The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-04-22

Esther, on rather a delicate question,
and one of great importance TO myself.
There is one thing l wish to secure to
make my establishment complete, but
hardly know in what manner to ask
for it."
"What is it you refer to ?" asked
Esther, unsuspiciously.
"a wife," was the significant reply.
Instantly a deep crimson flushed Es-
Tiers cheeks. She did not trust herself
to speak.
"Need say that you are the one,
whom, of all others, l would seek to
place in that position"
He took her unresisting hand and
kissed it with all the gallantry of a
young lover.
But what will my brother say" in
quired Esther, when she found voice to
speak.
"What should he say? You are your
own mistress, surelyY
Eyes, but he is always ridiculing the
idea of marriage, and / couldn't venture
to tell him."
"No need fit. Let's run away to New
York and get married. You know" he
added, gayly, eve are both young and
romantic. and il would be quite in
character"
Esther at first objected, but when she
came to consider that in this way she
would be relieved of great portion of
the embarrassment which such step
would naturally bring with it, she con,
sented, and that day 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
affairs, she might have noticed that a
change had come over Philip. He was
often absent evenings, and when at
home was more silent and abstracted
than was his wont. The former she
readily attributed to the cause which he
assigned, namely, a pressure of business.
The latter she did not observe, her
mind being pre- occupied. We, who are
in the secret, may take the liberty of
following him on one of his business
calls. 1t was at a neat cottage, from
whose front door dangled an immense
knocker, that Philip Manson knocked
The dool was opened by the same Miss
Preston, who some months ago he
thought " might do for Mr.. Bigelow.
Good evening, Maria, was his sal
utation as he entered. After a brief
conversation about the weather. the
crops and other standard topics, which,
however trivial they may seem, could
hardly be dispensed with, he began to
show signs Of embarrassment, and final
ly calculated
Maria-Miss Preston--I mean Ma
ria, what are your opinions about
marriage?"
"Why," said she, 81 hardly know. 1
don't think I have given much consid-
Grafton to the subject"
Because" continued Philip, 81
find my opinions have suffered great
change on this point. There was a
time when / thought it unwise, but now
if could get good wife, such as you,
for example, 1 should be inclined to
try it,"
ooh, lor! Mr.. Manson" said Miss
Preston, in some perturbation, how you
talk p
Five minutes afterward, Miss Preston
had accepted the proposal of Philip, and
the two were, to all intents and pur-
poses, engaged.
"The only thing / think of, i" said the
gentleman, after pause, " is that my
sister Esther is decided enemy to mar
riage, and I hardly dare to tell her that
l am about to marry. If we could only
go away and have the ceremony per-
formed it would be pleasanter.
"Suppose we go to New York" sug-
gested the bride-elect.
"a good idea. Wen 60, When can
you. be. ready"
"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
view-but of this coincidence neither
party was aware
The reader will please 60 forward q
week. By this time the respective
parties have reached New York, been
united in the holy bands of matrimony,
and are now legally husband and wife.
They were 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, Mr.. Bigelow and
Esther started out for a walk down
street. II so happened that Philip and
his wife were at the same moment walk
ing up street. The natural consequence
was the two parties met
Good heavens my sisterp ex-
claimed Philip.