The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-26
THE ADVERTISERS DAILY SHORT STORY

The only reason that Jack Inskip did not die the moment I was born, or vice versa, is probably this: We were twins and our extraordinary antipathies were iot as yet in good working order.
 In the first place-so I have been told Surfing the hour that Jack was good baby I was a rascally little demon; whilst I slept peacefully, Jack was wakefrl and peevish; if one evinced hum ger, the other would refuse nourish- ment.
 All that, of course might have been passed over with little comment; but one morning, while the nurse was giving us our bath, Jack put his chubby fist on the hot stove and I received terrible burn. I yelled lustily with the pain, much to the nurses bewilderment, as the red scar appearing on Jacks hand caused him not the slightest inconvenience.
 Three weeks later got even with Jack for his carelessness by falling over the shoulder of the nurse and striking face downward on the floor. She snatch d me up hurriedly and with terrified lace shook me with vigor, but 1 merely looked at her conlplacently. Strangely enough, the screams of Jack in the ad- Joining room were appalling; and 1t was afterward found that he had good-sized swelling on his forehead.
 These phenomenal characteristics were . puzzle to the attending physician. who called in the most eminent medical ex. perts; but their experiments revealed nothing, and the result was merely a lot of conflicting and attenuated theo- ries.
 Many interesting and inexplicable incl dents marked our career through Doy- hood, any one of which would scarcely be entertained seriously as the truth. In time we became celebrated under the facetious sobriquet of The Unearthly Twins"
 One of my great likings was for candy Jack loved pickles--but whenever l in- dulged it poor Jack had to suffer, pacing the floor half the night with the tooth- ache; on the other hand, Jack nearly put wings on my innocent shoulders by par taking too freely of green apples while on our vacation at Orchard Ridge.
 It was, therefore, to our mutual inter est that we study each others peculiar ities, @ course we adopted and followed most conscientiously. Still. through in- advertence, many amusing complica- tions arose.
 One morning I was discovered lying prone on the Kitchen fifloor exhibiting all the symptoms of one drowning. Our dear mother, wise through long experience, dis regarded me entirely and sent the ser- wants off scurrying through the neigh borhood looking for Jack. The mill race. where we were accustomed 10 take an occasional plunge was searched, the creek at the foot of the hill was visited, but Jack was not to be found At length some one thought of the we'll. In a few moments the dripping body of Jack was drawn forth-very much alive. An error that nearly cost me my lire was discovered not moment too soon. AL though was the sufferer by the catas- trophe, the application of the usual reme- dies to me proved of no avail, but when transferred to the unfeeIing Jack, they revived me immediately.
 As the years passed and we entered manhood's estate. to the satisfaction of our relatives and friends we exhibited union of feeling on vital point--both were fond of the opposite sex, But even through the delicate fabric of our love dreams ran the Zig-zag vein of contrar- iety. The dramatic instinct of our friends was on the alert for possible develop ments.
 Once on a festive occasion, amid a gay party of young people. I was proffered cocktail by most enticing young society but. I politely refused 1t, as drinking was against my principles. But a second thought came to me concerning Jack. He was not present, but it occurred to me that possibly my teetotalism might prove his ruin. I also figured it out that if I indulged mildly he could be depended upon to rush off and sign the pledge.
 T believe I will take that cocktail" l stamme"ed awkwardly, to the amuse- ment of my friends and the delight of the
 Wednesdays story THE PILGRIMAGE