The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-03-11
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
The Serious Trouble a Bridegroom's
Double Caused Him.


Double Caused Him.
Just ahead of me in a smoking car
on the Cincinnati Southern sat young
man about twenty-six years of age,
with brown, curly hair, shoulders
slightly stopped, wearing light over
coat and dark felt hat.
was young man about twen.y-six
years old, with brown, curly hair,
shoulders slightly stopped, wearing a
light overcoat and dark felt hat.
! noted with some interest these sew
eral POINTS of coincidence, and finally,
in order to get square look Mt the
strangers face, passed him in going
for a crink of water. A twin brother
could not have resembled me more
closely in feature and expression. The
likeness was wonderful.
He locked up suddenly and my own
astonishment was reflected in his face.
My eouble," he explained. pleas
antly. even to the hat and coat. You
almost frightened me. l am John
Lloyd Evals, of Boston"
"And !, as we shook hands, s'am
Parker NJ. Leonard, of New Orleans -
49," he laughed, ''if only our names
got mixed there would be tangle, eh?''
lie had handed me his card, and this,
after glanciag at it, l put in my pocket
The name was printed in old English
type on thick bevel and gilt-edged
white cardboard.
We soon became quite confidential
He told me that he was stock broker
and man Of leisure. told him that /
was senior bcokkeeper for New Or
leans cotton firm, that had fallen in
love three years before with an Ohio
young lady and was to marry her next
day.
"It's pleasant TO hear you talk about
it." he said, thoughtfully; II wish
you all happiness"
He was silent for few seconds, busy
with his thoughts. Then he asked, alb
ruptly:
Don't you stay over in Cincinnati
until morning."
''Yes, leaving al nine and reaching
there at eleven"
II never liked Cincinnati" he re.
joined, "but your dreams there to-
night will be pleasant enough"
Yes" said; ''but don't yon go on to
Cincinnati with me?'
mo; my ticket is for Cincinnati. but
] won't go that far. Leonard-or Mr..
Leonard-will you humor a fancy of
mine?"
''In reason" I assented. readily.
''What is it?"
Register tonight under my name.
Call yourself John Lloyd Evans, of
Boston, and let me register as Parker
M. Leonard"
/ thought ne must be joking, but his
face was quite serious. 1t seemed a
silly request, but after some little hest
tation consented. Five minutes later
left him to return to the rear car in
which had left my valise and parcels.
'No." he had replied to my invita-
ton, II won't go back now. / must
enjoy another cigar or two here. How
ever, will see you again presently"
He didn't, though. Just before the
train reached Cincinnati i went for
ward to look for him, but my double
had disappeared.
In Cincinnati registered according
to promise as John Lloyd Evans, of Bos-
ton. For an hour or two / lounged
about the hotel, meeting no one with
whom was acquainted, and was final
ly upon the point of going to my room
and to sleep when / noticed a shah
bily-dressed man at the desk staring at
me. Just then another man joined the
one at the counter and both stared at
me. After seconds conversation
about me, thought-they approached
NE together.
Good evening"" said one of them.
'What is your name, sir?"
Leonard. ! answered. thoughtless.
ly and rather CURLY.
The shabby man laughed bolster.
ously. nudging his companions
Theta good" he said; "that's
clever. But isn't your name John Lloyd
Evans?"
II nm registered by that name,"I
had to admit.
'So-we want you, Mr.. John Lloyd
Evans. We want you bad