The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-09-01
could have made no choice.

On lovely eve In September one
sister was from home. Now, thought
l, here is a surety that / can talk q
whole evening to one Of this dual
phenomenon. As she entered the par
ior, said ], How do you do, Mss
Hannah Z" "You are wrong, sir; it's
Miss Sue" Are you humbugging p
"frniynot; Itell you sincerely. You
now address Sue Grover saw she
looked unusually tender, and taking
advantage OF her faltering voice and
tremulons mannerI declared my love.
and she returned it with ali the ardor
OF her true and impassioned nature.
l summoned the old folks told our
devotitn gave prospects, and made
all essential revelations. The senior
Growers gave us their blessings, and
assured they would see our course OF
true love should run smooth"
But what if that other girl should
come in? What pretty NIX! How
would ever know my grly Though
again assure youit would have made
no difference. Iwould have proposed
to Hannah just the same. My only
trouble was the multitude OF embar-
rassments incident to non-distingu,sh.
ment. On this ground had genu-
inc trouble.
Before Hannah returned, / invited
Sue to take walk on the green.
When opposite the center OF the
church, / spoke of the betrothal ring,
and requested her 70 please let me see
the ring she wore. She took it oil,
and l carelessly played with it to
throw her of her guard. Then call.
ing her attention TO party of stu
dents, took my Congress knife and
drew the file blade through the inner
part. 1t lett nice mark, and by this
1 hoped to identify her III future. On
our return TO the house l secretly
posted her parents. They said that i
did properIy-that it was time that
Sue should be recognized by her af.i-
ancedi
"You think You are smart 2" said
she, ere had lett her.
"Why! I" replied.
"oh," responded she, "that ring
game has been tried by half dozen
admirers. / suspicioned what you
were at, but thought i would see how
many heads would conceive the same
plan"
The next day neither her nor her
sister wore a ring. One week after
they resumed them but in neither
was there a mark. 1t was evident
that l was about, and would have to
depend on the discretion Of nv in
tended, and the goodness of thelr pa
rents.
AT parties had severe trials. I
never knew whom l took home,
would talk flood of love to the
wrong girl, and would receive laugh
for my enthusiasm. .Hang il, said /
"the Joke is can't be reyenged, Ior i
might hurt the wrong lady"
Ihe beiro,hal ring was gwen. Now.
thought l, there is a termination to
my discontinue, Well, it did termi-
nate in just-twenty-iour hours. Han
nah took Sues ring, went to jewelry
store, and ordered one preclssiy ike
1t, bearing the same inscription. More
over, she charged him to see that the
engraving was counterteited beyond
recognition. 1t was done. So was I.
Now, what could l dor Had Sue
been willing / could have schemed
forty devices. But she relished the
dish, and would not cooperate
"Well," said l, mentally, 80 / get
one OF the girls my object will be ac-
complished.'
Inc ceremony was performed be-
fore an immense throns in the largest
church in the city. The bridal dress
fortunately enabled me to adhere to
one. Congratulations beng over, my
bride and journeyed to Nlagra, and
inspected several Canadian CUES and
towns. ''Ahl" said |, lovingly, to my
wife, "Sue, darling. l will know you
now." How sad she. by the
diamond ring" replied l. "Don't be
too sure, Clarence" aAhi" laughed
/, Hannah will not annoy me any
further" But alas for our early
hopes. My beloved told her sister
the name oil the New York importer,
and on our return small hand was
proifered, on which was a fac-simile
OF her bridal gift. She now went to
her room, and attiring herself in one
of the twin garbs, was again unable
to recognize my own wife.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, busi-
ness suddenly called me to New Or.
leans. While there my treasure
died. | was grieved. yet from the
fact that Hannah lived, my agony was
but temporary. | returned two
weeks after the funeral. Ny sister-in-
law wore neither betrothal nor dia-
mond rings There was nothing to
be gained by it, and they were laid
aside. My friends, I am extremely
sensitive; a mere child yet believe
me, when I tell you that the presence
OF Hannah was perfect and speedy
restorative. 1t was impossible for
me to weep. Was she not the same
as Sue in all respects? True, when
| saw the family sad, / was troubled; !;
but only on account of their grief
had none of my own. All I loved
was an exact duplicate, and that I
moved before as of yore. Yes, con-
fess that no husband ever suffered
less.
In eighteen months I stood in the
same church, and it seemed before
the same concourse. As Hannah was
! given to me in the holy state of mat
rimony, it appeared that I was enact
ing farce and remarrying my own
wife!
| An Iowa preacher. lust month