Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-08
The Man Who Met, Himself
  By EDGAR WILTON COOLEY.
Copyright. 1903. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,,

A s THE bus rattled over the pave "A ment, Archibald Demming found amusement in staring at his dim ref1ec- 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. >~
 While he sat idly gazing at this mir TOT, he suddenly noticed that, while it reflected perfectly his features, it did not reflect any other object.
 His curiosity aroused, Demming leaned forward, the better to scruti- nize it. Then he drew back, aston ished.
 He had moved-had moved at least a 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 in the mirror suddenly changed to front view. His. eyes seemed gazing directly at himself.
 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 ....-.
 For full moment Demming enjoyed the sensation of doubting his own san- ity. 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 Gen. tral station. He had thought himself alone in the vehicle, but he now saw, instead of second mirror, a 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 valise-were exact duplicates of his own! ..
 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 his Other Being was his mortal self. He wondered if the soul of a dead man in case it is allowed to hover around the mortal remains and witness the grief of it's living friends.
 However, once in the Pullman, on the Denver limited, and divested of hat, gloves and storm coat, his fatigue con- vinced him that he was still in the flesh, 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.
 It was, as yet, too early to arise, so he 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,s shooting it's scarlet darts across the hills and dispelling the mists upon the lowlands. Then he dressed and went forward to complete his toilet
 When, after breakfast and morn ing smoke, he returned, he found one- half of his section occupied by his fellow-passenge of the bus.
 He did not experience any surprise at this; nor did it occur to him as being out of the ordinary. Yet, it an noyed him.
 He picked up paper. but could not read. He seemed to feel the others eyes resting upon him. So he laid his paper aside and glanced, rather de- fantly. at his fellow-traveler
 The other was looking directly at him, and he saw the same features that he had mistaken for his own re- flection in the bus.
 The face was aglow with amuse- ment; the eyes twinkled; there was the suggestion of a smile upon the face.
 How far west?" Demming managed to ask, finally.
 Denver" the other replied.
 Do you reside in Denver?" he ven- tured after a pause.
 "No, sir," the other replied, 'my home is in Cleveland"
 "Cleveland?" Demming faltered, be- ginning to feel uncomfortable "Why, live in Cleveland, also"
 'Indeed?" replied the other, smil- ing. Then perhaps we will become good friends
 Demming did not reply, and the two gazed out of the windows at the green bluffs rolling backward, like gigantic waves, from the broad river
 Finally, the stranger, without remov- ing his eyes from the landscape, re- marked:
 From Cleveland to Denver is rather a long journey for one to take for the sole purpose of committing matrimony, don't you think?"
 Demming started and glanced af the other, half f1ercely.
 "How did you learn I was going to cat married 9' ha 6am an6ed