The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-02-11
THE DOUBLE ELOPEMEKT.

- Jul 4AllCto QoCQ " OQlll
when solidty was more sought aftel
than utility-liyed Philip Manson arr
his sister Esther. Philip had reached
The manure age of forty, and Esther
was close to him. Still, each had pur,
sued a solitary pathway through life,
seeking no compGnionship save that Of
the other, till there was reason TO be.
heve that they would continue to fol.
log the same course till in the fulness
OF time they were gathered into the
hmiiy tomb-the receptacle of many
generations of the Manson family.
There was more reason to think so.
since they took care TO commend an TN
married life, not only by example but
by precept.
NO" said Philip, when assailed On
this subject by a matchmaking lady;
marrying may be very good for some
people, but l could not bear % have nv
habits broken in upon, and my whole
house turned topsy-turvy by the intro
duction of u wife,
but by-and-by, when you grow old
er, you will feel the need of a wife more
than at present"
NO." said Philip. conclusively, 81
have a sister who is devoted to me, and
while she lives l shall need no other"
As for Miss Esther, she often declared
that she never would make a slave of
herself for any man living. If other
women were foolish enough TO give no
their independence, andFtie themselves
to a man. for no other earthly purposes
than to burden themselves with cares
and toll from morning till night, she
was sure she had no objection. For ner
W part she was wiser. Her brother
and she had always lived together
peaceably and happily, and she did not
think she could make any change for
the better.
OF course. it was insinuated by those
whose opinions differed widely from
Miss Esther's. that in adopting this
opinion she was only making a virtue
Of necessity. and that it was best to be
contcnted with ones lot. providing there
was no civ OF improving it. But
Esther d not h .'r these remarks. and
50 was not disturbed .oy them She con-
tinued to live in the old house with hcr
brother. They kept no domestic, since
Esther rather plumed herself on her
housekeeping qualities and there was
really but little to do. So as her BROTH
er was usually absent during the day,
she was left to the companionship of
her own thoughts, unless some neighbor
CHANGED to call ina thing, by the way,
OF rather rare occurrence, since most
- the neighbors had large families of
their own, which necessarily coiiued
them at home.
Early one afternoon, Just after Esther
Manson had completed h;r task OF
Hearing away the dinner dishes, and
storing them away in the cupboard a.
ter a thorough washing, she was startled
by a rap at the door.
Somewhat surprised by a caller at
this unusual hour, she answered the
summons. She vas a little apprehen-
sive that it was a neighbor who had OF
late proved very troublesome from her
habit of borrowing articles, and owing;
it is to be presumed to an habitual for,
getfnluess, neglecting to return them.
II hope" she unused, ''that if it is
Mrs. Bailey, she will be wanting to bor-
row something that l have not got"
She opened the door; but no Mrs
Bailey presented herself to her expect
ing Paze-a gentleman of forty-fve,
carefully, nay, elegantly dressed stood
before her.
II beg your pardon for intruding!
madam" said he, as he noticed Estherss
look of surprise; .'but can you direct
to the house of the late Mr.. Well
fleet' 1 have heard it was for sale, end
from the description l have heard Of it,
judge it will suit me-"
at is the next house on the left, SIR"
answered Esther, who had had time,
while tho gentleman was speaking, %
examine his appearance, which did not
f.'. to impress her favorably.
Thank you for the information. /
trust you will pardon the trouble l havo
cccasioned you." replied the gentleman
bowling.
mot the least trouble in tho world"
replied Esther, a little fluttered by a def
crence to which she had not been &C.
customed.
Two days afterwards, Esther heard
that Mr.. Wellneet's estate had been
purchased by a stranger. named Bige-
los. She ut once conjectured, and
rightly, that this was the same with her
visitor. A few days elapsed, and Esther
Manson received another visit from the
same gentleman. !
nlNG iaNOl W doh Va JOu, 04ioS
Manson, he commenced lit seems he
ad a~scertained her name). II am
aware that our slight acquaintance will
hardly justify it, but l trust time will
remove this objection, You must
.now," he added smiling, ''that / am
) bachelor, dependent in many respects
on my housekeeper, who though a good
roman in her way, | am afraid is not
reliable in matters of taste. AS my fur
rihiro has arrived, but has not been ar
ranged, I would esteem it q real favor
if you would give me your opinion in
some little matters respecting its proper
disposition. My carriageis at the door.
ready to carry you over"
But" said Esther, a little hesita-
tingly, ~ do not claim to have much
,aste. / fear / should prove no more
reliable in that respect than your house,
Keeper"
II have but to look around me-" said
Mr.. Bigelow. politely. ito be fully sat-
.siied upon that p~c'nt."
Esther's check flushed with pleasure
at this compliment, and she made prep
arations to comply with her new VISITORS
request.
it was not without a little conscious
ness of the singularity of her position,
that Esther TO ind herself riding by the
side of q gentleman with whom she had
scarcely exchanged q half-dozen words
in tho course of her life. The distance,
however, was but short, and she had
little time for reflection. On arriving
at her place of destination. she found
the chief part of n business accom-
plished. The furniture, which, by the
way, was new and handsome, had been
arranged in the room after a fashion.
but Esther was able TO point out several
changes for the better. with all OF which
Mr.. Bigelow protested himself delight
cd; hc, moreover. asked her advice as
to the proper place in which to hang
several fine pictures that no had picked
in his European travels. This was
accorded with some hesitation.
H .-..1I .-N hA GaftoHad