Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-11
BE CHEERFUL.
TOO MUCH ALIKE.

YES assented Mr.. Bird, with evil
dent appreciation, as he ran his fingers
caressingly through his iron gray hair;
''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' use the
word pair advisedly, because they
were twins-who had passed out Of the
Office of Dir. Bird. one Of the Oldest and
most highly rrsSen.e4 members of the
Middlesex bar.
81 knew the mother of those girls and
her sister, and their parents, moe than
thirty years ago. The grandparents of
those girls were clients of the man with
whom read law, and afterward their
children became my clients, and now l
am the legal adviser Of both the grand
children. l don't think, however, that
those children are as 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 a very pretty tone:
Il beg your pardon, Mr. Bird, but I
went % without my gloves"
Don't apologize, don't apologize, 1
pray, Miss-Miss-ah, Miss Annie. / am
only too glad to see you in my Office or
my home, ct any time"
'Alice, you mean, Mr.. Bird; but
thank you for the compliment all the
same" and away she 1uttered.
"Confound it!' growled the old gen.
tleman, 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 a few minutes, and resumed:
IF you can spare five minutes, and care
to hear it, will tell you how 1 came
near going crazy getting acquainted
with the mother of those young ladies
and her sister"
Of course, nothing would please me
better, and l said so at once. Mr. Bird
produced an ancient and most respect
able brand of cigars, and when we had
lighted up he proceeded:
The maiden name Of those young
ladies mother and her twin sister was
Van SERVER, and their father, old John
Van SERVER, was 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 estate.
"On one occasion he wrote to the
girls, who were the oniy heirs, that he
needed certain memoranda from certain
papers in the homestead and that on a
DAY he mentioned he would be there to
get them, asking the girls to look the
papers up in the meantime. When the
day came the old man was particularly
engaged and asked me 10 take his horses
and carriage and do the errand; and l
was only too glad to obige him.
In due season l reached the home
stead. was received by a staid. elderly
housekeeper and ushered into the parlor
where was greeted by one of the bright
est and most beautiful young ladies l
had ever met with. | told her who J.
was and how 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
papers ready for you in a few minutes.
Excuse me, please and she disappeared.
Il sat pleasurably thinking of the
young lady who had just left me, when
the housekeeper came in with cake and
wine, after the then good, old fashioned
custom, and soon left me to enjoy them.
l had been alone again but very short
time, it appeared to me, when the young
lady returned with papers in her hand:
but instead of coming forward, she
stopped and stared at me in the most
embarrassing way.
Ibid you find the papers?' asked.
in my best society tones.
"'Sirr she exclaimed, with a Jack
Frost in her beautiful voice. Did l
whaty
Find the papers you went after
"'What are you talking about? Who
are you, sir, and pray, what are you do
ing herey
THE only thing I'm doing at present,
madam responded, in tones quite as
glacial as her own, is leaving here as
soon as possible
"'Oh, thank you, she replied, with
lofty urbanity, as the maddest young
man in New Jersey slammed the door
behind him.
Long afterward 1 learned that had
hardly driven away when the house
keeper re-entered the room, and Miss
Laura Van SERVER, with her dignity still
at its full height, demanded;
"Who was that horrid, impudent
young man found in the parlor just
now?
WHY. he's the young man Mr.. Adair