The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-10-15
The ManWho
Met Himself
By EDGAR WELTON COOLEY.
Copyright, 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

"a ment, Archibald DemminE found
amusement in staring at his dim reflec-
tion in the mirror at the further end.
There was no lamp in the bus, and the
only light that illumined the interior
was such as struggled through the
mist and the night from the shop
windows.
However, Demming's eyes gradually
adjusted themselves to the gloom and
presently he noticed what appeared to
be second mirror in the front end
of the vehicle. This mirror apparently
hung at a different angle than did the
one he had seen first, for the reflection
from it was of the side, rather than
of the front of his face.
While ne sat idly gazing at this mir
ror, he suddenly noticed that, while
1t reflected perfectly his features, it
did not reflect any other object.
His curiosity aroused, Demnlfng
leaned forward, the better to scruti-
nize it. Then he drew back, aston
ished.
He had moved-had moved at least
foot. But his reflection in the glass
had remained perfectly stationary.
"Umph!" he exclaimed aloud,
"that's queer"
At the sound of his voice, the side
view of himself il the mirror suddenly
changed to front view His eyes
seemed gazing directly at himself.
He could see lis reflection in both
mirrors now, side by side. But in the
one-in the glass he had first noticed,
his broWs were contracted, his lips
were pressed tightly together, CLEAN
of bewilderment covered his face; in
the other, his eyes twinkled merrily,
the lips were slightly parted as
though he were about to laugh, his
face was aglow with amusement Yet
in other respects the two reflections
were precisely the same.
There were the same deep-set eyes,
the same aquiline nose, the same
heavy mustache, the same prominent
jaws and square chin, the same care
fully parted hair, even to one stray
lock that hung down over his fore
head.
Demming leaned back against the
cushions and stared at the two mirrors
in silence.
He could imagine how the angle of
reflection in the one glass might have
changed SO suddenly. 1t were possi-
BILE that the mirror were suspended in
such way as to allow it to turn, as
the bus swung and swayed.
But he could, by no possible theory,
explain how two mirrors might at the
same instant reflect one mans face
in such opposite moods.
Suddenly he heard a mans voice
say: Rather disagreeable night,
isn't it?''
For full moment Demming enjoyed
the sensation Of doubling his own san
fly. He was positive he had heard his
own voice; therefore, he must have
spoken. Yet he was not conscious of
having done SO, and his thought had
certainly not been upon the weather.
Then the bus swung under the bril-
liantly lighted shed of the Grand Cen
trail station. He had thought himself
alone in the vehicle, but he now saw,
instead of second mirror. man sit
ting on the further end of the seat.
Demming stared at him in abject be-
wilderment. for the mans apparel
his closely buttoned coat, his trousers,
his tie, his gloves, his hat, his shoes,
even his yalise-were exact duplicates
of his own!
1t was not until his fellow-passen-
ger had arisen and stood, valise in
hand, waiting for him to disembark,
that Demming realized the bus had
stopped and that an attendant had
opened the door.
Having finally managed to stumble
out, he stood in the glare of an arc
light and watched the Other Man
alight and mingle with the throng.
And slowly there crept through him
an indistinct impression that he, him
self, was only his own spirit. and that
MS Other Being was his mortal self.
He wondered if the soul of dead man
must not experience like sensation,
IN case it is allowed to hover around
the mortal remains and witness the
grief Of its living friends.
However, once in the Pullman, on
the Denver limited, and Invested of hat,
gloves and storm coat, his fatigue con-
vinced him that he was still in the
'nesh, and seeking his berth, he was
soon in refreshing slumber.
When he awoke the first gray
streaks of morning were slowly bright
ening the bluffs Of the Mississippi val
ley.
1t was, as yet, too early to arise, SO
ne lay, gazing out upon the flying
landscape and thinking of the woman
who was awaiting him in Denver; of
the wedding that was to be; of the
contemplated wedding tour; of the
cozy home he had prepared for her
In the east.
Finally the sun came up, shooting
Its scarlet darts across the hills and
dispelling the mists upon the lowlands.