Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-02
A LIES ROMANCE.
How an Engagement was broken and
Renewed Twenty.sevep Years Amer
ward-Both Parties Married and BE.
feft I'm the e-TabIeau.


| teft I'm the Meanfime-TabIeau.
There was lately a buzz around Mrs
Dahlgren's house in Washington. A 70
mantle mystery excited an unusual curios-
ity ia the circles of the capital, and the
mystery was safely guarded in Mrs. Dahl
| green's mansion. A woman proved for once
that she could keep secret protoundly-
two women ereh; there were two in the Sc
cret. Mrs. Dahlgren had announced that
there would be wedding in high life at
her house on the 10th of May. No names
were mentioned in connection with this
important event in somebody's lives. "a
wedding In high life was very indefinite.
1t was Ike blank shot among a flock of
birds, caused tremendous flutter but as
nobody appeared to be hit, they came
focking round againto pick up the crumbs
of news that might be tossed out of Mrs.
Dahlgren's windows. The pick was very
unsatisfying. There were insinuations
that Mrs. Dahlgen herself was one Of the
high contracting parties, but her match
could not be found. Then Gen. Schenck
and Mrs. Hicks were pointed at as a very
likely pair. This was the sneaking be-
lief, but the day came in rosy brightness to
somebody, and nobody appeared to know
who. Expectancy was on tiptoe among
numerous invited guests, and about
twenty-five hungry and thirsty re-
porters surrounded the house where there
was feasting, but got no Invitation inside
not one of them. And the world was wait
ing in breathless anxiety for the notings of
its ''reporters on the spot" Not a word to
note. Mrs. Hicks was there, and Gen.
Schenck came in carriage, and the drove
of perplexed Bohemians besieged him and
rendered him their ierky congratulations.
He appeared not to understand a word
about it and referred them to his carriage
driver for particulars. That was the end
of the search. Dearth of news could NO
further 90. The reportorial forces scatter
ed. In the meantime minister appeared
book in hand, in Mrs. Dahlgren's drawing
rooms, and married Mr.. Conger, member
of Congress from Michigan, to Mrs. Sibley
widow of Maj. Sibley, United States army
and thereby hangs atale.
Mrs. Sibley was a pretty Miss Humph-
ries, daughter of Judge Humphries of the
Supreme Court of Ohio. She was aft
anced twenty-seven years ago to Mr.. Con-
ger, then callow youth. Mrs. HUMPHREYS
was flirty, and Mr.. Conger was Jealous.
They quarreled and parted and in six
months made it up again and became re-
engaged. The course of their true love ran
very rough. They flew the track again and
the lady tOldth gentleman she never could
be his. She broke loose and he switched
of, and both went their ways, and both
took to matrimC NAL ways. Miss
Humphries married Sibley. In twelve
years he died. There was no children and
she wentsabroad. Mr.. Conger's wife died
and left him him three children. He
became 4 Congressman and his only
seventeen-year old daughter had come
out in Washington society. Mrs. Sibley
finally grew weary Of Europe, and last Dc
tOber she returned home. She dropped
into Washington to see what was going on,
and went into the gallery of the Hall of
Representatives one day to while away an
hour. That hour was big with fate. She
neither saw nor heard anything interesting
in the House, but gentleman on the floor
had been moved by vision that broke
upon him like dawn from the gallery.
He was moved TO leave his seat and make
a short trip up stairs towards the celestial
regions. Just as Mrs. Sibley was
wrapping the drapery Of her mantle
about her preparatory to leaving,
she received a slight tap on the shout
der. She turned and saw Mr.. COnger
standing before her in all the dignity of a
member of the House, and the glory of
middle age. The two had not met in
twenty-five years, and were naturally glad
to see each other. After the first greeting
the lady timidly remarked: 81 suppose
your family are with yOu?" He nervOusly
asked, "Did you not know that my wife
was dead?" She, surprised, said that she
did not. a new basis of conversation was
Immediately established. Both were free,
and one, though nearly forty-fve, was beau
tiful. She was entirely alone in the world.
What could they have found to talk about?
Not the bridge of twenty-five years, at the
end Of which they had first met-but
that time at the far end Of the bridge
when they dreamed dreams and spring was
in its prime. They dreamed themselves
back again. At length she said this, or
something like it: u am at the Arlington;
will you come and see me?" He replied:
Il will come, if you take back what you
said to me twenty-five years ago." She
softly responded: II take it all back
That is all there was Of it, while those two
talked in that portion of the house nearest
the celestial regions. II gave occasion for
the mysterious wedding at Mrs. Dahlgren's.
That lady must have known something of
Miss HumphrieS' early escapes, so she re-
solved to mention no names until the two
were safely in harness.