Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1905-06-08
The Strange Coincidence
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Brown
fOriginal.1


their hearts with their former part
ncrs. but they liked each other. each
needed a companion. and each had
high opinion Of the others Integrity.
a few months after the marriage
Mrs. Brown took up newspaper and
turned pale. From that time forward
she tried In vain to conceal from her
husband that she was much troubled.
She denied having anything to distress
her. but Mr.. Brown noticed that she
was watching the newspapers. which
she had never been used to reading be-
forc.
One evening the husband instead OF
coming home at the usual time sent a
note to his wife saying that he had
been suddenly called out OF town. ON
his return he seemed very much de-
pressed and. taking his wife into the
library. drew her down beside him aud
said:
My dear. I have a confession to
make-a confession I must preface by
a story. There Is a romance connected
with my former marriagc-not only a
romance. but 81 mystery. Twenty eight
years ago I Lowell aud was loved. We
met ut 81 summer resort While strolling
amid mountains. listening to the tum-
bling streams or watching the setting
sun gild the peaks. our love was BON.
Our homes were i'm different cities.
When we returned To them both re-
ceived a fiat refusal To our union from
our parents. We were both very young.
anu there was no money i'm either fam
lily. Under the circumstances IL was
pointed out to- us that marriage would
be suicidal.
We resolved on IN clopement. Ihad
500 I'm bank. which had come from n
legacy. This / divided with the girl
loved. and we agreed to meet on GER
tain steamer that was to- sail for
lIavrc. To elude pursuit IL was agreed
that we would remain In concealment
until the ship was well out at sea.
I'VE met mt cicrgyman's study I'm
the city. from which we were to sail.
AMI were married: then separated tn
meet on the steamer. The morning
after sailing I searched the ship for my
wife and searched I'm vain. She was
no. on board"
ing long breaths. go on" she said
impatiently.
You can imagine my agony. doomed
to cross the ocean without her. The
days seemed endless till I could reach
the other side and return. But ON the
voyage i was robbed OF what little
money ! had left and was unable 10
purchase return ticket. I went to
work TO earn the money to- do SO. bu:
III success attended my efforts. and I
entered upon Il life Of poverty BY the
time got enough together for the trim
II seemed to me that TO return woulI
be useless. Doubtless my wife's par
ents had secured for her an annulmcnt
or our marriage. Instead OF going
home 1 went to Australia. A few
years ago i came to America with No
more means than had when left.
"One day I saw II announced in a
newspaper that my wife's parents had
died. leaving property. and my wife.
the only heir. had elopcd years beror.
and had never since been heard from.
! laid claim TO the estate us her hus-
band. and I'm time il was paid over IN
me-"
Mrs. Brown was looking int, he. hus
bands face intently. eagerly, and nj
this last announcement drew n long
breath.
Go on
Il dare not"
''Go on
"Our marriage Is void. A few DAYS
ago l saw il announced that nv wife
had returned and claimed the estate"
Mrs. Brown burst into merry Dca,
OF laughter. SO happy. so exhiIaratcd.
That her husband feared the news had
made a mental wreck OF her.
''Shc Is an impostor.' she fairly
shouted. 81 am your wife. When we
eioIcd i boarded by mistake n steamer
bound for Rio de JaneIro. There I
taught school for twenty years. Then.
hearing that an estate had fallen In
you. I returned and did exactly what
you did with mine. claimed II as
your wife,
My dear. moancd the husband.
THE blow has been too much for You"
hut Mrs. Browns arms were around
his neck. and she was beside herself
with natural. not an insane. 10y.
DO you mean said the husband
Il mean that what I say tx true.
though would not have believed II I'm
another case. Two persons knowing
the circumstances OF our disappearance
AMI Inheritance have consplred To nor.
senate Us AMI secure our estates Since
| saw notice that you had returned
AMI claimed your estate I have been
like you. IN Misery:
The husband was mt last conyIpceJ
much To- his relief and Joy.
Ny dear" he SAID presently. "tberc
Is psychological feature OF this Gaze
~ strange rs the coincidence. We bo;;,
buried our hearts years ago. yet when
each believed the other had returned
we were miserable
Mrs. Brown hung her head.
That was" she stammcrc,I. ..bc
cause I loved my second husband bet.
er-bcfter-tian''-
The first. and did the same I'm the