Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-22
CHAPTER XII.

edge l was seeking.
CHAPTER XII.
Twas now so far in the country that
tho dwellings were widely separated,
the next house being fourth Of mile
off and OH the same side Of the highway.
II was near noon when | presented my
self at the door asking whether / could
obtain dinner, for which, Of course, !
expected to pay.
The occupants were kindly old cou'
pie and their grown son. The meal was
on the table, and noting my smart APP
pearance they invited me 10 sit with
them, the old lady asserting that they
could not think Of accepting pay. /
forced dollar upon them. much against
their will, and naturally rose in their
estimation.
Nothing was easier than to turn the
conversation upon the gossip Of the
neigh borhood, during which / secured
about all the information they possessed
about their next door neighbors.
The name of the head Of the latter
household was Isaiah Bridges. and he
was the twin brother Of my host whose
given name was Nathan. The former
couple had no children, having lost their
only daughter long time before. They
had owned and lived upon the farm for
40 years.
My informants seemed TO know little
about tho visitors Of their relatives.
They were aware that very distin.
guished looking gentleman and his wife,
foreigners they thought, had been board
ing there of and ON for the past few
weeks They occupied most Of the upper
floor, but associated with no one IN tse
neighborhood and avoided making ac-
quaintances. Mrs. Bridges told mo she
had called once or twice when she knew
the man and his wife were up stalks,
but they did not show themselves, and
neither my host nor hostess had seen
either except at distance.
After establishing friendly relations
with my new friends / asked TO be al
lowed to stay with them for few days,
explaining that if found it necessary
10 remain longer / would send for my
luggage They expressed IA modest fear
that their accommodations were not
good enough for me, but the bargain
was quickly made.
My friend Mr.. Brown had omitted
from his narrative q fact which must
now bc given. There was q strong re-
semblance between the appearance OF
Mr.. Darius G. Howard and myself. We
were Of similar height and build and
wore our boards in tho same style-pe-
culiarities which noticed when first
saw him.
Nv hair, however, is auburn and my
eyes hazel in color, the difference being
so marked that no one could mistake
either Of US for tho other by daylight
or in the glare Of gas or electric light
At night, however, such mistake would
be natural.
Ever since took hold Of this business
the fancy had been Pickering III my
brain that perhaps il was possible to
turn this personal resemblance to ac-
count. II | could make Mrs. Howard
think was he, even for brief time,
she might reveal some interesting Sc
crets.
But the scheme was quixotic one. l
could not initiate his voice and manner
closely enough to deceive her, and more
than likely when the husband and wife
talked they employed their own Ian
guage instead Of English. Besides In
what possible way could / gain the
chance 10 make the test!
Another question presented itself
were this strange couple in fear Of ma
tives Of their own country or Of Ameri-
can officers:
These and multitude Of similar
queries ran through my brain on the
starlit night when left my temporary
home ut Nathan Bridges and strolled
along the highway in the direction OF
the dwelling where the interesting cou-
pie spent portion of their time.
The bluff which had in mind was
to go to the house during the day. rep
resenting to the old lady that l was
county officer who had called to assess
the property, and it was necessary for
me to examine the premises. IL was
simple artifice, but | did not doubt l
could make it work. Perhaps would
try it on the morrow.
Careful inquiries Of my landlord gave
the gratifying information that his
brother was not the owner OF dog
That disagreeable factor was eliminated
from the problem.
II seemed co me- therefore, that no
harm but considerable good was likely
to come from little investigation dur
ing the favoring darkness. Perhaps
something might be seen through some
Of the lower or upper windows that
would throw light upon the mystery.
II I failed, it would DO nevertheless
an interesting way Of spending few
| hours.
At the entrance to the lane l paused
| to look and listen. Far in the distance
I heard the faint sound of locomotive
whistle. Some one called to another, an
odd eddy in the air bringing the voice
Do near that / instinctively glanced to
my right to sec the speaker. though l
knew he was a mile away. The soft
wind moved mournfully through the
poplars, and the lights from the houses
here and there twinkled across the sleep
ing landscape.
Everything invited the essay l had in
mind. There was no dog and plenty OF
shadow. No one could be aware OF my
purpose. Looking up the long avenue,
all was gloom, with tho faint twinkle
Of lights at the upper end. There was
no sound Of carriage wheels in either
direction and
When turned my head and looked
into the darkness toward my temporary
home, fancied saw the figure of
man, silent and motionless. he appeared
Highest Of al IN Leavening Pe