Evening star., 1898-11-12


park was dedicated. AS will be remem-
bered. there was a parade after the dedi-
cation ceremonies at the monument were
over.
l watched the procession, but of course
could not see every individual in it; and T
didn't happen 10 see the man from Omaha
1 took no part in the parade and so I was
not little surprised when on my way
home that afternoon an acquaintance said
to ME.
Bruce You looked first-rate in the sad
die but now did you happen to be with the
Nebraskans?''
Looked first-rate in the saddle I re-
peated. What do you mean? / haven't
been in a saddle for ten years"
Weren't you in the parade this after
noOn?' he demanded.
No. sir
Why, I saw you; / stood on the curb,
and you passed within three feet of me.
You looked exactly as you do this minute.
except tOr your Uniform. And you mean to
say it wasn't your
/ assured my acquaintance that it really
and trIly wasn't me.
Well he said, you have got double,
sure enough. / wondered at the time how
you happened to be with the governor of
Nebraska
My wife and i've in a boarding house.
and at dinner that night some of our te!-
l0W-boarderS enter aimed 4 guest from
Omaha He was DIR. Somebody do not
now recall his name After being intro
duced | caught him eyeing me curiousiy.
Presently he said: Mr.. Bruce, you bear
most astonishing likeness to a friend of
mine in Omaha If | had met you any
where else i should certainly have thought
you were Philip Carr. He was in the pa
rade today, on the staff of our governor.
1 did not see the man from Omaha while
he was In the city that time Several weeks
passed. and / had quite forgotten that there
was a man in Omaha. when something
happened TO remind me OF the fact.
One night on the way from my office to
car l saw a gentleman advancing from the
opposite direction. He was smiling toward
me in a friendly fashion. and | thought
seemed mighty glad to see me. His hand
was extended, and under the impression
that | might have met him before, took
it We shook hands warmly, not 10 say
v ith feryor. But even while we werr doing
so. and while | was searching in the darker
recesses of memory for the mans name,
the expression of pleasure on his face
changed, and with rather more doubt than
conviction he said: You're from Omaha,
aren't you?'' But he shock his head while
he was speaking. his eyes studying my face
with great earnestness.
Il guess I've made d mistake" he added,
continuing to gaze at me wondering!y.
Il think YOU have" / replied. AT first ]
thought / had met you before. But can
place GU.
II thought you were Mr.. Cara friend
OF mine in Omaha You look very much
like him. But i see you're not, and be
passed on
Some months elapsed. and one noon when
/ out for luncheon l felt touch on
nv shoulder. Turning. / faced man with
gray hair and mustache. He was ii
stranger to me. but his hand was extended
for d shake l did not grasp it; and when
ne looked me full in the face saw the ez-
preston of friendly greeting change to one
OF hesitation and perplexity- He gaZed
wistfully into my face and asked:
''You're-you' re from Omaha, aren't you?
No" | said. I'm not the man from
Omaha. My name is Bruce. You thought
twas Carr. didn't you?'
Yes ne said. .But-how did you
know
..Oh. I've been mistaken for him before,
said smiling. and with that l bowed and
passed OF.
It was not long after this that my friend
Harry Hun returned from a western trip.
He had been gone several weeks, and / was
Very glad to him and met him warmly.
But / thought / detected an unWonted
freshness in his manner. He replied rather
coldiy To my questions regarding his health
and directed most of his conversation . Il
mutual friend who CHANGED to be with me.
This mutual friend withdrew, however, in
q few minutes and left Harry alone with
me. He seemed rather embarrassed and
made brief replies to my inquiries. L be
san to wonder what the deuce allied him,
ana III 10 ItL!lcHlDt4 "iIdl L tOtIu
have done to offend him, lapsed into silence
myself
Silence seemed to embarrass Harry more
than conversation, however, and at length
he asked. Did you have pleasant time
In Omaha p?
The man from Omaha instantly came in
to my mind. and i thought, "Ah, here lies
the secret of Harry's coolness. He has seen
him. and mistaken him for me-" l had a
mischievous desire for little fun. now
that l suspected what had come between
Harry and me. and so, though L have never
stepped foot inside the limits Of Omaha,
said:
Yes. quite pleasant. 1t struck me as
lively and energetic town. and the people
there were very cordial Did you go there
while on your trtpy
Harry's face flushed. Ibid go there?"
he exclaimed. Don't add insult to injury
Bruce. Don't pretend, now that you are
back here in Chicago, that you didn't see
me there. There was no occasion for you
10 feel your Importance so much, just be-
cause you happened to be hobnobbing with
the governor. l wouldn't have cut you the
way you did me if I'd been with the Pres-
dent Of the United States. and you know il.
IL never entered my head that you were
such a despiCabie snob until you proved il
that day There was the bitterness of
wounded pride in Harry's tone.
saw that this was no time to carry on
the delUsi1u. and go ! said quietly.
Harry. you are the victim of a mistaken
identity. | have never been in Omaha"
Harry stared at me, and the look of
anger IN his face changed to d curious ex-
preston Of disgust He opened his lips 10
speak.
Wait" ! said. DO not say ANYTHING
you may regret until you have heard me
Sou think am not only a snob but q liar
also. l speak the truth, though, when |
say L was never in Omaha
Then why did you say you were. a mo-
nent ago. he interrupted.
IOu asked me if l had a pleasant time
there, and ! answered yes. 1t wasn't say
ing i'll 50 many words that | had been
there, though | admit il was tantamount
10 IT, ! beg your pardon for that / was
JokiEs-quite harmlessly, l thought But
let me explain. There lives in Omaha a
nan who. so far as | can Judge must be
my exact double. | heard of him first
through an acquaintance. and twice since
nave | heea stopped the street by men
VINO mIStook ME for this man from Oma ma
Zen you mentioned that you saw me in
Onithi at once cOnJectuTed that you had
seen my double. and j thought / would
nave "a little fun with you I'm sorry, and
mere nv hand. Now tell me about your
meeting aim
" ME was speaking the expression on
marry 5 lace changed from anger and dis
sGst 10 one of wonder and bewiid srment
honestly, Dick. do you mean to tell me
you Were not IN Omaha last week Thurs
day. he asked