Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-09
EVENING STAR.
THE TWINS, OR SELLING WIDOW

THE TWINS, OR SELLING A WIDOW.
Doctor WILLIAMSON. formerly of Staten
well as physician, peculiar feature OF
which was a nervous horror of being stopped
In me street by very inquisitive persons, many
o. whom, particularly IN country places, will
leave any and all business, at the sight OF an
approaching doctors gig 70 rush upon him
Win Thousand questions respecting the con-
oluon OF his patients. &c, some of which are
often pat in hope of soliciting general informa-
non OF private character. tor the edification
OF gossips-
Within the doctors circuit lived two cousins,
both widows-buxom and mindle-aged-be-
tween whom a sort of feud had existed for
many years. The older Of the two was a no.
torlous newsmonger, and was generally better
posted mp in the affairs of her neighbors than
her own-deyoting a greater portion of her
time TO that pursuit. There was not q family
on the island with whose history she was not
familiar, and could tell volubly and cireum-
stantially. IN full and extreme length. every
flaw in the reputation of a man or woman. far
and wide; knew the circumstance of every
Yell now TINS one "had to marry" and how
that one didn't.
OF course she was, or wished 70 be. .shand-
sna- glove with every physician in the place.
and being IN what is called comfortable CIR,
cnmstanees, was usually listened TO with more
attenuon than is ordinarily given to more
needy tattlers
With the old Doctor, widow MehitabIe wis
OF hght esteem-in fact, especially avoided
whenever practicable; nevertheless, she con-
ulNed 10 annoy him 10 a greater extent than
any other woman OF his acquaintance The
widow Sally-her cousin-being of a different
stamp-sensible, discreet. and with sense
enough TO desery his peculiarities and respect
uem-was, OF course, very popular, and in
speaking OF the two, the Comparison was
always drawn in her favor.
betWeen the two cousins nothing like social
intercourse had for long time existed. yer
recognizing each other anything more than
a cool courtesy; and the widow Sally WAS con-
selous OF being IN object of envy and close OBJ
SerYatlon with her censorious cousin, any
ntue tale 70 her dlseredit being always labori-
ously circulated by that amable relative
About the time in which occurred the in
eldent we are narrating, politics ragged fierce,
ana mems minds were busIly occupied in their
confederation. just after the election. ewing
supper" was held in the county, which the
Doctor amended, participating freely in the
festivities OF the occasion,
Ihongh usually OF a reserved tnrn, and
naturally taciturn. IL was observed on this oc-
casIon his spirits were unusually buoyant and
MS conversation free and animated The
slttlng was pTotracted one, and not until well
his gIg.
Having made afriendly call upon Sally dur
ing his ride in the afternoon, il occurred 10 him
mat II would be no more than fair 10 call on
r. ehliable on the way home, which he accord
ingly dld, though ~ the expense Of some ad-
diIionai travel.
Arrived at the door, the doctor cautiously
tied his horse, and gave very portentious
knock at the door.
A few moEnests elapsed. when no win.
dow, out came night-cap, with a head in it.
"Whos there ?"
"Oh, is that y ou, widow; it's Williamson, the
doctor. L want 10 see you a minute"
why, mercy sake, Is that you, doctor! Why,
what-were-ehl Who-ww- W hat is the mat
teri I'll be down directly"
The widows help was aroused, and fire
hastily made, the most becoming garments at
hand were homeland at length the door was
opened.
"why, doctor, do walk inl Why, is any one
deadr'
mo, Nm not that am aware OF, but
but what, doctorl Don't keep me in sus-
pense. What Is the matterF'
swell How long Is il since Won saw Sallyp'
sally Deckerl Mel Why, it's year.
"Well, suppose i shall surprise you. or
nave you heard CT itl-as being probable
was
~Hear of it, hear Of it, doctcrl For heavens
sake-ohi will you tell me what you mean
what has happenedr'
.'Wen, wei, suppose-being a relative-I
rI9At 70 tell you--buL-poor Sally-she-''
sehe what, doetorl II you don't want me to
ave mt, tell t-where-how is Sal
lyi What of herI''
"Well, she is doing well; full as well as could
De expected, and finer pair Of TURNS
"Twinsr' screamed his hearer, etwi- doc
tor-Saily Decker-my SOUL and down she
went, completely oyeTpowered.
lhe doctor left, and fastened home. Before
sunrise Aehitable had Travelled five miles with
the news, and before nightfall had reason to
regret her precipltancy, having unfortunately
met her degraded relative sstaking tea" In rO-
bust health, with mutual friends, TO whom
hehltaole had i'm parted the awful intelligence,
Ia The strlcJest confidence at the street door,
unable 10 wait until they could reach IN par
Tor.
On the following day the laxative widow
met her informant.
doctor, what did you mean by that awful
s;Ory!7'
why. my dear madam, l was prevented
from finishing IL by your swooning-being in q
hurry, was compelled to leave"
why, there wasn't q word of truth in it
DOCTOR"
pardon me, madam, il was true as Genesis:
more beautiful twins i never saw"
Twins, doctor, WHAT Sally Decker's!'
"Heaysn forbid, my dear madam: not hers,
but the poodts's, her poodle, madam, you know
she calls II Sally"
'.Oh, oh! what will become of mel have re-
ported IL the other wayp'
The doctor declared that from that day fortA
ne never knew less inquisitiye person than
thai widow.