The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-06-20
MISCELLANY.
A Congressional Ramance.

w 49,
Inere is romance enough about the lat
marriagesef the Hon. Omar D. Coneer. O
Michigan and Mrs. Sibley, to fit out 4 halt
dozen younger couples. BY the side of /
the Grant-Sartoris affair sinks into insig
nlflcance. There was Conger, who TWEEN
ty-seyen years ago was poor lad In Mi
ian, Ohio, struggling with algebraic prob
lens and cube roots in the Huron Insti
tute. But notwithstanding he grappled SC
bravely with these tough and tiresome
studies, he had susceptible heart, and so
when his eyes fell upon the beautiful Miss
Humphreys, then reigning belle in that
part of Ohio, he hauled down his eolors at
once, and surrendered Internationally.
The young lady was interested, and en-
couraged him. In a short time they were
engaged, and happy. But dark clouds
Will come, and sometimes they get be-
tween two hearts and so obscure the Wis
ion that neither can discern the other. So
1t was here. In those days young ladies
We're gwen TO kind of queer pastime
called filrung, happily done away with in
these better times. Miss Humphreys was
addicted to this kind of amusement. and
she followed it faithfully, notwithstanding
her engagement. Mr.. Conger objected, a
quarrel ensued, and the match was broken
OF. AfterWard it was renewed, but the
young man protested once more at the
conduct of his fancee and they finally cried
quits for good. In the full belief, no
doubt, that his life was blasted, and that
he had nothing to hope for except an early
death, Mr.. Conger rushed out into the will
derness with a surveying party, and for
three years carried the chain in the mineral
regions of Lake Superior. Then he wan
dered to Port Huron, Mich, and, aston
hot no al, Il
to settle down to the practice of the law.
He did so, andssncceeled. Not long after,
he felt anew the touch of Cupid, and soon
surrendered himself second time to a
new love, and was married In the
meantime Miss Humphreys had also found
another on whom TO bestow her affections,
and had married Major Sibley, of the
United States Army. After this the young
people, who had until now watched each
others movements, lost sight ofeach other
altogether. Mr.. Conger rose in his prac-
tice. was elected Judge, State Senator, and
finally, in 1868, was elected to Congress,
where he has since remained. A few years
after his marriage his wife died, and he
did not marry again, but devoted himself
to his children. This, in brief, is Mr.. Con-
gers history
Mrs. Sibley had gone outupon the ocean
OF life in different direction, and had be-
come an accomplished lady of society.
Twelve years after her marriage her hns- |
band died. Childless and lonely, the wild |
ow left for Europe, and after a lengthy |
stay upon the Continent returned a short |
time ago, landing at New York. Shewas |
preparing to proceed to her old home in |
Ohio. when she took strange fancy to |
visit Washington. She went, and for sew
eral days amused herself in rambles about |
the Capital. One day she was sitting list
lessly in the House gallery, watching the
restless swaying of political wisdom on
the floor, when member on the left of the |
all the confusion, the clapping of /
hands and murmur of hundreds of voices,
the words of the speaker came clear and
distinct to her. There was something in
the tones strangely familiar, and they
came as if reminding her of dream long
since forgotten. Then she gained view
of the speaker, and started as she recog-
nized his features. After all these long
years, there she was gazing upon the face
and listening to the voice of him who had
become as one dead to her. It was
strange experience, but it brought
ler no comfort. She had heard
hat Mr.. Conger was married years
lgo, and to see him now again could bring
1sae CISC tHdl pdlulul TcCOliGcllOuss foIe
would depart and make no sign. But this
was not to be. Mr. Conger had heard that
Mrs. Sibley was in Washington, and it was
lot long before he recognized her in the
gallery. He disappeared from the floor,
md while she was revolving the queer cir
,umstanees that brought them once more
lnder the same roof, she felt light touch
lpon her arm, and looking up beheld him
'efore her. Their hearty greetings over,
10Th became embarrassed. Each tried to
ppear altogether oblivious of the past,
nd each most signally failed. To add a
title poetry
We cannot XII the past; somehow
We cannot shut the door
That hangs between what we are now ,
And what We We're before.
The rest shall not be known, II
Except that with weas y tread I
We walk our ways alone.
1t last Mrs. Sibley rose to go. She would {
e glad to see Mr.. Conger at the Arlihg- |
on, and also his wife and family. She
opposed they were with him of course.
hen came the explanation, and Mr.. Con- ]
er promised to call on one condition.
n me IT. said the lady. "That you
IKE back what you uttered twenty-seven
ears ago." replied he. 6 / take it back, =