Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-09
RANKIN BROTHERS.

Harry Rankin was married His elder
brother aud senior partner, George Ran
kin. now, for the first time, fully realized
the fact. True. he had that very morn
ing, arrayed himself in unwonted finery,
had gone to church in an unoommonly
solemn frame of mind, and assisted at
the wedding. He had even gone so far
as to print brotherly kiss upon the lips
of the bride, as she and Harry set out on
their bridal tour. Still he had not fully
mastered the fact that Rankin was mar
ried until now. He poked his fire into
blaze and planted his chair fairly in front
OF it, By way of asserting his sole occu-
paney of the hearth Arounl him were
al the bachelors traps that he and Harry
had accumulated during their long join,
tenancy of the room. He did no, inven-
tory them in his mind-he did not see
them. for he was looking at the fire, still
they were there and he felt their IN
huenee He felt that the room would
never be home again-nothing but n
hermitage.
This is worse than having tooth
drawn" said he to himself. 1T was
dull enough here with him after he 90, TO
pressing eternally about Eva, and bother
ing me with his ground plans for cottage
houses. thought should have heard
the last of Eva and double parlors and
winding stairs, but now that is over and
! have heard the last of it, don't seem
to be very lively. The old den will never
be itself again. The firm OF Rankin
brothers IS dissolved 50 far as this place is
concerned. shall have to carry on this
branch of the establishment alone. /
suppose shall get used TO it after while
but just now feel ike fellows left leg
when the surgeon carries Oft the right
one in sack. | ought to wri,e three or
four letters tonight, but there's no use in
my trying to do anything. Ii do |
won't accomplish as much as blue bot.
tie hy on wooden gods nose. shall
have to resort to opium, or chlorotorm, or
JoSephus. or something to &c, to sleep in
this haunted chamber tonight"
With these cheerful reflections and
many Others of the same sort, he whiled
away the evening until about nine o'clock
when the solitude became so oppressive
that he sailed forth, stick in hand, and
walked by starlight until about eleven
o'clock. after which he turned in and slept
soundly.
The interesting event mentioned in the
above paragraphs did not prevent the
senior member Of the arm Of Rankin
brothers from resumiug his uniform rou-
tine of habits and duties the next morn
ing. A, precisely eigh; o'clock, his long
established breakfast hour, he took his
accustomed chair at the hotel table, and
was supplied with his immemorial break
fast OF toast. coffee and boiled eggs.
The rus,ling of lady's dress called
his attention from his breakfast to the
opposite side of the table. There sat his
brothers bride.
"Why. Eva" said he, ''you here: Did
YOU miss the boat: Where's Harry
Sir said the lady, with stare OF
unutterable astonishment.
"How does it happen that you didn't
get off: You had ample time to reach
the boat Did the carriage break down
on the way TO the landing" said Mr.
Rankin, a little discomposed by the
amazed look of the lady, il is true. but
still confident that he was addressing his
brothers wife.
BY this time the lady began to see the
true state of the case.
"You mistake me for some other per-
son, said she.
1t was now Mr. Rankin's turn TO be
amazed. The lady before him so exactly
resembled MS brothers bride in every line
of her face and figure. every trick of
eonn,enanee, lip and eye, that he felt
more disposed to doubt her sanity than
identity. There was the same slight,
little figure, the same smooth brown hair,
the self-same hazel eye, the identical
high, clear forehead, and petite, spiritu-
ellie lower face.
''Can it be possible that / am mis-
taken;" said he. II took you for my
brothers wife. The resemblance IS most
extraordinary and if there be any dissim-
ilarity in your personal appearance and
hers | cannot perceive it. l don't be-
lieve should ever learn to distinguish
YOU. Your voice even, is the very coun-
terpart of hers"
An old gentleman, who was seated by
the young lady, here took up the conver-
sation.
my daughter" said he .,has been an
noyed by the unusual degree OF attention
she mas received since she came here last
evening. Her every movement has been
watched by several curious people. Prob
ably the resemblance YOU speak of has de-
ceived Others as well as yourself. May l
inquire the maiden name of the lady you
speak of: Such remarkable resemblance
could hardly exist in the absence Of any
family relationship"
The lady referred to," said Mr.. Ran
kin. '.was called Eva Noble until yester-
day, when she was married TO my BROTH
er. She is the only child of Judge Noble
of this city. BY the way continued
he, Frightening up as a new thought
struck him. II have heard that Eva had
| twin sister who was lost in the woods