The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-11-10
Then he walked on soliloquising.


Asking me how am to-day, and he never
saw me before Wonder how he thinks !
was yesterday and the day before?"
A moment later he met a foppish looking
young man, who gave him poke in the ribs
with d slender cane saying loosely
so, you bad fellah! My girls been telling
me about you. Trying to cut me out, eh !?
BY jove y
Will was too much astonished to reply, and
the familiar stranger passed on. Just then .
voice from across the street sting out:
:" Mr.. s. ~
viii stopped and looked across. 1t was q
little colored boy who had called him.
Al put your horse in de stable sab. Did
yor want him?"
"What do you mean? How do you know
my namee" responded Will in amazement.
The little darkey stared a moment, thon
said: "You's crazy, sab, l reckon" then
took to his heels as if greatly frightened, and
disappeared round an adjacent corner.
my goodness" exclaimed Will, as he
walked dreamily on. "Idon't see why Charlie
settled in such an outlandish place. Every
body here is raving mad. Where am ? Let's
see-No. 1870, 1872, 1870, joy 1851"
He had reached Charles residence, and he
was dying to see him and ask him what all
this meant. He assembled the steps and rang
the BELL A man passing at that moment stop
ped and said
"Hello Have you lost your key?"
"What key? asked VIII, staring at the
supposed maniac.
"Why, your late key, of course. never
saw you ring the bell before -
Did you ever see me before?"
ssSee you before - exclaimed the stranger.
Why what's the matter with you, Charlie
Where have you been? Are you losing your
senses You do look little pale.
just then the door opened, and Charlie
himself stood at the threshold. They shook
hands, The stranger looked on with visible
amazement.
elbow do you do, Mr. Wilkins?" said
Charlie, addressing the stranger. "This is
my brother, Will, Mr.. Wilkins Will-my next
door neighbour
Mr.. Wilkins walked up the steps to grasp
the hand of the visitor, but in doing so he
took his eyes off Will for moment, and in
that moment Charlie took Wills valise from
his (Charlie's) hand, mistaking him for Will,
and said, cordially:
ssi'm glad to make your acquaintance, dear
Will I've often heard Charlie speak of you.
How much you resemble him If / didn't
see you both together l should take you for
Charlie every time charlie here, giving WIZ
dig in the ribs" and are jolly old neigh
bors. We've lived adjoining for six years.
"Jehosaphat I" exclaimed VIII, "let me
in, Charlie, or I'll faint" And he lodged in
to the hall, leaving Mr.. Wilkins standing on
the STEPS; Charlie followed him.
"Charlie," said viii, "what does all this
mean9 Everybody here talks to me with
rude familiarity don't like"
"Why?" replied Charlie, 81 rather suspect
they have taken you for me. Every one
knows me here"
"Confound it,maybe that is what's the mat
ter! said Will, as stream of fresh light
dawned upon him, "but never thought we
looked alike"
"Nor l." retorted Charlie. ~ always
thought was much the handsomer."
Will stayed in the city week or two, but
he never ventured out on the street without
being accompanied by Charlie. Even then he
was constantly accosted by strangers, who
asked il Charlie wasn't his brother To save
time and trouble he generally replied that he
was.