The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-11
Selected Storp.
Too Much Alike.

"yes, sir, as you observe, they are very
pretty girls, and their likeness to each
other, in every way, is truly wonder
full"
The remark was made in answer to a
tribute of respect which the writer had
paid to pair of young ladies', l use the
word "pair" advisedly, because they
were twins, who had passed out of the
office of Mr.. Bird, one of the oldest and
most highly respected members of the
MiddleseK bar,
Il knew the mother of these girls
than thirty years ago. The grandpa
rents of these girls were clients of the
man with whom I read law, and after
ward their children became my clients,
and now l am legal adviser of both the
grandchildren. don't think, however,
these children are so much alike as
were their mother and her sister. You
could not tell them apart at all, unless
you had them together"
AT this point one of the young ladies
returned, with little rush and furry,
saying In very pretty tone:
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Bird, but l
went off without my gloves"
"Dou't apologize, don't apologize, l
pray, Miss-Miss-ah Miss Annie. l
am only too glad to see you in my office
or my home, at any time"
" Alice, you mean, Mr.. Bird, but
thank you for the compliment all the
same," and away she fluttered.
"Confound itl' growled the old
gentleman, as he resumed his seat, after
closing the door upon the fair visitor,
"I'd have sworn that one was Annie. :"
Then he looked up with a smile, after
thinking few minutes, and resumed {:
elf you can spare five minutes, and
care to hear it, l will tell you how l
came near going crazy getting ac-
quainted with the mother of those
young ladies and her sister,"
OF course nothing would please me
better, and / said so at once. Mr..
Bird produced an ancient and most re-
spectacle brand of cigars, and when
we had lighted up, he proceeded:
"The maiden name of those young
ladies' mother and her sister was Van
SERVER, and their father, old John Van
SERVER, was a large farmer and miller,
quite wealthy, residing near Princeton.
had been admitted to the bar only
about year when he died, and my
preceptor, in whose Office | was still
located, had the settlement of the es-
tate.
son one occasion he wrote to the
girls, who were the only heirs, that he
needed certain memoranda from GER.
tain papers in the homestead, and that
on certain day he mentioned he
ha thar tn oil he
girls to look the papers up in the mean
time. When the day came the old man
was particularly engaged, and asked
me TO take his horses and carriage and
do the errand, and l was only too glad
to oblige him.
In due season 1 reached the home.
stead, was received by staid, elderly
housekeeper, and ushered into a par.
lor, where l was greeted by one of the
brightest and most beautiful young
ladies l had ever met with. l told hel
who l was and how l came to be there
"'That is all satisfactory, Mr.. Bird
We are glad to see any friend of Mr.
Adair's. Be seated, and | will have the
paper ready for you in few minutes
Excuse me, please and she dis
appeared.
&c sat pleasantly thinking of thu
young lady who had just left me, whel
the housekeeper came in with cake anC
wine, after the then good oldfashioneC
custom, and soon left me to enjoy them
l had been alone again but very shor
time, it appeared to me, when tn
young lady returned with papers in he
hand; but instead of coming forward
she stopped and stared at me in mos
embarrassing way.
"'Did you find the papers?' asked
in my best society tones.
"' Sir!' she exclaimed, with JAG
Frost in her beautiful voice. Did
what?'
Find the papers you went AFTER
"' What are you talking about
Who are you, sir, and pray what ar
you doing here?'
"'The only thing | am doing at pre-;
ent, madam l responded in a ton
quite as glacial as her own, is leavin
here as soon as possible.
"' Oh, thank you, she replied wit
lofty urbanity, as the maddest youn
man in New Jersey slammed the doc
behind him.
"Long afterward l learned that
had hardly driven away when tn
housekeeper re-entered the room, an
Miss Laura Van Server, with her dis
nifty still in its full height, demanded
"'Who was that horrid, impuder
young man l found in the parlor jul
now?'
Z" Why, he's the young man Nj
Adair sent down for some papers thi
Maggie has gone to get. Where is he?
"Miss Laura responded by droppiu
into chair and exclaiming with a
most scream:
"'Oh, myl haven't done it VIII,
Mrs. Elkins, l actually drove the poe
fellow out of the house. What in til
world will l do? Don't, for graciol
sake, tell Maggie. I'll make it up wit
Mr.. Adair somehow, indeed | will"
" The result was that Miss Magg
Van SERVER never heard of my cav
lier treatment, and was for time file
with wonder as to what manner
business man could possibly be, ha
ing driven fifteen miles TO do an c
4 Al