Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-02-23
THE 1.-TWO JOHNS''
By HENRY T.. SHELTON.

young lndy Sufflclently like Ethel
Sommers to serve the purpose OF 4
comparison. There are, perhaps,
many as beautiful, as accomplished,
as intelligent, as good, but it has
never been my fortune to meet one
who combined all these qualities so
happily as she did.
Her life had been far happier than
that OF the average AN uneventful
life, with many more days OF sun
shine than clouds. The memory OF
those years which had brought her to
young womanhood was simply the
history OF that little country town in
which they had been spent, with here
and there a stray page telling OF other
scenes among which she had, at rare
intervals, sought diversion. This and
two years ut boarding school sutticed
to fill the 20 years OF her lie. Little
wonder, therefore, that the prospect
OF 81 three-months' visit with a friend
OF her boarding. school days was very
inviting.
Anna Dale, the schoolmate, had
written Ethel a most cordial invita-
ton to visit her during the summer,
adding atew remarks somewhat for
eign to the subject, which may have
been the cause OF Il slight blush on
Ethel's cheeks.
The little city in which Ethel was
to spend the summer was but little
larger than the one she had left be-
hind, but it possessed all the charms
OF a strange city, with many strange
faces. In fact. it possessed charms
to which the young ladies who had
been reared within its borders were
far from blind. OF course they had
long since ceased to enthuse with the
beauties Of the picturesque drive
which wound in and out among the
rocks as it followed the course OF the
sleepy river or to sigh rap1urously
as their eyes followed the silvery
path that led across the little lake to
where the summer sun was sinking
through the ruddy clouds into the
morning of another land, but the me-
diocrity Of everyday life had been re-
lieved by the advent OF the 1.-TWO
Johns" the distinctive little witch
Anna soberly applied to the conbi-
nation which had literally stormed
Glenwood.
Although the foundation for this
title did not at first appear clear to
the strangers who looked upon the
comejy, well-proportioned gentlemen
who jointly bore it, yet when all was
explained its aptness was clear. 1t
was indeed most singular coinci-
dence.
That the "two Johns" were right
ly named could not be disputed unless
one wished to assail the wisdom Of
their respective parents and the acct
dent OF BIRTH The singular feature
OF the affair was that the full name Of
the older OF the two was John Cor
don while that OF the younger was
John Gordon. There was not even q
middle letter in their names by which
to distinguish them. and neither would
yield precedence to the other by
adopting one, but preferred to COM
promise the matter by having the
mail matter OF the former addressed
to "Mr. John Gordon" that OF the
latter to "John Gordon, Esq"
l have, perhaps, inadvertently done
an injustice to Mr.. John Gordon by
insinuatin. that he strove to main
tain his dignity by perverseness: when
II h \,
more properly be ascribed to the i'm
pertinance OF the younger one. Mr..
Gordon. who. by the way, was in no
way related 20 Gordon Esq, arrived
in GIenwool fully a week prior to the
advent OF the second one, and was
not little surprised when the latter
called upon him early one morning
and suggested that he make some
change in his name to avoid compli-
cations. Mr.. Gordon very naturally
suggested that John Gordon, Esq,
adopt this happy idea, which sugges-
ton WAS de,.;:st"1 beneath the dignity
OF the latter Somewhat annoyed by
his utfciou>r..;~, Mr.. Gordon declined,
ana as a r"s"'t both remained John
Gordon, with the additions | have
mentioned.
Ethej's curiosity was somewhat ex-
citel when >'3e WAS made acquainted
with the nerpiexinC circumstances
which had c.;'l-d forth the title OF the
1.-TWO .Johns.' and very naturally she
associated With them a similarity OF
personal appearance which, had it
any existence in fact. would have rem
dered matters entirely hopeless. There
was in reality but one point OF SINH
larty aside from their names-both
We're gentlemen OF leisure; but
here it ended.
Mr. Gordon was in every sense the
hi hest type OF Il gentleman. Always
ntfable, courteous and urbane, he
made none but trends. There was no
affectation or insincerty about him,
and even a. stranger when in his COM
pany ieit the magnetic influence OF his
whole-soule:l nature. Although about
80 years OF age few would have placed
him above 26.
As for John Gordon. Esq. could
not do bettsr than invert the above
were it net fec the fact that by SO
doing I would impute rudeness, which
would be far from the trut h as he was