Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-03-22
eyed him angtilr, he spoke with a

4
itltis scarcely your affair if ! it,
does not, replied Giarenee.4n 9di
} 81 don't. feel snre of that, Iflsaid
the other, taking seat beside him.
I1'm a curious kind of fellow, and.
| should really like to know what
is on your. mind E" = sa1
All this was very inpertincnt, :
Clarence thought, bnt there was
that in the mans manner t,sat did
rot deepen the offence. 7Hs,idenly
the poor boys heart softencd.
Would there not be something
on your mind he SAID, speaking
as he might to a brother whom he
had known all his life. if this was
your reflection instead of mine 2
and he pointed to his image in the
water.
OH said the stranger. l under
stand. | certainly have better
figure than you, and doubtless can
walk further, but you'd not change
with me. YOU'RE master of that
old mansion yonder, think. You
are rich. You are learned and ac-
complished. You have troops of
| friends. This is all the money
have in the world and he tossed a
coin in his hand. 4 have neither
house nor lands: no prospects, no
profession, no learning. l stand
alone in the world
'Ah |! but yon stand so tall and
straight in it, said Clarence
Change with you Heaven knows
| would if that were possible
Possible ? cried the other. 'You
have learning, | haye none, but l
know something that you do not
1t Is possible; and if you would
change your good fortune for my
long legs and straight back, Pm
ready
Change why, 1 should be mad
not to do so,' said Clarence. But
what a fool [ am. You are only
knocking me. Such things cannot
be-
Try it, said the other. Take
this flask, drink half the contents
and give NE the other, then shake
hands with me and say after me
what | shall say only member
| don't want to cheat you-when
you've slipped into my skin you'll
be Il very poor man and Il very un-
fortunate one
Il care nothing for that said
Clarence, 'but | will be as fair with
you. You'll be little hunchback.
Think of that
Pm ready, If you arc said the
other. He took from his breast a
small flask and handed it to CIar
ence, who drank portion of its
contents and handed it back.
Then they joined hands, and the
stranger uttered some words i'll
what seemed a foreign tongue
which Clarence repeated after him
AS nc did SO, strange thrills rar
through his frame, terrible pain
for one moment wrung his every
Eerve, anu then he stood tall anC
stright as the oak that flung its
shadow over him, locking dowr
npon bent and halting figure by
his side. The metamorphosis hae
taken place. He had read of this
sort of thing in queer old German
books, but he had never believed
the tales until now.
sThe deuce 2 said his own voice
at his side; & didn't know | wal
such handsome fellow. It's de
cidedly unpleasant to limp Well
no matter; [ keep my carriage.
; can ride when | choose
, Just then two figures turned til,
corner of the road-a handsom,
matron in black silk and a girl il
, white. Clarence knew them 70
, his mother and cousin Linda. The,
advanced, but neither cast a glanc
at him. They looked at the dc
: formed body he had been Sc gla,
to leave, with tender glanccs.
; MY dear son. said the mother
; Il am so glad we have met you
+ And she kissed him, with all
mothers love in her eyes.
AS for Linda, she only smile
: and said, 'Clarencc;' but looking o,
r the three, quiet, unnoticcd stlan
{ ger. Carence saw what he ha
never seen in his own body. Their
l was more than cousinly liking i
: the dear girls eyes, ard when sh
said 'Clarence,' her voice told tn
, story better than her smile.
: To be sure, the figure that stoo
1 between them was not straight @
I, handsome; but what of that Hov
c FOND those two were of him TIL
s handsome fellow, leaning agains
the tree. felt pangs Of regret an
sorrow pierce his soul as the thre
turned away and left him alon
with his new found beauty; he sa,
them pass out Of sight, and sun
u u,>0,, fbo .rroco onJ b;l l,,c s, =