Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-08-22

To say the very least, this remark
completely mystified me.
"And pray" said /, Miss"
= Jones will do, suggested the young
lady, or "Smith; suit yourself. Either
will suit me"
"Then, Miss-a-Jones, if may ask
thequestion without impertinence, where
have you ever had the pleasure of see
ing my photograph"
AS | spoke scanned my fair CON-
panion's face very closely. Vague sus-
picions insinuated themselves into my
mind. l thought of newspaper stories
concerning fair enchantresses, nimble-
fingered, and shivered.
Here was l, poor, lone man, in the
power of this ogress
" believe" remarked the ogress,
Historically, that have the supreme
happiness of addressing the valiant
Chevalier Thomas Rand. Pardon my
mirth, but, oh, dear, you-you've pulled
one whisker all out of shape "
" l am sure, Miss JONES'" I replied,
with as much dignity as l could muster
for the occasion, "that 1 est eem it
great honor to be the object of ridicule
for so extraordinary a specimen of the
fair sex as yourself"
"Ha, ha, hap laughed Miss Jones,
merrily. Il do believe that you are
trying to be sarcastic. Please don't look
at me in that horrible way. l am con-
vulsed with fear"
1t was impossible to view Miss Jones'
lace while she spoke, lighted up with
the JOY of a pure heart and merry
spirit, and consider her an impostor. |
repented of all the evil l had thought.
Nevertheless, it must be confessed that
the young lady's style of discourse some
what disconnected me.
"Miss JONES'" l said, with a good
deal of trepidation, "to be frank. your
knowledge of my name and photograph
seems to me nothing short of the super
natural. Would you be kind enough to
enlighten my darkened mindP"
Your name, Mr., Rand" quoth the
maiden, with more composure than she
had hitherto evinced, II discovered
partly by taking the liberty of looking at
your elegant hatbox. There's where it
appears in letters bright and beautiful
T. Rand Circumstances of rather
curious nature led me to believe that
T. stood for Thomas. AS for your pho
tograph, it is in my pocket"
At this disclosure | was completely
perplexed A thousand suppositions
crowded into my mind at once. but all
proved inadequate to the task of dispell-
: ing the mystery. l looked in hopeless
wonder at my fair ViS-G.Uts
see you are astonished, Mr., Rand, /"
said she, land | like to astonish people.
You looked awfully angry a while ago,
and it was not becoming to your a-a-
hinnocent' style of beauty actually
compared you mentally to one of Ra-
phaePs cherubim-I won't say which /;
now you look charming, likethe other.
However, now, | shall take pity on you
and clear up your doubts. Behold in me
the twin sister of your intended, Gwen
doline Dunscombe. You will at once
perceive how became possessed of your
photo, which is abominable-excuse the
adjentive-and also how found hnt
' little difficulty in establishing your iden-
: tity. | presume that you are on your
way to Dunscombe Hallp"
, 1t took me some time to recover my
s composure, after hearing so startling a
= statement as the above.
: When felt tolerably calm, bethink-
s ing myself of the picture which Uncle
Melancthon had given me as being Il
faithful likeness of my fate, and remem-
: beringits extreme ugliness, [ mustered
q up courage, snatched it from my pocket
! and ensconcing myself beside Miss Dun
scombe, alias Miss Jones, gave vent tc
f my feelings somewhat in this wise:
! miss Dunscombe, said, "here is g
( picture sent me by your sister, and sup
4 posed to be the counterfeit presentment
Q of herself Excuse lack of flattery in the
g remark, but / cannot believe such 6
9 fright to be any relation-in any case
not the twin-sister to such loveiiness as
n YOURSELF"
8 Dear me-" laughed Miss Dun
;. scombe; "it's too good for anything
7 Gwen has sent you photograph of de:.l
# old Aunt Sophie"
" "Then your sister is as young anC
+ beautiful as you arep" I exclaimed
= amazed beyond measure, and somewha
4 chagrined at this last discovery o
g deceit.
Certainly as young" retorted Mis-:
d Dunscombe, brusquely as any one il
y his right senses would suppose. after dut
) consideration of the close Relationship
II existing between us. Regarding beauty
y well, don't want to be egotistic, yol
is understand; suffice it to say that we ar,
2, as much alike as two peas, physical
~, mentally and spiritually"
J. Strange though it may seem, had il
l. the brief period of time elapsed since
g. Miss Dunscombe's first remark become
% somewhat resigned to my fate. | doubt
=, ed, however, whether my companion!
sister could possibly be half as charm
o ing us herself, and was more than will
is ing to take my chances on the presen
n representative of the sisterhood be
a gan to think better of Uncle Melanc
thon's taste, and wondered whether III
y would care much which sister propos
If ed to.
y Perhaps, +" said Miss Dunscombe, in
Us terrupting my meditations, you would
like to know what Gwen thinks of tn,
d match, concocted without the consen
a of either parties most nearly concerned
/ by your odious uncle and my dea
g. papaP"
J. / gave Miss Dunscombe to understand
that she had fathomed my limos
ID thoughts, and that | would like nothin.
I. better than to become acquainted will
/, Miss Gwenodline's feelings oward my
l. self
ID "Well, then, to begin with" said m,
er charming interlocutor, smiling sweetl
as she spoke, and glancing at me in
2, manner that sent thrill of perfect ecs
is tasy up my spine, Gwen hates you Jus
awfully, and"
a Your remarks are excessively en-
- couraging, Miss Dunscombe," said ]
s. 81 feel battered"
in "Oh, my!" calculated the young lady
III throwing up her hands in mock astonish
u ment. 81 do believe you are going to b
entertaining, after all l thought you a
be awful bore at first, but you were scarcel
ed awake then, you know. AS / remarke
s. when you were rude enough to interrur
tn me, Gwen hates you awfully, you know.
ne Here happy thought struck me, an
c. | gave it shape in words:
o, % What 1.r,, tb - cold ttoo,,1d 7 NJ