Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-08-13
MY DOUBLE

1t is very rarely q confess itl that
any one meets his double but such
instances have occurred. and am GO
ing to give you an example.
saw mine once but only once;
have never seen him since. know not
from whence he came or where he
went; all can say is this 1 surely saw
him. my servant saw and talked with
him. moreover hesayed my life and yet
am forced to believe he never really
existed for we never found the least
trace Of him. in place where it was
impossible ne could have esc aped.
Now all this seems very extraor-
airy 10 you no btincomprehensible
Well am not surprised. have given
it a great deal OF thought and yet |
do not understand it in the least 1t
is as great mystery TO me as ever
but will tell You the incident as it
occurred.
1t was in the winter Of 1862 when
was a student ut the University OF
Leipsic.
At that time 1 was very intimate
with Young Count Bremen. We were
about the same age were in the same
Glasses and lived in the same street.
The Herzog- strasse was one OF the
oldest streets in that old city; crooked.
gloomy and remarkably narrow The
houses we occupied were exactly OPP
posite each other from the windows
OF Count Brenners apartment you
eould look directly into my bedroom.
and, as | have said. the street was so
narrow we could sit on the balconies
81 an evening and smoke our pipes
and talk as quietly as if we were in
/ e same room. but as to the matter
Of that we were scarcely ever apart
Ole day Count Bremen was sud
denly called TO Bavaria to see an old
uncle. his only relative. who was very
i'll He departed Immediately. saying
il might be some time before he could
return.
/ was very much annoyed at the
sudden departure of my friend it de-
ranged all our cherished habits. and
that same evening not knowing
what to do to while away the time I
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-
ing | was vaguely dissatisfied. al
most anxious. could not tell why. |
ielt droBsy and stupid and after los
ing several games of cards. took
leave OF my host and retired. just as
the antique clock in the hall struck
H.
1t was very dark night and / had
scarcely made three steps in the street
when heard some one walking be-
hind me. At first paid no attention
to this, thinking it was some belated
citizen returning home like myself.
But began to be very much an
noyed when | perceived this unknown
individual followed the exact route as
myself turning the same corners OF
the street crossing the same squares
always preserving the same distance
between US. and regulating his steps
so perfectly with mine our feet seemed
10 touch the ground at the same mo
ment
AT last to see If l was Intentionally
followed, stopped He did the same.
Then began to think he was not a
common footpad else he would have
assailed me long ago. for the streets
were black as night The public
lighting in those days was very
meager only a few lamps placed here
and there AT the foot of some statue or
at certain corners OF the streets.
At last we arrived at the corner OF
the Herzogsstrasse, where lamp was
dimly burning. / could stand it no
longer but determined to see my uu.
known friend. suddenly stopped
and bending down as If to tie my shoe
was able to regard this obstinate com
panion of my walk.
l cannot tell you my amazement
my terror, when recognized in this
person standing a few steps behind
me as If quietly waiting for me to
proceed, the exact counterpart OF
myself. | could see him distinctly
and no mirror ever produced my
image more truthfully. my form. my
face. my beard my hair, all ideuti-
cally the same and to complete the
likeness my double. or rather nv
other SELF wore the same cloak, hat
clothes. exactly like mine in color
and appearance. | was thunder.
struck. while he. who had SO com
pletely upset me calmly looked on as
ii he found nothing abnormal in my
appearance and was only waiting fer
me to proceed
Suddenly great fright possessed
me. | quickened my steps and hur-
ried on. / would not even look back
for fear it would seem as If were
fleeing from this man yet confess |
was very much startled.
As ] have already told you the
street was very narrow and as took
the side where Count Bremen lived
the other my double followed the
side whore my house was situated.
He seemed TO hasten his steps as he
drew near my apartments and arrived
before my door just as / reached the
door OF my friend He stopped, /
stopped. Was it, the stupefaction OF
terror and surprise? | know not, !
faund / ao1ld MT i1ttat. a tyo,d 49,,