Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-02


feebly described as appalling. had TO dance
attendance upon each lady every day; and
after bhssful moments-or rather moments
that should have been blissful but wernt-
to invent excuses aud fly oil for ditto with
the other ! was in perpetual fear, Of
course, of meeting Number One. after in
venting series OF engagements, when escort
ing Number Two. London is large enough,
no doubt; but there is no place III the world
in which you so often meet the very people
you wish TO avoid. They were both charm
ing girls singly, and / could have been de-
voted to one Of them; but togc her they were
too much for me. | felt my mind giving
way under the strain of double devotion,
and my hair growing gray from the tax this
dual existence made upon my energies. 1t
was really something frightful. They had
neither of them seen many of the sights Of
London, and had TO do all the show places
twice. Judge if any human being could
stand that -? And when | add that visited
Madame Tussand's admirable exhibition in
Baker Street twice in one day, with one
George in the morning and the other
in the afternoon, with a short interval
for lunch and that the door keeper inevitably
recognized me, and must have thought had
relation in the Chamber of Horrors-you
will admit that even the two victims of my
susceptibility would have pitiod NE had they
known my position.
I rose each morning with feeling that the
climax might come on that particular day,
and went 10 rest at night like q man who had
been sentenced to death and tIen reprieved.
No wonder | grew worn and gray, and show
ed my anxietics in my face. Both my
Georges remarked il. bless their sympathetic
little hearts, little knowing that they were
the burden which was wearing me to
shadow. One morning ! arose with q pecu-
liarly ominouS feeling in my mind; and it
was not relieved when | hulri from Miss
Leland in the morning that / should be
expected 10 escort hex with some friends to
the Opera that evening agreed however
and in the afternoon | sped ch 10 take Miss
Barstow to q morning concert. She was
engaged for the evening / lid not ask hoS
and after seeing her home | rushed to the
club and dined, ani then went to the Opera.
/ shall never forget tina. awful evening. 1t
was the dCbut OF Zera Ihidhcrg. She came out,
as you remember, in Don G.u;Nui, and all
eyes were centred on the ZcrlinG OF the night.
/ had neither eyes nor tho ghis for singer
nor music for the moment II took my phce
in the box on the o. L sid y, iuti!rl attend
ance on Miss Leland, became conscious
thnt in the box exactly opposite to ms there
WAS Miss BGrstow aud her mother; and
though they would possibly resent the impu-
tstion, they glared at Inc.
Then George Barstow. with cruel kind
ness, bowed to me with c,p.r>sn.CHE.
Dear me, SAID Miss Leland. who Is
your friend, Randolph"
Now was prepared for such position as
this, and had an answer ready oh my
second cousin" Not cousin YOU will OBJ
serve; second cousin which is more
remote and more circumstnutih. No one
could doubt such stat, Inrut about such
relative, or be Jealous of her 50 thought,
at least but Miss Leland said with consider
able hduteur,
Indeed She seems much surprised to
see you. Hadn't you better 20 aud speak TO
your Seo0Hd cousin : | uu longing 10 be
introduced"
Jealousy" l said to myself; and then
said as quietly as | could. We'll, perhaps
had better 60 round for moment and hast
ened off to Number One
found George Bsrstow in a similar frame
of mind-that Is, III a state OF aggravated
jealousy She scorncd to aAk uIe any ques-
tions; but her mother begged To know who
my friends on the other side OF the house
were in q tone which would have frozen the
Victoria Nyanza. Having found secord
cousin rather failarc | said mildly that It
was my cousins wife, wherrat the old woman
looked suspicious aud George smiled. was
evidently in hot water here also, aud was
Just going to make my escape when Mrs.
Barstow said,
Perhaps you will introduce Us after the
opera is over, Mr.. Bingo: We have seen 50
few Of your friends
conld only bow aud rush out aud cool my
burning head in the lobby aud Try to collect
my thoughts.
dare not go back TO either box, for felt
certain some one would come IL, aud might
be betrayed, as the lady with Miss Leland
knew good many people IN town; and |
was, besides, in so excited state | might
commit myself. Ny head was "hirling. and
hardly knew where | Was At last in des-
peration, l tore couple at loGVeS out of my
pocket book aud wrote two notes They
were both alike, with the necessary altera-
ton, and ran rs follows -
DEAREST GRORGIE-Nory sorry telegram
has called me away, so mast Iut off introdu-
cling you 10 my tsccOEd CoUs.Il Cousins wife.
See you tomorrow. Your own devoted.
RANDOLPH"
And sent man with them to each box.
That was all very well but, after twisting
up the notes, in my hurry and excitement
misdirected them, and George Barstow re-
ceived with astonishmert my excuse about
my second cousin, while GeorPio Leland
heard with equal astonishmcLt of my "cou-
sins wife" Furthermore, they would see
each other reading the notes, would divine at
once that they had gone wrong, and, as a
natural consequence that had two dearest
Georges" and was the ''own devoted Ran
dolph" of my second cousin and my cousins
wife. I say they would see oil this, for fled
from the house and rushed home like mad
man. What took place afterwards at the
theatre, l don't know; but do know what
happened next morning, and am not likely
TO forget it while memory holds seat in this
bewidered brain.
In the first place, received letter early
in the morning, delivered by hand, which
contained the following
"sIR-We have met. and know all.
GYoRGINA BtRsTOw.
GEoGdING LELAND.
'R Bingo Esqn
Prepared as | Was I was stunned when
another letter came TO revive me, which IN
formed me that Mrs. B. and Mrs. L.. would
call on me this morning, and also that they
had instructed their respective solicitors to
commence immediate nctions against me for
breach of promise OF marriage. That was
pleasant; but there was more trying sur
prise than all TO come next.
had Just finished my breakfast and was
vaguely wondering how / should face the
situation, when the door opened, and my
servant-the rascal was grinning, and had
evidently been bribed-ushered in the two
Georges!
You have heard Of people wishing the