The Van Buren press., 1874-06-23
A Congressional Romance.


late marriage of the Hon. Omar D. Con.
ger, Of Michigan and Mrs. Sibley, TO d
ont half dozen younger couples. By
the side of it the Grant Sartoris AFFAIR
sinks into insigni6cancc. There was
Conger, who twenty seven years ago wss
poor lad IN Milan, OHIO, struggling
with algebraic problems aud cube roots
in the Huron Institute. But notwith
standing he grappied SO bravely with
these tough and tiresome studies, he had
a 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 colors at once, and
surrendered Internationally. The young
lady was interested, and encouraged him.
In a short time they were engaged, and
happy. Bat dark clouds will come, and
sometimes they get between two hearts
aud SO obscure the vision that neither
can discern the other so u was here.
Ia those days young ladies were given
to kind Of queer pastiIne called flirting,
happily done away with in these better
times. Miss Humphreys was addicted
to this kind OF amusement. and she fol-
lowed it faithfully, Notwithstanding her
engagement. Mr.. Conyer objected, .
quarrel ensued. and the match was brok-
en- Oft. Aiterward it was renewed, but
the young man protested once more ct
the conduc, Of his .fanese and they 6nal.
ly cried quits for good In the full be-
lief. no doubt, that his life was blasted.
and that he had nothing to hope for ex.
cept an early death, Mr. Conger rushed
out into the wilderness with surveying
party, aud for three years carried the
chain in the mineral regions Of Lake Su.
perior. Then lie wandered to Fort Hu.
ron, M.ch., aud, as;on;shed to and that
he still lived, concluded TO settle down
to the practice Of the law. He did 90,
and succeeded. Not long after, be felt
anew the touch Of Cupid, and soon sur.
rendered himself second time to 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
pie, who lad until now watched each
Others movements, lost sight OF each
other altogether. Mr.. Conger rose in
his practice, was elected Judge, State
Senator, and finally, in 1868. was elected
to Congress, where be has since remain.
ed 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.. Conger's history.
Mrs. sih!ey had gone out upon the
ocean Of life in different direction, and
had become an accomplished lady Of so
ciety. Twelve years after her marriage
her husband died. Childless and lonely,
the widow left for Europe, and after .
lengthy stay upon the. Continent returned
short time ago, landing ~ New ! UrK.
She was preparing to proceed TO her old
home in Ohio, when she took a strange
fancy to visit WashlSgton. She went.
and for several days amused herself in
rambles about the Capital One day she
was sitting listlessly in the House gallery,
watching the restless swaying Of petite
al wisdom on the door, when a member
on the left Of the Speaker arose and ad.
dressed the House. Through all the
confusion, the clappng 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, aud they camc as II
reminding her Of dream long since for.
gotten. Then she gained view Of the
speaker. and started rs she recognized
his features After all these long years,
there she was gazing upon the face and
listening to the voice OF him who had be.
come as one dead to her. 1t was strange
hat hop
fort. She had heart that MIR. Conger
was married years ago, and to see him
now again could bring little else than
painful reco lections. She 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 not
long before he recognized her in the gal.
lcry He disappeared from the 1oor.
and while she was revolving tie queer
circumstances that brought them once
more under the same roof, she felt light
touch upon her arm, and looking up be-
held him before her Their hearty greet.
ings over, both became embarrassed. =
Each tried to appear altogether oblivisus
Of the past, and each most signally failed.
To add little poetry
We cannot MI the past; somehow
We cannot shut the door
That hangs between what we are now
And what We were before.
The rest shall not be known,
Except that with weary tread
We walk our ways alone.
At last Mrs. Sbley rose to 60. She
would be glad to see Mr. Conger at the
Arlington. and also his wife and family.
She supposed they were with him Of
course. Then came the explanation, aad
Mr. Congcr promised to sail on one con
dition. "Name it," said the lady.
+" That you take back what YOU uttered
twenty seven years ago, replied no. I
take il back" she faltered, and then
(" skooted " out Of the gallery, as General
Sherman would say. to hide the happy
tears that sprung to her eyes as she said
It. And then Mr.. Conger went back to
his seat, with q wonderful dow OF spirits.
and looking as IL his nve.and.dfty yeass
we're but flvc and.twenty. The other DAY
there was a quiet happy wedding IN
Washington, and Mrs. siblcy and Mr..
Conger played the principal characters
so ends the story, and 1t Is preu|
good one. notwithstanding tits true. As
Bouccault would sag, 1.-THE night 10
passed the darkness disappears; Joy