The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-25
THE MAN WHO COMMITTED BIGAMY.

1t was the most ridiculous of situations :;
to have lived thirty years under one name,
married under it, and then be suddenly
called upon to change it, was enough to
make even a harder-headed man than Philip
tSweetzer a little confused and when it
came to his wife's taking new name also,
and that quite different one from either
of his, it is no wonder that Phil declared
that the personal identity of the family
was wholly lost, and that for his own part
he knew neither who his spouse nor himself
had become.
1t came about in this way. Phil and his
wife were not related, yet they had, from
birth, an aunt and an uncle in common,
which is a genealogical puzzle which he may
solvewho cares to take the trouble, although
for proper understanding of the matter it
should be added that two more headstrong,
-crotchety, whimsical old celibates than
these same relatives never snubbed de-
lpendents or quarreled with friends. In
their willful fashion they were very fond
of Philip and Margret, and to them they
willed the ample fortunes with which fate
had severally provided them. They de-
parted life at about the same time, and
Amt Merryweather left her property to
Margret on condition the latter assumed
the family name of the testator, while Uncle
Farebridge bequeathed his wealth to Philip
upon terms precisely similar. 1t made no
especial difference to Phil. He was not
unwilling to assume the proud old name of
his mothers family, and with legislative
aid the change was soon effected.
But with Margret the situation was more
complicated. Had she been single she could
have shiftedhername temporarily, changes
ofthls sort being among the accidents which
are supposed to enter into the calculations
of every young woman. The idea of taking
name which was not her husbands was
another thing, and too ridiculous, she said;
it suggested the weak-minded vagaries of
'so-called strong-minded women far more
closely than was at all pleasant, but as for
having Aunt Merryweather's money go to
those disagreeable Stark girls, Margret de-
clared she would sooner take forty names,
or have no name at all. And so it ended in
the invocation of legislative powers on be-
half of Mrs. Sweetser as well as of her hus-
band, with the ultimate result that the
young couple became legally known as Mr..
Farebridge and Mrs. Merryweather, a con-
fusing collocation of cognomens which put
them in very serious doubts as to who they
might really be.
1t CHANGED that about the time matters
were legally settled, the date arrived
when the pair had planned to visit Florida
to avoid the rigors of the Boston spring
"But what are we to call ourselves 20
Margret demanded as they were discussing
"details. "You say you cannot reach Mag
nolia until a week after l do, and it will
certainly look peculiar enough for Mrs.
Merryweather to announce that she is ex-
Pecting her husband, Mr.. Farebridge, in a
few days. | simply shall refuse to recog-
nize you when you get there. 1t is too
utterly ridiculous for our names to be diff
ferent."
"Nonsense," replied Phil. "You couldn't
'help rushing to meet me if you were called
Van Schneippenhausenst and l,
Peter Shocks. You adore me too much to
resist me, especially after weeks separa-
ton"
adore you! you horribly conceited
wretchW cried his wife. "I'll never speak
one word to you when you come to Mag.
nolia, if | die of lonesomeness. won't
even honor you with glance of nv
naughty Merryweather eyes, as Aunt Mar
greet used to say o, you shall seew
II.
Phil had more than half forgotten the
threat of his wife when he stepped upon
the hotel piazza at Magnolia, but single
glance at the self-possessed little woman
who sat chatting with an elderly lady in
frosty curls showed him what was before
him.
The faintest flush swept over Mrs. Merry.
weather'S smooth cheek as Mr.. Farehridge
IN passing the ladies, lifted his hat, but nc
other sign would have indicated to the most
acute observer the fact that she had anv
previous acquaintance with that gentleman.
She went seronely on with her embroidery,
apparently as intent upon its conventional
beauties and as deeply interested in Miss
Spart's gossip as before. She had been
prepared for this encounter; she had known
10 minute the probable time of her hus-
bands arrival, and had taken her place
here for the especial purpose of ignoring
him. She soon excused herself and went
TO her room, where she executed series OF
girlish pirouettes, indicative of wild glee
but hardly compatible with the highest
ideals of matronly dignity. Thenshe made
the most bewitching of toilettes, and went
down to dinner
Fate or Phil so contrived as to fix that
gentleman's place opposite his wife's al
table. Mrs. Merryweather's first feeling
at this arrangement was one of pleased
amusement, yet she felt it to be in man
ner challenge. Her love of mischief as
serted itself, and throughout the meal, al
though she was unusually talkative, she
totally ignored Mr.. Farebridge. He mad,
some advances in the good graces of Miss
Spart, whose seat was next his own, dis
covering that they had common acquaint
ances in the North; and by the time din
ner was ended, patience not being thu
strongest trait of his character, he though
himself in position to make use of tina
elderly maiden's good offices.
"May L ask the name of the lady oppo
site" he questioned, as they left the table
N'She was sitting with you on the piazz,
when came. Her face seems familiar"
THAT is Mrs Merryweather," answered
Miss Spart, delighted to be able to give in
formation. She is from Boston. Haven
you ever met her? She is very intimat
with the Horace Grays of whom we wer
speaking"
80, that is why her face seems so ia
miliarW was Phil's evasive reply. "Shal
/ be trespassing too much upon your kind
ness if | ask for an introductory