The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-31
The Mistake OF n Night.
\ Prominent But OBFUscATED CIT1zLS OF
ST. LOUIS IN THE WRONG BED.

| Y Prominent But OBFuscA7ED C111zrS OF
ST. LOUIS IN THE WRONG BED.
On Saturday evening after partahing
of tea, prominent merchant of St.
Louis left home to meet party of
country friends at the Southern. and
pass pleasant evening. He dwells in
one of two houses constituting a block
SO precisely similar ia architecture and
build that one can be detected from an.
other only by the numbers above the
doors. Workmen had been engaged
that day in repairing water-pipes at the
house, and when he last noticed the
hose-plug at the edge of the sidewalk
was open. During his absence the
workmen had completed the job at the
house. and moved next door. When
they knocked off for the night, they left
the hose-plug open before the other door,
Just as the merchant had noticed the one
IN front of his residence.
At the Southern, the hours sped On
rosy wings. After spending an hour at
De Bars the party visited several fash
ionable saloons, and returned TO the
hotel, where wine was imbibed; jokes
cracked, and songs sung until "the Wee
sma' hours ayant the twal." At length
when the small hours were pealing from
the belfries, he started for his home.
Obfuscated he certainly was, or he
would not have located his house by the
hose-plug, Instead of the number. His
latch key fitted the lock, the stairway
was all right, even the bedroom was in
the proper location. His wife was snor-
ing, oblivious of the ills of life or the
absent husband, Noiselessly he disro-
bed, quietly he slipped into bed, and
soon was snoring a nasal base to the
lady's nasal tenor. At length, 1.-The
morning light Was breaking" and the
lady was the first to. awaken. Her as
tonisled eyes opened on the we'll known
face of her neighbor. Being a sensible
woman, she did not scream and rave,
and rouse the nrighborhood. and thus
furnish choice morsel of food for scan.
dal. Oh, no. she caug ght him by the
shoulder, and, shaking him until he was
fully aroused, quietly observed:
Mr. ism t there some mistake?
Haven't you got into the wrong bed?
Poor--'s eyes almost popped
from his head. 80 greatly was ke aston.
ished.
He commenced stammering an apology
an excuse-sumething or other, he had
no idea what he was saying-and back
ed out of the bed.
The lady turned her face to the wall,
and allowed him an opportunity to dress
and take his departure.
She explained to MIN while he was
resuming his clothes, that her husband
was absent in the wertern part Of the
State-a fact Of which be was already
aware-but was to have come in on the
morning train of the Pacific road. She
had set up waiting for him until long
after train time, and on his not arriving
had retired and slept unusually in con-
sequence of her unwonted vigil. After
many apologies and many expressions
of his humiliation and shame, he backed
out OF the room and house, and entered
his own domicile. How he bamboozled
his wife with a story of being on the
committee for the visitation Of the sick
Of his lodge, and being compelled to pass
a night by the bedside of sick brother.
he can tell much better over glass of
sparkling Moselle than can possibly be
written. r +T .f@ a.- !