The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-21
MY SECOND SELF.
THE STRANGE VISITOR AND HIS STRANGE ERRAND,
BY ROBERT SALE HILL.

tne real estate in the vicinity, and in con.
sequence was looked up to as quite a local
magnate. My wife, his only, and it Il mead.
less to say idolized child, had up to the
mm ;.s OF our marriage lived entirely alone
WITH her father. secluded, and I may saw
cast OIL from all reasonable enjoyment and
society: Yet despite the disparity in ON
ages, being some twelve years her senior
aud she mere child of seventeen when The
Knot was tied, together with the fact that
one OH gentleman was bitterly opposed to
our union, time, the great moderator. had
reduced my father-in-law's bitterness to a
sort OF resigned acceptance of fate, and the
pirth OF grandson had helped to modify
ms satire by giving him something else to
brood over.
| me one bone Of contention was the fact
tnat l utterly refused to resume the study
| OF law. My practice had never been re-
! muneratlVo one, and my small income had
always sutf1ced for my personal wants. CON
sequently rich marriage to an idle nature
was hardly an inducement to work, Even
NY VIE nad chlded me with what my
latner,ln-iaw termed a proper spirit of in
dependence and that very afternoon prior
| to her departure she had been the unwilling
witness of rather stormy debate on the
subject. but taking it all together, if not a
united we were at least a semi-united
family. ''1
The old mansion sadly needed renairiny.
put on this point Col. Scott was adamant
The house has held together ana sheltered
three generations for over fifty wears. and it
VIII hold together while live. at least" was
ms unvarylng reply to any suggestion Dor
oerlng on improvements. And while he had
condescended to entertain the idea of our
having few relatives to pass Christmas
with US and to open the house for tho first
time since his wife's death, vet he would
nave no Aew-fangled furniture brought in,
ana even the advent of a modern cot for his
slx-months-old grandchild was regarded as
a species OF innovation never to be repeated.
And it must be confessed that the little cot
was entirely out of keeping with the rest OF
the old-fashioned furniture and sombre
nanglnRs that SO quantity set of the low
ceilings and mullioned windows, which
even the December sunlight seemed to de-
spise.
Yet seated in an old fashioned oak rocker
before huge log fire, which was slowly
dying out in the open fireplace-with de-
canter of the Colonel's much priced Ma
deira and box of his favorite cigars with
In easy reach-I had almost come to the
conclusion that independence was not after
all SO much to be coveted, besides the colo
mel could not live forever and then pro-
posed to make all the necessary alterations
that his old-fashioned notions rebelled
against.
j., What between these rather untlial
thoughts, and an effort to solve the mys-
entitled CDR. Jekyll and Mr.. HYDE" my
mind on the eventful evening in question
was thoroughly ripe to accept anything SUI
pernatural, and nv half-lighted cigar bore
evidence to disturbed condition of mind
unusual in one who like myself rather
prided himself on being cool. and collected.
felt in the first place like culprit, and
somewhat enjoyed the not over novel SEN
sation.
Smoking in the parior, and the presence
of any four footed pet was under all cir
presence. Drinking was at ali times, save
on state occasions an offense in his eyes,
and dogs were never permitted to even
Cross the threshold of the parlor door. The
great reception hall they we're free to occupy,
and 80 strictly had this rule been enforced
that 1t took all my powers of persuasion to
induce my favorite setter Dandy to fol-
low me even to enjoy the comfort Of a warm
rug and forty stolen winks So apparent
was this, that at the slightest sound he
would start, and evince canine desire to