The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1891-12-15
BLAYHILL'S DOUBLE.

While going down Nassau street the
other day I came across my old school
friend, Philip Blayhill. / should
hardly have known him were 1t not
that he greeted me. He had changed
considerably during the three or !
more years in which we had last met.
A neatly trimmed brown beard gave
him a much more manly appearance
than the smooth shaver countenance
I used to know; but his beautiful
rotundity OF face and figure were
missing. The face was pale and thin,
covered to some extent by the beard,
and the eyes dull and sad. noticed
all this with some feelings Of appre-
hension as we heartily shook hands.
s'I've changed much. raven { ]. - he
said, divining my thoughts.
Somewhat" replied I.
Then he went on to tell me that he
had been busy studying law, and was
now member Of the Bar. He WAS
never very strong, though apparently
healthy, and the sedentary life that
his profession necessarily entailed had
told on him.
t'Ihave been Ill" he said, "but my
long stay in the country has done me
considerable good. I have been feel
ing first rate physically Of late; but
there's something mysterious about
which I cannot help worrying, and
that Is bad for me-"
"And what may this mysterious
thing be2 Philip" said /, IF you will
excuse my inquisitiveness.
sI don't know If it would be well to
tell the story to a man who writes for
the newspapers, Philip said, forcing
smile. stYou might make me the
laughing stock Of the town"
Being assured, however, that he
would not be subjected to any ridicule
he told me, with an air Of profound
seriousness, very strange tale.
He lived, he said, in the quiet board
ing house Of Mrs Blenckston In West
| Thirty-fourth street, not far from
Madison avenue. He moved there on
his return from the country little
over two weeks ago. Almost every
evening, especially after he had re-
tired for the night, there appeared in
the room an apparition, 1t was the
very image Of himself-his double, SO
to speak. It had the strange habit Of
doing the very things he had done
before going to bed. It wore the
same clothing, smoked the same cigar
/ and read the same book that he did.
Philip was atfirst frightened nearly to
death, but one evening he summoned
enough courage to approach this mys-
terious, uncanny, alter ego. On coming
near it, however, 1t elongated itself
and assumed very grotesque attitudes,
and presently vanished altogether.
Though apparently imbued with life
and motion It rs not constituted as
his mortal self was. It possessed no
substance. It was as light as the air,
and Philip thought he could see
through its body. Often he would
wake up and find it smoking a cigar.
The room was filed with smoke, and
yet there was not the slightest odor OF
tobacco perceptible. 1t was brilliantly
Illuminated by the burning gas Jet,
but Philip distinctly remembered that
the room was dark when he retired.
This was, in q few words, the re-
markable story my friend told me.
This is certainly a strange thing"
said. "Still it may be but the prank
]
you made any investigation at all Z
whatever it may be-" Philip re-
piled, ''I do not know. Every one
who has boarded in that room has
| had the same experience. Mrs.
BIenckston told me that last night
when I said I could remain there no
longer. Though not a very sensitive
woman by any means, she has herself
been worried to death about 1t. Ever
since the death Of her husband, DR..
| Blenckston, about two years ago, this
thing has been going on. And only
in that Identical room"
/ We had by this time arrived in front
Of the building where Philip had
located his law Office.
aCome up tonight and convince
yourself about what have told you, /"
said he earnestly.
was only too glad to do SO. Yes,
I would bring my friend, DR.. Army,
with me, and be at his room at eight
o'clock. The agreement was satisfac-
/. tory, and we shook hands and parted.
II.
MYSTERIES have more or less fascina-
ton for all men. They were DR..
Army's special delight, and In the
course of his professional duties as
physician he found ample opportunity
for exercising his active brain over
mysteries that baffied medical science.
AS I expected, he was only too glad to
20 with me to Philips house and In
vestigate this strange case.
We distinguished nothing unusual
about the house where Philip lived.
1t was a three story and basement
brown stone stoop house, and one OF
a row Of houses Of the same style.
Philips room was on the third floor,
facing the street.
"I'm SO glad you have come" said
he when we stepped into his room.
sit is always dreadful for me to re-
main alone here for any length OF
time
80 this is the room, F." said Dr.Army
glancing around and scrutinizing
everything very closely.
It was a fine room, airy and spac-
ious. Philips bed stood near the
door, his writing table and several
shelves Of books occupied a niche in
/ the wall near the window. Two
statuettes, representing Faust and
Marguerite, one at each side OF the
bronze clock, ornamented the marble
mantel.. In fact, 1t was delightful
bachelors apartment, with its large
homely rocker, easy chairs, DOCKS
! pictures and other evidences OF a re-
/ fined taste.
Philip passed around the cigars,
| and for the benefit OF the Doctor,
he repeated the story he had told to
| me.
"And when does this double Of
yours generally appear" inquired
/ DR. Army.
Casually a little after the gas has
been extinguished, replied Philip.
We sat and chatted for an hour OF
SO, and then in accordance with the
| Doctors suggestion the room was
darkened and we awaited develop
| ments.
think we sat on the edge Of the
bed, in darkness and silence that was
becoming painful for at least half an
hour. Presently we all startled slight
| ly. Faint traces Of forms were max
| ing their appearance. Gradually they
| began to assume distinct shapes.
| Suddenly by some unseen hand the
GAS was turned on, and the room was
flooded with light. We held our
breath as we saw before us, sitting In
the chairs we occupied few moments
before, the images of ourselves. DIR.
Army, who sat beside me, moved I'M
easily as he saw the strange picture.
Our doubles were smoking. Their
| lips moved, but no sound escaped
them.
DIR. Army arose and with steady
step approached his mysterious
second self But as he approached
the figures became distorted. They
assumed all sorts of grotesque atti-
tudes and presently vanished, leaving
the room again in darkness.
Tho Doctor Immediately struck a
match and liohted the gas.