Year: 1870

Many years ago, my health having
become impaired by over study, 1 was
recommended to pass winter in the
south of France. OF so agreeable pre-
scription readily availed myself. /
was without wife or child to cucumber
my departure; and armed only with
portmanteau, made a most delightful
journey of it to the charming town
of v.


Shortly after my arrival, whilst sit
ting at the window Of my hotel, a man
passed by so very much like myself,
that, struck with the resemblance, l
rose, and leaning forward, followed him
with my eyes. His dress bespoke him
an Englishman. He was tall; so was l.
Slim; l was slim. His eyes were blue,
his skin fair, his hair deep auburn,
his nose aquiline. All this was my por-
trait. When he had reached the bot
tom of the street he paused, looked
around, and then slowly returned, eros.
sing the road, however, and taking the
opposite pavement. This enabled me
TO get a nearer view of the man. / con-
lcss / was much impressed with the re-
sem blance, and hardly liked it. The
physiologist, thought, may delight as
much as he pleases in such coinci.
dence; for my part decidedly object to
being made any portion of any sort of
phenomenon. / had read of very un-
pleasant consequences following person
al resemblances, and earnestly hoped
that this individual whom nature, short
Of moulds at the time, had undoubtedly
cast in mine, would speedily clear the
neighborhood of his presence.


A week or two after this, in taking a
walk across beautiful bit of adjacent
country, l suddenly encountered my
likeness seated on q rustic bench be.
meath a tree, with his arm encircling
the waist of very beautiful peasant
girl. Her skin of pure and cream
like tint, finely contrasted with the
splendid luXuriance of her black hair.
Her eyes flashed upon me as passed,
and / noticed her draw herself erect
with rapid hauteur, as if indignant or
imp atient of detection. The man by
her side, who would have passed very
well for me to any other person but my
mother or myself, still maintained his
caressing attitude, He did not conde-
scend to raise his eyes to me az l passed
but kept them fixed upon the face of
the girl who, could see, watched me
with species of sullen eagerness, as if
wishing me we'll out of sight.


AS / passed them, l must confess to
having experienced momentary SEN
sation of envy of the man. Since ma
ture had put him in my skin, thought
that it seems only fair that should put
myself in his shoes. For all l knew, /
reflected, that beautiful peasant girl
might have been intended for me; but
the intention of nature has been defeat
ed by the love ofcoincidence. L laughed
at my thoughts as ! walked on, and
turning the corner, lost sight of the
lovers.


On reaching the bottom of the lane /
had fallen upon cW de sac. The pas
sage terminated in series Of fields,
across which i could discover no foot
path. / had no wish to be arrested for
trespassing, 50 decided on returning
the way l had come.


On sighting the way l had come, /
found that it was deserted. was not
sorry; would by no means have dis
liked another peep at the beautiful
brunette; but, at the same time, had
no ambition to inspire the couple with
the notion that l was watching them.


had got to the top of the hill and
was passing between row of thick
bushes, making sort of natural
hedge for broad area of trees, like q
gigantic park, when l was suddenly
startled by the report Of pistol ou mJ
left. AT the same moment heard the
hollow sound of ball striking my hat,
and that article of dress fell to the
ground.


looked round with pale face; that
! attack was horribly sudden. Who in