Hutchinson gazette., 1900-09-20
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THE CASE OF TEE TWINS.


! ne nhu never met nef neiOfei fne WIS
not the kIad Of girl 10 be forgotten,
But this striking resemblance TO his
brother explained her mistake,
The girl was the only person In IN,
carriage when Harding entered II,
She wns Of medium height, fulrwllb
light hair, She barely glanced ut hin
~ he entered the train; she was buried
In u new magazine, While he waf
watching her profile the girl turned
suddenly, caught his eye and then i'm
pulslyely turned toward him, holding
out her had,
"llow do you do?' she said cor.
dially, ~ um delight to meet n friend.
I've been travelling for hours and I'm
bored to death"
Harding greeted his twin brothers
friend with cordially equal TO her
own.
wonder whore Ted met her?" he
thought, ! wonder IL II was n luX'
ton or at the seashore? Oh. perhaps
he wnltzed with her, wonder who
on earth she is?"
"Nou might at leNst say you are glad
to gee me- continued the girl,
Harding lied cheerlully.
81 was thinking Of you just before
the train came In, he said, "und won
derlng when we should have such pure
unnlloyed iollity again ns that dny we
spent together"
The girl looked at him in nmuse-
ment and then she gave musical
peel Of laughter,
Indeed, yes" ghe said.
'"And do you remember" the girl
went on, that lovely evening on the
lake?"
Don't II" said Harding,
lie was about to add reminiscent
remark OF snfe general character about
the dip Of the oars when the girl ad'
ded:
How clear and frosty the air was
and how our skates SKINNED over the
ice"
Harding almost gNsped at his mar
row escape, He decided to let the girl
do her own talking.
"And do you remember that even
ing on the veranda"-the girl lowered
her voice suggestively-"when IL wns
too dark to see my eyes, and you de-
clared they were blue, though | nlmc 81
persuaded you they were hazelY
"IIow could forget IT." said Hard
ing with bold plunge. "llnt you did
not almost persuade me. know your
eyes too WELL
And he gN2ed into them.
III this Is the Csc" snid the girl,
and her voice frosted over suddenly,
show did It happen you didn't recog-
n2e me when You got into the train
You looked straight at me?"
"My unfortunate eyes," stnmmcred
Harding, clutching desperately ut TIE
first excuse that came, "l'm 50 com
foundedly near-sighted, you know On
my honor"
"Your explanation, though far from
original, does you credit said the
fair-hnired girl stlliy; "but can sug-
gest better one. I'll make you n
present cf it. You never saw me be-
fore. You don't even know my name.
You saw that hod mistaken yoN r
someone ana YOU were no. honorable
enough to undcceiye me, ! saw you
were certain about the lake, and |
tested you on the yernndn. The vcrnn-
dO and the hazel were pure fiction on
my part-and on yours
She rose with dignity and moved to
the far end Of the carriage.
"Oh Miss \" Harding paused,
foiled by the awltwnrdness of not
knowing her name.
The girls face relaxed little She
struggled with n smile. The smile won
the day and then Harding went over
and took n seat beside her.
IT beg your pardon he said hum
bly,, "nnd VI you won't hear my explain
tion, send me away. Evidently You
took me for your friend, Mr. Harding.
Well, I'm not Harding, At least not
your Harding"
'l'm very sure you're not said the
girl. ...
81 mean I'm not the Harding you
thought. I'm not H,yself, You see; I'm
my brother"
"Then who are YOU when you are
not your brother?" said the girl.
"I'm win Harding he explained,
"nnd the man you met before was my
twin brother. Ted. lie is the image Of
me and people caH't tell us apart r
together for that matter. This sort of
thing is always happening, We're both
so used to it that We never correct the
impression-iust live up to the role"
"You can't deceive me- said the girl,
81 knew when you began to talk that
I'd never met you before"
Her eyes were brmming over with
fun.
"If I haven't said enough added
Harding, 81 hereby offer my most
apologies
"rhey are accepted said the girl
"but you don't deserve it,
~ know" said Harding, "Pcrhnps |
this will he n lesson to me. You see,
I never got into trouble before. e
always prime each other on important
we propose to "A girl, for
example. or borrow a sovereign from
a friend
"Will you get that umbrella for me,
plense?" asked the girl hurricdly. |
''This is my station"
"Aready,' exclaimed Harding, in
dismay, And you haven't told mcyour |
The girl colored till even her pretty |
ears grew pink under her fluffy hair.
ltNnn ininhI ncL-lrnl " shn snid with |