Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-08-13
TOO MUCH ALIKE.

caressingly through his iron gray hair;
"ye-, air. a. you observe. they are very
pretty girls. and their Likeness 10 each
other. In every way. Ia truly wonder
full"
Tho remark was made In answer TO a
tribute Of rospsct which tho writer had
paid Go pair Of young ladies' use the
word pair" advissdly. because they
were twins-who had passed out % the
Office % Mr. Bird. one Of the oldest and
most highly respected members of the
Middlescx has.
II knew the inother of thosc girl. and
her sister. and their parents. more than
thirty years ago. The grandparents of
thos. girls were clients of the man with
whom read law. and afterwari their
children became INV clients. and nov
am the legal adviser u both the grand.
children. ! don't think. however. that
those children are as much alike ~ were
their mother and her sister. You could
no, tell them apar, at all. unless you had
them together.
~ this point one of tho young ladies
returned. with little rush and furry.
saying In very pretty tone
II teg your pardon. Mr. BIRD. but I
went OH without my gloves"
Don't apologize. don't apologize. I
pray. Miss-Miss-ah. Mis- Annie. I am
only too glad 20 sce you In my Office or
my home. at any time"
alice. you mean. Mr. Bird: but
thank you Tor the compliment all the
same" and away she fiuttsrcd
"Confound IT, growlod the old gen.
tlsman. AZ be resumed his scat. after
closing the door upon the fair visitor
"Td have sworn that one was Annie.
Then be looked up with a smile. after
thinking "a few minutes. and resumed,
If you can sTarc i've minutes. and care
20 hear IL. I will till YOU how came
near going crazy getting acquainted
with the mother of those young ladies
and her sister.
OF course. nothing would please mo
better. and ! aid ~ at once. Mr bird
produced an ancient and most respect
able brand u cigar. and when We had
lighted up be proce'-leli
The maiden name % 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 tccn admitted 10 the
bar only about a year when he died. and
my prcccp,or. In whose office was siill
heated. had the settlement of the estate.
ION one occasion be- wrote 90 the
girls. who were the OF hcirs, that he
nsc,led certain memorar "A from certain
papers In the homcstca, and that on n
day hc mentioned he would DO thero 20
gct them. asking the girls To look the
papers up In the meantime. When the
day came the old man was particularly
engaged aud asksi the to take his horses
and carriage and DO the errand. and I
VA only too glad to obligc him.
lin due season reached the home
stead. was received by .iaid. elderly
housskccper and ushercd into the paTlor.
where was greeted 10y Que of the bright
est and most beautiful young ladies I
had ever met with. | told her who I
was and how came 10 h. there
THAT Is all satisfactory. Mr.. Bird.
We are glad to scc any friend % Mr..
Adalfa IL seated. and will have the
papers ready for you In few minutes.
Excuse me. please, and she disappeared.
II at plcasurahly thinking Of the
young lady who had jus, left me. when
the housckeePcr came In with cake and
wine. after the then good. old fashioned
custom. and soon lcft me 10 enjoy them.
I had besn alone again bui very shor,
time. IL appeared TO me. when the young
lady returned with papers In her hand;
but instead OF coming forward. she
sioppcd and stared at me la the most
embarrassing way.
"'Did you find the papers, asked.
In my bcst society tones.
"'Sirr she exclaimed. with q Jack
Eros, In her beautiful voice. Did
whaiy
"'find the papers YOU went after
"'what are you talking about; Who
are you. cir. and pray. what are you do
ing hersy
THE only thing rm doing at present,
madam responded, In tones quite "a
glacial as her own, ia 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 learned that had
hardly driven away when the house
keeper re-entered the room. and Miss
Laura Van SERVER. with her dignity still
at it, full height. demanded;
"'who was that horrid. impudent
young man found In the parlor just
nowY
"'why. he's the young man Mr.. Adair
sent down for some papers that Maggie
has gone 10 get Where Is hcy
Miss Laura responded by dropping
into a chair and erclaiming. with almost
q scream;
"oh. myl haven't done ~ Why,
Mrs. Elkins. actually drove the poor
fellow out of the house. What In the
world will dor Don't. for gracious
sake, tell Maggie. I'll make IL up with
Mr.. Adair somehow. indeed will
"The result was that Miss Maggie Van
SERVER never heard Of my cavalier treat
ment. and was for n time filed with
wonder as 10 what manner OF business
man could possibly be. having driven
fifteen miles 10 DO an errand and then
gone of without courtesy or perform
ance.
~ b,rsed my wrath and kept IL nice
and warm until ! reached home. and
len poured IL all out to Mr. Adair.
whose laughter WIS 30 long and uproar.
ious that took on fresh installment
OF virtuous indignation. and was about
giving the old sentsman piece OF my
mind when he bsde me shut up, while
he wiped away the tears OF hilarity and
comforted me by sayingi Bird. my dear
fellow. IL IL all my fault I utterly for
got to tell you that the girls are twins,
and 20 terribly alike that you can't tell
one OF them from both
The next day brought q wondering
letter from Miss Maggie. asking what
had caused my sudden and unaccount-
able departure. and desiring 10 know II
I was Son OF Temperance whom abe
had Inadvertently Mortified and insulted
by sending him cake and wine, and
would Mr.. Adair please tell her what u