Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-10-30


THAT is not . compliment 10 Mia
Bellin."
81 know t. Felix In q profiigats
scamp and will make her q bad hus'
band. lie shall not marry her. )" added
Briarheld anerily. 81 say he shall moi
marry her and make her life miserable
I'll kiii him first"
"Nan. man. think of what you ar,
saying-your own brotberi'
My own brother-my twin broth
er." scoffcd Francis. ''is that any rea
son why he should take away from ms
the woman loycy'
"She IL not worth regretting II che
forgcts you 10 soon."
"shc has not forgotten me. he said
earnestly. 81 assure you. Dcnham. she
loves me still The last letter ! received
frum her gave no hint that she wearicd
Of ma AZ you say. therc is some trick
cry about ID Ill have an explanation
from Felix" continued he. striking the
table with his fist, ''or. by heaven. Ill
kill hint"
"whcrc did you meet bcrf'' I asked.
ignoring this last remark. which was bu,
Idle
'ln tows o~r ayear ago" he ~
piled. calming down. 'She IL. ~ you
know. very BEAUTIFUL. and her mother
wished her 30 make great match
am comfortably oti. but have not title;
therefore Mrs. Bellin would not s.nc.
tion the engagement Then hal 30 ~
o. south America ON business connected
with my property. Before left she
PROMISED to become my wife and swore
that nothing should part US or render
her false to me 80. here IL the ring
Oh. gave me-" he added. stretching out
his hand. this pearl ring was % ts
back In six months. and our engagement
was 90 b, made public ] am back In
d1 months. and thu nrt thing hear
l. that she IL to marry Felix"
"Did she write and tell you so''
"No But Felix did and asked me "a
meet him here before seeing her"
"Now. wonder II this apparent
trcachery of Miss Bcllin has anything
20 do wi'h Jour twinshipy"
"whn do you meani" asked Briar'
Geld. starting up
"You aro 30 like In appeararce. - said
I. THAT no one could tell you apart
You have lived constantly together save
for the last six rsonths and know every
action of each others lives Il may L.
tina, Felix has pSsed himself OF to Mis-
Bellin as you-"
"lmpossible! She would detect the
deception"
II doubt IL. save by intuition ] ~.
sure you. Briarheld. that tho rcsem.
blancc between you Is most p.rplesine
There IL not tho slightest difference
You dress the same: you have the same
gestures: you almo-t think the same. II
L. scarce possible % tell which IL which
when apart I thought tonight that
you were Felix"
'lt cannot be: II cannot b., " hc NUT
tered fcvcrishly. 'licr own heart would
tell her the truth"
"Did you tell Felix of your engage
menti" I asked abruptly.
"Ycs I told him all"
"And when did you hear last from
Mis- Bolliny"
"some three months aga II was b.
cause she did not reply 10 my letters
that came back ~ soon
Ito whom were your letters sentl'
"To her. Of course"
"Caro ~ felixi" said I. with In.
stinctive suspicion
"why. yc-." he said, with sudden
frown II did not want Mrs Bellin "a
know of our engagement. 10 did no,
dare 90 write openly. Felix undertook
90 deliver the letters
"Ha may have undertaken Co do 81
but" ADDED forcibly. 'ho did not. "
"Dcnhaml"
'The whole case IL as clear as day.
said l. Felix was In loyo with Mis-
Bellin and wished TO marry her Know
ing she was in love with you. he was
we'll awarc he had no chano.. - oresortcd
10 trickery When you left for Chile, he
gave her your letters for three months,
then. saying he was going abroad, o-ten.
sibly left England. but really staid and
presented himself ~ you"
''As mey"
"Ye~ Ho has traded ON the marvel.
Gus resemblance between you lie
knows all your life all your love Affairs,
and have no doubt that Mis- Bellin
believes that he II Francis Briariield.
her lover, returned from South America
In three months instead Of six"
"If I thought ~. muttered Francis.
biting his fingers. ''if Thought So
~ am surc it IL ~ Now you sec why
it IL imperative that he should inter.
view you before you meet Miss Bellin
lie wishes 10 reveal tho deception and
throw himself ON your mercy"
"IIe'll get no mercy from mo II this
IL So said Briarfield In somber tone
"Oh, fool that Twas not 10 write direct
20 Olivia when came back TO England
Hut 10 IL not too late When he comes
here I'll learn the truth and denouncs
him 20 Olivia Then our troubles will
b. over"
~ man capable Of such . trick l.
capable of worse. said I<ententiously.
~ advise you to be on your guard
against Felix"
"Do you think he'll kill mei''
81 don't 20 NJ far n that" replied
cautiously. but your meeting will be-
productive Of trouble Just now you ex'
pressed wish To kill nim."
"And l shall II ho has tricked me a'
you say"
"Nonsense. Briarfield. You talk wild
~. This matter can surely be settled IN
q less melodramatic fashion. ! am glad
I am here. ~ perhaps you will permit
me to be present ut the interview"
"willingly. know how clever you
are. Dsnham. You may assist me to un'
mask Felix"
"Do you think he'll come tonightr
said I. going TO the window.
"IIis letter said tonight OF tomor
row."
"Then 10 will b tomorrow Fell,
wouldn't risk meeting you Mt night u
he had thus betrayed you Lst us go te
bed and tomorrow settle the matter.
At 6xt Francis was unwilling 10 re
tire. but when the landlord came 20 loci
mp for the night and laughed at th'
idea Of any one coming there from
Marshlninster he fell In with my desire
Together We went up stairs and parte
on the threshold Of his room II wa
ave or six doors away from mine
'Lock your door. Z" said ~ we part