The state herald., 1892-07-08
MY DOUBLE,


1t is very rarely Il confess it) that
any one meets his double, but such
instances have occurred. and am 60
ing to give you an example
! saw mine once but only once;
have never seen him since, know not
from whence he came or whore he
went; all can shy is this surely saw
him. my servant saw and talked with
him. moreover he saved my life and yet
am forced to believe he never really
existed for we never found the least
trace Of him, in u place whore 1t WAS
impossible he could have escaped
Now all this seems worry extraor.
airy TO you no doubt incomprehensibls.
Vol ! am not surprised l have given
1t great deal OF thought and yet !
DO not understand 1t In the least It
10 as great mystery to me as ever
but will toll you the incident ~ 1t
occurred
1t was in the winter OF 1869. whom
I wa, student ut tho University OF
Leipsic.
AT that time I was very intimate
with Young Count Bremen. We were
about the Same age were In the same
classes and lived In the same street.
The Herzog- strnsse was one OF the
oldest streets in that old city; crooked.
gloomy md remarkably narrow. Tho
houses We occupied were exactly op-
posite each other. from tho windows
Of Count Brenners apartment you
could look directly into my bedroom.
and rs have said. the street was SO
narrow We could sit on tho balconies
Of an evening and smoke our pipes
and talk as quietly as II we were in
the same room, but as to the matter
Of that we were scarcely ever apart
One day Count Bremen was sud
lenly called TO Bavaria to SEQ an old
uncle. his only relative who was very
ILL He departed Immediately saying
II might DO some time before he could
return.
was very much annoyed at tho
sudden departure OF my friend. It dc.
ranged all our cherished habits. and
that same evening not knowing
what to do to while away the time |
made visit TO Counsellor Kardieffel.
one OF my fathers old friends who
lived in the other end OF the city.
But my visit was very disappoint-
lug. was vaguely dissatisfied. al
most anxioua I could not tell why.
felt drowsy aud stupid and after los.
lag several games Of carda took
leave Of ny host and retired Just -
the antique clock In the hall struck
III.
II was very dark night and lhad
scarcely made three steps In tho street
when heard some ono walking be-
hind me. At first paid no attention
TO this thinking 1t was some belated
citizen returning homo ike myself
But began to he very much an.
noyed whom / perceived this unknown
individual followed the exact route as
myself turning tho same corners OF
the street crossing the samo squared
always preserving the same distance
between Us and regulating his steps
so perfectly with mino our feet seemed
TO touch tho ground at the same mo-
ment
At last. TO SOC II / was Intentionally
followed. Istopped. lie did the same.
Then l began 10 think he WIS not n
common footpsd else he would have
assaIlcd mo long ago. for tho streets
were black as night Tho public
lighting In those days was very
meager only u few lamps placed hero
and there at the foot Of some statue or
nj certain corners OF tho streets
At last we arrived at tho corner OF
the Hcrzogss,rasse where u lamp was
dimly burning. could stand II no
longer. but determined TO sec my un.
known friend. ! suddenly stopped
and bonding down ms II TO tic my shoe.
was able to regard this obstinate com.
panion OF my walk.
i cannot toll you my ainazomenL
my tcrsor, when recognized In this
person standing few steps bohind
mo rs II quietly waiting for mo TO
proceed. the exact counterpart OF
myself could see him distinctly.
and no mirror ever produced my
image more truthfully. my form my
fnce my beard my hair. all idcuti.
cnlly the sama and 10 complete the
likeness my double. or rather my
other s,lf wore the same cloak. hat
clothes oSactly like mine In color
and appearance. was thunder
struck while he who had so com.
ploicly upset me calmly looked on a.
II ho found nothing abnormal In my
appearance ana was only waiting Tor
mo 10 proceed.
Suddenly great fright possessed
me. lquickenod my steps and hur.
rled on. ] would not oven look back
for fear 4, would scem MS N wore
nociug from this man yot confess |
wns very much startled
IA ] have already told you tho
street was worry narrow and rs I took
tho side where Count Brcnncr lived.
tho other my double followed tho
sidc where my house was situated.
lie seemed 10 husten his stops ms no
drew near my apartments and arrived
before my door Just ms ! reached tho
door OF my friend. Iic stopped. |
stopped. Was II. the stupofaction Of
terror and surpriscp ] know not
found I could not utter n word. my
lips refused 10 make my protests.
ton. amy cry or call for hc!p ~ !
saw him TRANQUILITY draw key from
his pocket carefully introduce II Int
the lock, open tho door cntor, and
close II behind him without oven look.
Ing back rs utterly oblivious Of my
presence as II had never cxistsd.
stood there In gaping nma,cmcnt
my heart beating my thron, con
irnetcd n strange feeling, mn os,rnor.
binary doubt a.sniling mo. Perhaps
hy was tho rcni one and tho other
He had entered my house rs naturally
na Il In Mnrn nj home Mhlla Mn.