Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-07-08
MY DOUBLE.

MY DOUBLE.
It is very rarely q confess it) that an,
one meets his double, but such instances
have occurred, and am going to give yol
an example.
l saw mine once, but only once; hav,
never seen him since, know not from
whence he came or where he went; all
can say is this, surely saw him, my serv
ant saw and talked with him moreover
he saved my life, and yet l am forced t.
believe he never really existed, for WI
never found the least trace of him in {
place where it was impossible he coult
have escaped.
Now all this seems very extraordinary
to you, no doubt incomprehensible. Well
am not surprised. have given it great
deal of thought, and yet l do not under
stand it in the least. 1t is as great a mys
terry to me as ever, but will tell you thu
incident as it occurred:
1t was in the winter of 1865, when was {
student at the University of Leipsic.
At that time l was very intimate will
young Count Bremen. We were about
the same age, were in the same classes an(
lived in the same street, the Herzogs
strasse, one Of the Oldest streets in that ole
city, crooked, gloomy and remarkably mar
row. The houses we occupied were ex
actly opposite each other. From the win
dows of Count Brenner's apartment yor
could look directly into my bedroom, and
as have said, the street was so narrow We
could sit on the balconies Of an evening
smoke our pipes and talk as quietly as il
we were in the same room, but as to the
matter of that we were scarcely ever apart
One day Count Bremen was suddenly
called to Bavaria to see an old uncle, his
only relative, who was very i'll. He de
parted Immediately, saving it might be
some time before he could return.
was very much annoyed at the sudden
departure of my friend, it deranged all oul
cherished habits, and that same evening
not knowing what to do to while away the
time, | made a visit to Counselor Kar
deiffel, one Of my fathers old friends who
lived in the other end of the city.
But my visit was very disappointing.
was vaguely dissatisfied, almost anxious
could not tell why. I felt drowsy and
stupid, and after losing several games Of
cards took leave of my host and retired
Just as the antique clock in the hall struck
II.
It was a very dark night. and 7 had
scarcely made three stems in the street
when heard some one walking behind
me. At first paid no attention to this
thinking it was some belated citizen re.
turning home like myself.
But I began to be very much ANNOYED
when perceived this unknown individual
followed the exact route as myself. turn
ing the same corners of the street. crossing
the same squares, ALWAYS preserving the
same distance between MS and reonlatino
his steps so perfectly with mine our feet
seemed to touch the ground at the same
moment.
At last. TO see If was Intentionally fol.
lowed. stonned. He did the same Then
beoan to think he was NOT a common foot.
pad. else he would have assailed me long
ago for the streets were black az niobt
The public lighting in those DAYS was very
meager. only a few lamps nlaced here and
there at the foot of some statue or at Ger.
tain corners of the streets.
1 continued to walk on, the unknown al
WAYS at nv heels. This assistance gave
me good cause for uneasiness. particniarlv
as was unarmed and had no means of de.
tense except a small penknife.
At last we arrived at the corner of tbe
Herzogstrasse. where a lamp was dimlv
burning Icould stand II no LONGER hut
determined to see nv unknown friend,
suddenly STONED. and bending down as if
to tie my shoe, was able to regard this
obstinate companion of nv walk.
I cannot tell YOU my amazement. nv ter
ror, when / recognized in this person
standing a few steps behind me. as if
quietly waiting for me to proceed, the ex-
act counterpart of myself. l could see
him distinctly, and no mirror ever pro-
duced my image more truthfuIly, nv
form, my face, my beard, my hair all iden-
tically the same, and to complete the like
ness my double, or rather nv other self.
wore the same cloak, hat and clothes ex.
actly like mine in color and appearance. !
was thunderstruck, while he, who had sd
completely upset me, calmly looked on as
if he found nothing abnormal in nv an
pearance and was only waiting for NE to
proceed.
Suddenly a great fright possessed me. I
ouickened nv steps and hurried on. I
would not even look back for fear If would
seem as if were fleeing from this man. vet
[ confess was yery much startled.
AS + have already told YOU, the street
was very narrow, and as took the side
where Count Bremen lived, the other, nv
double. followed the side where nv house
was situated. He seemed to hasten his
stems as he drew near INV anert,rents and
arrived before NV door inst as I roach cd
- - -
quo W. W 10y ~ - Eli ie e'oppeu'
e'oPlea. was ~ VIC s1upeiIo.lon u lerlol
anu sul pliso. NM noy. iouiu cou.u
NV uouei q w. 10y Ups lelusuo - ihHAe
any piooe1:ao'on, Guy ny " eoi ~ noip'
a saw ninl Ifa1quilly ara" Key lfoil
nis poohe0' Iaisiu iiS lu1iouuce ~ nv Ine
,epA' ppen .ne uoo., enUef anu close ~ w.
mug mn Ni1nous eYsH !ooAins cacA, az
Neeeliy oonf Jus " tns p'esence f's Il ! n''u
Hesel eAisgeo'
seooo tnere III gaping amazement, my
Aeato oee'ins' NY onloao oohOraceeu' a
sgrhHse leel4ng, ~ eAsfaofolnafy o9upe'
sssai1lls me FeTnaps ne was Inc rear one
slnu tlle oener. ne liao eheereo my nousg
10 nabatally ss u ne were ~ nome, wnlle
was lelI eIauu1ns ~ o,le s.feep' 1uuoeA4y
d nI oanie W 10y pewllueieu prain
Slso.ousiy i"ns INC oeiioA ooun' oreiinei :
"p1iIinenC;
lans' .ne oiu servaho Oh my 1rlenu'
1noMeu us :tis m . laIe aS .ne graIln
f SCI @n naTe a .osv Ivy . ny ~
t@y9 ttHtplessly tuus pea. aipet Peat ~