Wichita eagle., 1889-07-07

[
Some friend evidently had remembered me-
waited until I returned to my hotel and
then opened the envelope
confess that was surprised, yes, amazed
| yes, agitated, at first It was one of the rare
occasions in my life when my emotions tenn
porarily unbalanced my reason Before M
was the face of the object OF my search-the
| duplicate Of the figure had photographed
on the cliff
For few moments my mind seemed to be
| In whirl, but soon recovered my self pos
session, and the significance Of the receipt OF
the picture gradually dawned on me. After
canvassing thoroughly every explanation tina,
suggested itself could come but to one con-
cfusiou- It was clear that by some fortunate
accident the fair stranger had become aware
Of my pursuit and bad employed this delicate
means to encourage it. No other superstition
seemed half 50 rational as this.
That New York photographer!
hurriedly left Bar Harbor and went by the
fastest night and day trains TO the metropolis,
where readily found the artist
Did he remember the lady who sat for this
picturei
No.
OF course he had her name on his bookl
He had thousands Of names On his book.
How could he tell which one belonged to this
pictured
But had he not preserved the negativel
Unfortunately for him all his negatives had
been destroyed by the fire that burned his
studio few months ago.
Then he had no way OF ascertaining whose
picture it west
None. The young lady was simply one Of
miscellaneous thousand
OF course I was disappointed. 1 had sup
posed the photographer could give me the in
formation that l desired. Ny supposition
YVES not at fault. The fire only had foled
my plans.
But took up the pursuit again with even
greater earnestness and determination /
spent two weeks in the city, searching all the
time, and engaged Pinkerton man to help
me. Then visited Long Branch, Saratoga,
the Adirondacks. hoping to find her, but hop
ing in vain
The calls of my business grew urgent, and
the 10th day Of September found me in New
York again, approaching the Grand Central
station to take homeward bound train.
As coupe, driven rapidly from the sta
ton, dashed by me, caught a glimpse OF q
woman's face in the carriage.
1t was her facet
staggered-then bounded into the road,
shouting to the driver of the coupe. He did
not hear me, and dashed after him deter
mined TO stop him. a question or two an
swered by him, and would be a made mani
Suddenly, while running and shouting, I
heard loud cry behind me-then inmedi-
ately felt an awful shock, heard great roar
ing inside my head, lost my sight and fell
while that coupe went rattling OF and some
thing rolled crashing over me,
For hours knew nothing. When recov-
cred my consciousness l was in hospital
with strangers around me. They told me
that pair Of horses and a hack had run over
me. was not permanently injured, but
could not be removed TO Boston for several
days.
l had many palms. but the worst of them
came from the fact that had lost her again.
Still my native resolution buoyed me- up and
l determined to recommence my search as
soon as my ribs had knit together. 1 was
confident that the girl was somewhere in New
York
When l reached my quarters in Boston
found a card from Chauncv Webster invit-
ing me TO his wedding. The note had been
sent to Bar Harbor and returned, and had
lain on my table for several weeks. The date
of the ceremony had passed, and I could only
write Chauncy letter Of congratulation and
explanation.
The news did not surprise me in the least.
had always looked upon Chauncy as q mar
rying man
But the joke of it is" said Col. Bisbee,
who came in to inquire about my progress
one day; 1.-The joke of it is, he has married
the same beautiful creature who once lifted
poor Perk Weybrandt."
"Yesr
Aren't you rather surprised at thatr
"No; knew he'd marry that kind of q
woman
"Confound it, Charlesi You're never sur
prised at anythingl"
Bisbee sputtered this out as if he were vexed
with me; but why he should have been Is
more than l know
The shock from my accident was greater
than had supposed, and hal 60 stay cooped
up In my room for weeks Now and then
caller came In; my supply Of reading matter
was ample, and the picture on the mantel
Went far toward making me contented. 1t
was always the iiIst picture. the one | took
myself on the rock. The second was shut up
in my album For some reason or other l
did not feel SO strongly attached to it.
One day, when my recovery was near CON-
plete, Chauncy Webster burst into my room
and seized my hand.
Heard all about your accident before got
your letter-deuced sorry you couldn't come
TO the wedding-drove right here as soon as
reached Boston, said he, and then happening
to glance at the picture on the mantel, he ex-
claimed with a start: But say, see herel
Whered you get thatP
DO you recognize isf' asked
Recognize it! Well, should think l
ought tor and he broke into laugh as be
seized the picture and scanned it closely.
Who is itf" demanded
''You know who it is, Of coursel"
Your assumption is wrong. as your es
sumptions usually are"
horse, old man." said Chauncy, with queer
look; who do you think it isF
rs It your wifer asked, coouy, feeling
ell the while as il somebody had taken the
trouble to break my ribs again
Chauncy looked at the picture and laughed
as before
Really" SAID he. this IS QUITE predica-
nentn
Never mind the pre,licamentl Why DOM
you answer my questi2ui Is that picture
II your wifeF'
''The fact Is, don't knowt"
Absurd
sNo-I don't know said be deliberately,
gazing at the picture; 'I-really-cant tell
whether its my wife or
Or whoi'
Her sister. THEY'RE twinsI-