The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-07-07
A CHANGE OF BRIDES.

| One summer evening, just as the SUI
was setting behind the Rip-raps, ant
making golden pathway across tn
limpid waters, the steamer Accomack
plying between the local wharves of tn
James river and Old Point, set on shor.
four persons, or to speak to the card. twt
couples and just married, as any on.
could see with half an eye. Bushes ano
clinging helplessness, SO to speak, on thu
women's part. and great nervousness
added to self-protecting air, on the
mems side, and an appearance, badly
acted, of indifference in both, told the
tale. The genial Phoebus appears on the
scene. He takes in the situation ut q
glance, and he walks, or rather rolls up
to the quartette. Walk up to my hotel,
gentlemen and ladies. Ny names Phoe.
bus and I'm owner here, what might yours
be-? One murmurs Jones, the other
Smith, and then, both suffering. present
Mrs. J. and Mrs. S. "Just married, see,
said the genial proprietor; walk right up
and I'll give you the best rooms in the
house,; like bridal couples, 1 do; reminds
me of the time when me and my old wo-
man did the tender racket and cleaned
our teeth with the same tooth brush"
After waiting in the reception room
for half al hour, the two couples were
shown to their respective rooms, they
being marked on the register as 100 and
10l, and were side by side. After supper
they journeyed to the ball room, and sat
listening to the music. Then the brides
got fidgety and disappeared to their
rooms. One was short, sprightly bru-
nette, all fire and sparkle, and..as plump as
partridge; the other tall, Juno limbed
blonde, with complexion of cream and
rose, sleepy, sensuous-just such type as
Rubens love to paint. The grooms were
alike in stature, both had beardless faces,
with an adolescens mustache growing
and it is needless to add that they were
from the country, and taking their first
dip into fashionable life.
fter the departure of their wives, the
twcincipient fathers, all unknown to each
other, and too much engrossed in their
own blissful thoughts to notice other PEG
pie, passed an hour or two in loking on
the billiard players. and varying the
monotony by going up to the bar every
five minutes and taking a drink.
Now it happened that gentleman, I
dare not mention his name, had watched
the whole proceedings with an amused
and observant eye, and having looked at
the register, most sinful and thoughtless
dea came into his head. Gazing around
cautiously. he saw that the clerks atten-
ton was engaged elsewhere, SO he sIyly
takes the pen and changes the nought to
one and the one to nought. It's Il very
simple thing to do, but very wicked. So
the rooms were transposed.
BY and by, Mr.. Jones, getting tired of
lounging around, went to the book to see
the number.of his room; it read 10l, and he
goes along the dimly lighted passage with
joker stealing behind. Arriving at the
door, he scanned the number to see if he
was right, and then walked boldly in, for
the door was unlocked, and the skylight
showed that the room was wrapped in
darkness. Mr.. Jones, now being comfurta
bly, installed in Mrs. Smith room, it was
not ten minutes after that Mr.. Smith, hav-
ing also looked at the register, came timid-
ly and expectantly stealing, like shadow,
down the half lighted aisle, counting for
the magic number. Arriving at No 100 he
walked into the chamber where the grand
looking blonde lay, and the door closed.
An hour at least passed, and our joker
waited in vain for some sign. All was ST.
lent and dark, and 80 he turned in him.
elf, but not to sleep. Imagination play
ed strange freaks. and the earliest dawn
found him still wondering. Getting up be |
resumed his watch, and just as The lamps |
we're beginning to pale, Mr.. Jones, look
ing like Tar quin, emerged from the room
and disappeared. Mr.. Smith, by a coinci-
lence, followed suit.
At breakfast time both brides appeared
md were joined by their liege lords. One
hing was evident tn the ;nkar tho hr;do.