Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-07-05
"'What the
land what is more continued be
I bought this paper yesterday

way DSlolS' lluu pIlHteu lHelu my
self, or indeed had even written hall
of them. Somebody certainly had o
wonderful scoop on me.
Then, one night | had an idea
come to me while l was in bed. II
was a patent for an automatic door.
opener. 1t was practical In every de.
tail-wOrked to a nicely. l got out
my model of it and sent 1t to Wash.
ingtOn.
THE result? After the customary
delay, l received a letter along with
my model, which was Herewith re.
turned. The letter stated that, by the
most remarkable coincidence, they
had issued the patent rights upon an
Identical affair such as mine, which
they had received the very day be.
fore mine arrived at the patent office.
The letter even intimated that they
wondered how l should have got hole
of the idea so soon. Can you beat
that?
Then l wrote novel and took II
to publisher. l saw his brow cloud
as he scanned the opening sentences
of my manuscript; then he turned on
me sharply.
"'You made little mistake in
bringing this particular manuscript to
me-, said he, for it happens that
have just, only yesterday, consented
to publish the original
"The thing was getting on my
nerves by now. Four other attempts
made to forestall my unseen and
premature copyist Until finally to.
night the last straw fell on me. I'm
not boring you?"
Scarcely" answered the astrologer
softly.
"Of course, you must know" the
young man continued, that my best
efforts to succeed in the world were
being put forth in the hope of Undue.
ing certain young lady to share her
fortunes with"
AHA !" sibiated Chanedra. "They
are always in things
yes" assented the other, land this
very night, frenzied almost beyond
myself, | rushed over to her house,
threw myself at her feet, and poured
out my love for her. Would she come
to me and let US make our way to.
gether?"
"And the resultT
Listen. She was kind; too kind,
for | guessed even before she had said
it. Only last night she had been pro.
posed to and had accepted that myth.
ical mystical enemy of mine!"
"What !! cried the astrologer, be.
trayed into genuine surprise. "You
have even seen this other?"
"Oh, how I've tried But some.
thing, almost uncanny, always pre-
vents my running up with him, He's
veritable will-o'the-wisp to me,
though he's anything but such to 9th.
ers
But, tell me, have you ever heard
of such case? Am | losing my
mind? Can you help me?"
Chanedra rose langudly and
stepped over to where a ponderous
volume lay open upon a small table.
"Where were you bornY he asked
as he turned the pages.
81 was born in Philadelphia"
"When? Be exact as to time"
"The morning Of July 20, 1873"
For full five minutes the seer
consulted the page; then he turned
slowly upon his caller and said:
"There is little I can do for you,
young man. But l can help you to
understand the most unfortunate cir.
cumstances under which you were
born"
"How2 Whati" the, other cried
eagerly.
"Well, 1t happened that upon the
morning of the 25th of July of that
very year, and in the self-same city
of Philadelphia, this other you speak
of was born. You see the signifi.
canoe, don't you? The same stars
ruled the planets at that time; and
so the same destinies will be yours
But with this exception-he has
twenty-four hours start Of you!"
"You must be mistaken. You're
,, chatting me. How do you know when
the fellow was born. anyway? AHA
, now I've got you"
slave you? Well, 1t appears that
again he had the head start of you
for in this very room, at this very
hour last night, gave him a reading
and advised him to propose to the
girl"
Great heaven! And I? Must
90 through my entire life doing the
things this scoundrel does on the fol
, lowing dayf
81 see no other way" answered the
seer compassionately.
"Then I'll kill myself" cried the
miserable young man.
I'm afraid even that Is denied
you" answered Chanedra calmly, "for
as he happens to have achieved the
, object of his heart, and sees happy
, life before him, 1t seems to me that
he will be the last man to commit
7 suicide. OF course, you understand
that he must do the deed the day be
TO