The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-16

unaeeustomed lash and broke into a gal
lop. Jehiel applied the switch again
and again, and the dismal vehicle was
o 0 humping over the road at a tremend-
Gus pace, Jehie1 shouting all the time
like a circus rider, and Miss Giles cling
ing to his side in an agony of terror.
The people in the farm houses along the
way rushed to doors and windows and
gazed Enhancement at the unprecedented
spectacle. Jehiel had a word for
each-a shout of derision for one, a blast
of blasphemy for another, and an invita-
ton to ride for a third-but he refined
in for nobody, and in a twinkling the
FIVE miles between Hosea Getchell's farm
at Duck Trap and the village at Satur-'
day Cove had beeA accomplished. I
think | am safe in saying that never be-
fore did a hearse rattle over five miles of
hard road 50 rapidly.
400, Jehiel, Jehiel!' said Miss Giles,
as the hearse entered the village, arc
you took crazy of a sudden?'
"'No,' said JehieI, CURLY, but my
eyes are open now. Gelang, you beasts !!
You get out here; lam going to Bel
fast
"But, Jehiel, DEAR she protested,
with manys obs, remember DR.. Gookin.'
"Dang Gookin!' said Jehiel.
"And for my sake,' she continued.
Dear Jehiel, for my sake
"Dang you, tool said Jehiel.
"Drawing up his team in magnificent
style before the village hotel, he COM
PEELED the weeping Miss Giles to alight,
and then, with an admirable imitation
of the w~arwhoop of a Sioux brave, started
his melancholy vehile for Belfast,
and was gone in a flash, leaving the en-
tire population of Saturday Cove in a
state of bewilderment that approached
coma.
"The remains of the worthy DIR.
Gookin were borne to the graveyard that
afternoon upon the shoulders of half a
dozen of the stoutest farmers in the
neighborhood. Jehiel came home long
after midnight, uproariously intoxicated.
The revolution in his character had been
as complete as it was sudden. From the
moment of Jacobs death, he was a dis
sipated, dishonest sCOundrel, the scandal
of Saturday Cove, and the terror of
quiet, respectable folks tor miles around
After that day he never could DO per.
suaded to speak to or even to recognize
the young woman named Giles. She, to
her credit, | think, still remains in
spinsterhood, faithful to the memory of
the lost Jehiel. His downward course
was rapid. He gambled, drank, quar-
relied, and stole; and he is now in state
prison at Thomaston, serving out a SEN
tence for an attempt TO rob the North
port bank. Miss. Giles goes dow1 every
year III the hopes hat he will see her,
but he always refuses. He is in for ten
years."
"And he deserves all of it, u ventured
to remark.
"See here" said DR.. Richards, turn
ing suddenly and looking me square in
the face. "Do you think of what you
are saying? Now, l hold that he is as
innocent as you or l. I believe that the
souls of tESstwins were bound by a bond
which DR.. Gookin's knife could not dis
sect. When Jacob died, his soul, with
all its depravity, returned to its twin
soul in Jehiers body. Being stronger
than the Jehiel soul it mastered and
overwhelmed it. Poor Jehiel is not re,
sponsible; he is suffering the penalty of
g crime that was clearly Jake's."
MY friend spoke with a good deal of
earnestness and some heat, and conclud-
ing that Jehiel's innocence was a hobby
of his, l did not press the discussion.
That evening, in conversation with the
village clergyman, I remarked:
"That was a very singular case, that
of the Dow twins"
"Ah!" said the parson, "yous have
heard the story. Which way did the
doctor end it ?"
why, with Jehiel in Jail, of course.
What do you meant"
Nothing" replied the parson, with
a faint smile. Sometimes, when he
feels we'll disposed toward humanity, he
makes Jehiel's soul take possession of
Jacob and transform him into a pious
respectable Christian. In his pessimis-
tic moods the story runs as you heard it.
80 this is one of his Jacob days? He
should take a little quinine."