nav the forfeit p
he exclaimed with mad vehemence.-
"The man that has dared 20 win AL
ice Hereford's love shall dier'
Gentlemen" interrupted the sweet
voice Of her they had called Helen,
abe patient; there is some mistake.
Which one is named Richard Smith ?"
Il am, replied |.
Il am, replied my counterpart.
But which one Of you is Richard
Smith, the son of Archibald Smith ?"
a am, said my second self.
And | am not said |; "my ia.
ther's name is Robert Smith"
Helen looked at me a moment, half
in doubt, evidently, how to treat me
after what had occurred. Finally
she held out her hand.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Smith; it
was all a careless mistake Of my own,
can you forgive me?' l thought of
the kisses she had given me, and wish
ed the same mistake might be made
over again, though I was wise enough
not to make the thought known.
Let me explain she continued
frankly. ave were expecting broth
cr Richard home from the South,
where he has been some four or five
months past; and were quite sure he
would arrive on the train which bro't
you; he has for some years been en-
gagged to Miss Hereford, and the mar
riage ceremony was to take place i'm
mediately on his arrival. l went to
che depot to welcome him, and because
of the striking similitude in your per-
sonal appearances, | mistook a stran-
ger for my brother. That is ALL
Brother Richard, Mr.. Smith is entire
ly blameless of any wrong. We gave
him no time for explanation. Let
me present you to each other as
friends"
My counterpart shook hands with
me, and begged my pardon for dislo
eating my necktie. granted it, and
begged his pardon for committing a
like depreciation on his necktie.
| And then at a signal from the ell
derly gentleman, we all walked into
the drawing room, where, in a briet
space cf time, my counterpart was
the husband of his blushing Alice.
The acquaintance SO singularly be
gun with the Smith family, soon ripen
ed into friendship, and became one O.
the most precious OF lies blessings
to me.
Helen Smith had kissed me and
she could not forget it. If man car
get woman to think of hint hard
ly matters in what way-he has claims
on her, and SO it was in my case.
believe | never met Helen but she
blushed at the memory which stole
over her.
Three months after our first meet
ing, she kissed me again and called
me Dear Richard" And this timt
she was well aware that she was moi
addressing her brother. Is it for
tunate or unfortunate thing to have
counterpart? When l think of tht
; genteel clearinghouse keeper. l say
"No." But when | look at Helen
Il