The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-06-30
MY DOUBLE.

SuduCCS nave OCCutiCU, ulU i ALL 70
ing to give you an example.
| saw mine once but only once;
hay never seen him since know not
f"| n whence he came or where he
went; all can say is this. surely saw
him. my servant saw and talked with
him. moreover he saved my life and yet
l am forced to believe he never really
existed. for we never found the least
trace Of him. in a place where it was
impossible he could have escaped.
Now. all this seems very extra or
airy to you no doubt incOmprehensib le
Well l am not surprised | have given
it a great deal Of thought. and yet |
do not understand it in the least 1t
is as great II mystery to me as ever
but | will tell you the incident as it
occurred.
1t was in the winter Of 1869. when
1 was a student at the University of
Leipsic.
At that time I was very intimate
with young Count Bremen. We were
about the same age. We're in the same
classes 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
could look directly into my bedroom.
and. as | have said. the street was so
narrow we could sit on the balconies
OF an evening and smoke our pipes
and talk as quietly as if we were in
tAe same room. but as to the matter
of that we were scarcely ever apart.
One day Count Brenner was sud-
denly called TO Bavaria to see an old
uncle. his only relative. who was very
ill He departed Immediately saying
it might be some time before he could
areturn.
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, 1
made a visit to Counsellor kardietfel,
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 1 could not tell why.
felt drowsy and stupid. and after los
ing several games of cards, l took
leave of my host and retired, just as
the antique clock in the hall struck
II.
1t was very dark night and l had
scarcely made three steps in the street
when l 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 l 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
to touch the ground at the same mo-
.ment.
AT last to see if I was Intentionally
followed. l 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 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 oil
the Herzogsstrasse. where a lamp was
dimly burning. l could stand it nc
longer, but determined to see nv I'm.
known friend. suddenly stopped.
and bending down as If to tie nv shoe
was able to regard this obstinate com
panon OF my walk.
l cannot tell you nv amazement
my terror, when l recognized in thi:
person standing a few steps behind
me. as If quietly waiting for me t.
proceed. the exact counterpart g
myself. | could see him distinctly
and no mirror ever produced m,
Image more truthfully. my form, nv
face my beard my hair, all ideuti
cally the same, and to complete tn,
likeness my double, or rather m,
other SELF wore the same cloak. ha
Clothes exactly like mine in colo
and appearance. I was thunder
struck. while he. who had so com
pletely upset me- calmly 'looked on a.
IL he found nothing abnormal in m,
appearance and was only waiting TO
me to proceed :
Suddenly great fright possessed
me. quickened my steps and hur
rled on. l would not even look bac]
for fear it would seem as if l wer
fleeing from this man yet I confess
was very much startled.
AS l have already told you tn
street was very marrow. and as + too
the side where Count Brenner lived
the other. my double, followed tn
side where my house was situated
tie seemed TO hasten his steps as b
drew near my apartments and arrive
before my door just as l reached tn
door OF my friend, He stopped,
stopped. Was it, the stupefaction {
terror and surprise? l know not,
found | could not utter word, IN
lips refused to make any protest;
ton. any cry or call for help. as
saw him TRANQUILITY draw key fro,
his pocket carefully introduce it int
the lock; open the door, enter, an