Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-11
| couldn't ven :

idea of marriage. n: / couldn't ven
ture TO tell him
"No neei of it, ll.t's run away to
New York and get ;g4rriea. You know,
he added gai.y, "ve are both young
and romantic, and 1t would !be quite in
character"
Esther at first q, acted, but when she
came to consider /, At in this way she
would be relieved nj a great portion Of
the embarrassment which such step
would naturally br,Cg with it, she con.
scented, ard that d =: week was appointed
for the departure. She required this
time to make preparations.
Meanwhile, if Esther had not been SO
exclusively occupied With her own af-
fairs, she might have noticed that a
change had come over Philip. He YVES
often absent evenings, and when at
home was more silent and distracted
than was his wont. The former she
readily attributed to the cause which he
assigned, namely, pressure of bEsi
ness. The latter she did not observe,
her mind being preoccupied. We, who
are in the secret, may take the liberty
of following him on one of his business
calls. Ii was at neat cottage, from whose
front door dangled an immense knocker
that Philip Manson knocked. The door
was opened by the same Miss Preston,
who some months before he thought
Knight do" for Mr.. Bigelow.
GOOD evening, Maria" WAS his sal
utation as he entered. After brief
conversation ABOUT tho weather, the
CROPS, and other standard topics, which
however trivial they may seem, could
hardly be dispensed with, he began sto
show signs of embarrassment, and
finally ejaculated:
Maria - Miss Preston Il mean
Maria, what are your opinions about
} marrisge?'
"Why,' said she, 81 hardly know. 1
, don't think have given much consid-
, Grafton to the subject"
Because" continued Philip, e.
find my opinions have suffered u great
change on this point. There was u
time when L thought it unwise, but
now. if could get good wife, such as
you, for example, should be inclined
, to try it,"
80, Lor, Mr.. Manson," said Miss
Preston, in some perturbation, how you
talk"
, Five minutes afterwards, Miss Pres
, ton had accepted the proposal Of Philip
, and the two were to all intents and
purposes, engaged.
, 1.-THE only thing l can think off,
said the gentleman, after pause, Is
/ that my sister Esther is decided en-.
envy to marriage, and l hardly dare to
| tell her that am about to marry. If
we could go away and have the cere-
mony performed, it would be pleas
, anter."
| "Suppose we go to New York;" sug-
gested the bride elect.
"a good idea. Well 60. When can
you be ready?'
l Next Monday morning."
So next Monday morning was agreed
upon. 1t so happened that Esther was
to start on Monday afternoon for the
same place, with the SAME purpose in
r view-but of this coincidence neither
party were aware.
The reader will please go forward a
week. By this time the respective par
ties have reached New York, been
/ united in the holy bonds of matrimony
r and are now legally man and wife. They
we're located at hotels situated on the
. same street, and even on the same side
) of the way. but were far from being
aware of the propinquity. On the
morning succeeding the two marriages,
for by singular chance they happened
on the same day, MIR. Bige!ow and
D Esther started ont for walk down the
street. 1t so happened that Philip and
his wife were at the same moment walk
. ing up street. The natural consequence
l was thu two parties met.
GOOD heave ms! my sister!" ex-
claimed Philip.
"Merciful goodness! my brother!''
returned Esther.
What brings you here with Mr..
Bigelow?"
may, how happens it that you are
t here with Miss Preston ?"
, Miss Preston is now my wife,
"And Mr.. Bigelow is now my hus-
bandr'
" But l thought you were opposed to
: matrimony"
"And l supposed you were equally
So"
, My friends" interposed Mr.. Bige-
low, "this is a day OF surprise-but I
trust of such nature that we shall be
!, made the happier thereby. My regret,
Mr.. Manson, of robbing you OF your
housekeeper, is quite dissipated by the
knowledge that you have so soon filled
her place."
The sensation excited in the village
:. by the return of the two brides with
their respective husbands, may better
be imagined than described. It gives
, us pleasure to state that neither Philip
nor his sister ever had occasion to re.
greet the double elopement.-[ Sc.
lected.