The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-01
THE GOLD HAiRPiN.

THE GOLD HAiRPtN.
Some of us were telling ghost sto-
ries over at the Press Club one even
ing, the talk gradually veering round
to apparitions of the living, or what
the Germans call "doppeigangers, -
when Coniston joined us.
This form of the supernatural-al-
though what is called supernatural is,
l daresay, natural enough if we only
knew the law" said Coniston, has al
ways interested me because of a re-
markable instance which came under
my notice at one time.
The phenomenon of this double
identity is one of fact and not of fan
cy, as you may know. Stern, a writer
of scientific works, had friend who
was frequently seen out of the body
as it is termed. and the we'll known
story of Byron being seen on the
streets of London while i'll in con-
tinental town, was never disproved,
although bet of one hundred guineas
was made at the time to test it's
truth. Goethe, according to the tale he
told himself, once met his double rid
ing on country road. This latter,
however, is more properly called self
seeing
But to go on with my story he
giving readings with Derbyshire one
winter. You all know Derbyshire and
what a bully fellow he was when he
wasn't drinking. OF course l had the
devils own time with him and while
l swore every day Id break loose and
leave him. he was such lovable, COM
panionable chap and had such a
damned way of talking me over. l usu-
ally ended by agreeing to stay it out
for the season.
"Derbyshire had been unusually de-
pressed for several days, always seem
ing especially SO after receiving GER
tain letters in blue envelopes which
observed, at first, he got with some
frequency, although they fell off later.
No matter what the Importance of the
balance of his mail. these were seized
upon and opened first
"One night after successful enter
tainment in a large coast town, with
several rounds of drinks at local
club from which l managed to drag
Derbyshire before he reached the
hopeless stage, l could not, for some
reason, get to sleep.
"Derbyshire and l had adjoining
rooms and, after an uneasy doze, l
turned over in bed surprised to see
the door between our rooms, which I
| thought | had closed, wide open, with
the light turned on in Derbyshire's
room, and Derbyshire sitting on the
edge of his bed evidently in great
distress. He was bowed over, his ell
bows on his knees. his face in his
hands, and I distinctly heard him Sob
bling and talking to himself.
| II started to go to him when he
raised his head and l hesitated. think
never saw such woe on human
| countenance. He stretched out his
arms and called
Dear, forgive me. l didn't intend
to hurt you. l was brute--a beast
an inhuman monster! My darling-my
darling-that I should have hurt you
so cruelty! My love-my love-my
dear one, come TO income to me!
he reiterated
"On the moment l heard a tap on
his outside door He bent forward rig
idly
"'Well?' he said.
Another moment of deathly silence
and then the door, which he evidently
had neglected to lock, opened. closed.
ard against it, with her hand still
on the handle, stood girl with big,
dark, sad eyes. She had on a yellow
evening gown, cut square in the neck
with short sleeves, and she made a
the dark wood of the door.
Thought l heard you call she
whispered in a frightened way, and
il couldn't-stay away-from-you-
any-longer!'
"Derbyshire's face was irradiated
with JOY.
Why my darling-my sweet
heart. he cried. And with that she
went over TO him, sat down on the
edge of the bed and drew his head
down to her breast. But he slid down,
uOW IL. ulltll lie was on tue IIOOT at ner
feet. kissing her dress and saying he
was not fit to touch the hem of her
skirt.
Don't, dear don't she murmur-
ed I know you didn't mean i'll
knew you weren't yourself and she
raised him up and pulled his head
down on her shoulder again, murmur-
ing the most delicious endearments,
while he chung to her with convulsive
SObs.
After time she made him lie
down. tucking him in as mother
would her child. and he. like tired
little boy. put his arms round her neck
and kissed her and made her promise
she wouldn't go away. while she
smoothed his hair and stroked his
forehead until he went off to sleep.
"All this time l was sitting up in
bed staring | saw her walk IN to the