The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-02
Smith and His Counterpart
Ey CLARA AUGUSTA.


!
before, and certainly had not the pleas.
ure of being possessed of any of his
funds.
l tried TO impress this fact upon by
captorS, but they only laughed and as.
Snred me that Mr.. Pelham and Mr..
Bhll, tile detectives who had seized me
had very accurate description of the
rascally clerk, from Mr.. Streeter him.
SER. ana my appearance tailed with it
perfectly.
| was to have my examination next
morning, and then. if | could prove
that | was anybody but John Smith.
| was at liberty to do So
Just as | had finished my breakfast
next morning. the keeper came in TO
say that young lady wished 10 see
me.
a young lady! I was Mortified. for
had neither combs. brushes. or clean
collars. | smoothcd down my refrac-
tory locks with my fingers. fiirted the
dlrlN towel across my face. rubbed
my boots with my handkerchief, and
/ my toilet being thus completed, was
ready to receive my visitor.
Shades of Hebe and Venus The
! morning star itself was no comparison
to her. Blue dress. blue ribbons. blue
eyes, blond tresses ana voice sweeter
than tifty-dollar music box.
She rushed toward me. flung her
arms around my neck. put her soft
cheek against mine, hunted under my
rlustachc for my lips. and planted
there such regiment of kisses as to
take my breath away was quite
willing TO have her take it away, and
did not care Il picayune if she kept
up this sort of thing till Christmas.
Dearest cousin john" cried she: "it
Is such shame for you to be here
! But it Is just like those laundering Of
! tcers. They fancy themselves won
dcriul in the detective business. They'd
arrest their own grandmother if they
had one, darllngr'
Yes" said l, seeing that she paused
for breath, Il have no doubt of it,
II read about your arrest in the
paper last night. 1t gave your name as
j. Smith. but J. stands for John. and
| knew it was you! | told papa so.
but he said 'Pshawr But / always
have my way. and so I came down to
see you. without even stopping TO
dress. Dear me! | expect l am just
horrid in this old wrapper"
"Horrid"' said l. why, I thought
your dress was dlvine"'
She laughed, and kissed me again.
I hoped she would keep on doing so.
1t seemed to me the incest thing she
could do.
Papa is coming down in an hour
or two to bail You ont, for. of course,
you are innocent. and old Streeter is
mistaken about your taking his dirty
money!"
"Of course he is" said I.
"And you'li come up with papa to
dinner. dear john"
Yes, darling"
"Then, goodby.' said she: 81 must go
home and order yorr favorite roast
duck. with oyster saucew ana she
kissed me again, and vanished.
OF course | knew that | was playing
the part of contemplate hypOcrlte,
but | could not resist the temptation
of Keeping still and letting destiny
work for me. especially when such 4
lovely girl represented destiny
Papa came down. as she had told me
he would, and how he managed 1t /
do not know, but the thing was settled
In the course Of a couple Of hours. and
was riding with him in handsome
carriage. drawn by pair of gh-step-
ping bays. going to dinner.
Alice that was what her father called
her-recelved us cordially. she was
dressed" now, aud suppose all these
hounces and puffs would not admit OF
her kissing me, since she did not do It,
My heart sank. wished myself back
In prison. IL pretty Alice were so much
more affectonate In prison than out
of ii.
But Alice had me sit near her at the
table, and she sweetened my coffee
and dlshed out my roast duck Will
oyster sauce. And l adored her, and
was very near telling her so.
We had just got TO pudding when O
, servant opened the door. and usherina
( in gentleman, announced:
"Mr. John SMITH"
turned, and confronted the visitor
: IT was like looking in glass. He wal
c my exact counterpart in every partic
ular our own mothers could not hav'
0 told us apart.
}, Consideration was on his face
: reckon 1t was also on mine. Alice wal
white with horror. Papa stood rub
- bing his glasses and trying to convinc'
l. himself that the trouble was In hi
d eyes.
Jupiter" said the newcomer; "wh'
c are youT'
John Smith, sir" said /. "Who ar,
81 your"
r John 'ihitb, SIR" said he; and thci
II he saw how ludicrous II all was, an,
burst out laughing.
is What have l doncT cried Alice
n "0h. what have donef"
8. Don't cry. cousin" said John Smith
70 the nephew; "rll have an explanation
at once" Then he turned fercely L
u me aud demanded oae. 1 told him
r. should be very happy to accommodat
70 him. and 4 did 80. ..-.-..-..l-..-.A..-l.s