The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-26
intimate friends, including most OF the
wedding party.

"euulng party.
1t was after midnight, and Cameron
and | were alone together in his ma
hogany and green study; he at his
writing table and in the same ada
cent leather chair In which had sat
a twelvemonth ago while listening to
the story of the incised portrait.
AS was not unusual We had reverted
to that time and to certain Of the in
cidents herewith connected; and I
had been trying to make clear to Cam
eron, as had already frequently tried
TO do, the peculiar difference between
McNish's expression and his.
In individual feature" said, warm
Ing to my subject, there never was
in all the world before, believe, such
similarity. And in repose, the en-
semble, I should say, was equally iden-
tfcal. But when It came to"
And there Cameron checked me.
Clyde" and his tone was strangely
grave, It seemed to me, you'll pardon
my interrupting you, l know. un-
derstand what you would say, proba.
bly, better than could from your put
ting 1t into words. And I want to
tell you why l understand. Indeed
I've wanted to tell you for long
while, but whenever I've got to the
verge Of 1t, I have baked"
He paused here to shake the ash
from his cigar, reaching across his
desk for receptacle, and somehow
the gesture reminded me of that Of
McNish as he had thrown out his arm
which held the letter, and so exposed
the telltale tattooing.
II have never told you, Clyde" he
resumed, his eyes turned on the glow
Ing tobacco ember which he had just
barred, anything about my birth or my
family. But now that you are to be-
come one Of us, in a way, it's only
fair that you should know; for though
Evelyn's mother was but my half-sis-
ter, still the girl gets the same blood
through her grandsire."
"Yes," said, 81 know that. Evelyn
told me that much. l know, too, that
you were born in Scotland: and the
very name OF Cameron is a pretty good
guarantee Of family worth"
Ny father belonged to a rather poor
branch" he confessed, "and like many
poor men he had large number Of
children. There were ten, all told,
and whom my poor mother died, 1t be.
came a serious problem how to take
care Of Us little ones. was among
tho youngest, not over seven, and ]
had q twin brother"
As he said this Cameron, who had
been d>sultorily drawing figures on his
writing pad with the end Of q pen.
holder, abruptly shot his gaze to mine
and caught the quick question OF my
eyes.
Yes" he said. without change OF
tone. yes. you see. now, don't your"
hcNish!" / murmursd.
"AcNish." he echoed. Donald Mo
Nish."
But" began, 81 don't quite" and
/ thought Of the letter from NcNish's
mother.
"Oh. 1t is clear enough" he went on.
Some Of the children were put out to
live amongst neighbors. and svsntu.
ally, my father and the rest Of us
came to this country. The others he
left behind, promising to send each
month the money for their keep. Don.
aid he left with couple named Nc
Nish. who had no BARNS Of their own,
and when the boy grew to be a big
lad. and my father, who In the mean.
time had been successful here and
married again, sent for him to come
to America. word came back that he
had been dead a twelvemonth."
"And your father believed it?"
"Oh, yes. for they returned the back
pay he had forwarded, and sent lock
Of my brothers hair. think, and q
trinket or two that had been his as a
kiddie."
Afterwards. though. you learned
that he was still alive?"
NO" was Cameron's answer. "We
never heard. Had 1t not been for that
marked resemblance gathering me In.
to the net spread for him, should
probably never have known. And
Clyde" he added, ever since I learn.
ed OF his having been there, in town, ]
have been wondering. Do you think
1t possible that he ever realized that
he was in his brothers house?"
Hardly" I said 1T doesn't seem
likely, though: unless the name and
the-He must-Oh. certainly" l STUN.
bled, "he must have realized that we
mistook him for-yes, for some one
named Cameron. He answered to 1t
readily enough; he even insisted that
he was Cameron. And If his mind was
clear enough to put two and two to.
gether, why, knowing that he had a
twin brother In America, 1t would