Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-08-21

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We tell this story TO the readers OF
the Journal a. il was told one after
noon in the Senate lobby, 10 a deeply
interested coterio consisting Of Dick
wintersmith. Charley Woolley. John
Finnell, o. o. Stealey and the vera
cious editor os this paper. The rela'
tor Of the story was Don Piatt, then
editor Of the Washington "Cdpital'
All hands had just returned from the
lunch room and we're tapering OIL on
cigars. How the subject of brides and
bridegrooms came under considera'
ton. and what suggested the strange
story, We have forgotten--but Piatt
never told a story NAL upropos, and
never told one that was not true, for
was he not an editorf We use his We
ny words. SO far as they can be re
called.
One summer evening, just as the
sun was setting behind the rapids and
making a golden pathway across the
limpid waters the steamer Accomack,
plying between the local wharves Of
the James river and Old Point, set on
shore four persons, or, TO speak TO the
card, two couples, and just married,
as any one could see with half an eye;
bushes and clingiDg helplessly, SO TO
speak, on the womsn's part, and great
nervousness, added to a self protecting
air, on the mans side, and an appear
snce, badly acted, Of Indifference in
both, told the tale.
The genius Phebus appears on the
stage; he takes in the situation at a
glance aud he walks, or rather rolls.
upto the quarter.
walk up TO my hotel. gentlemen
and ladies. My names Ph@bus, and
I'm owner here. What might yours
beg"
One murmurs Jones, the other
Smith, and then, both suffering, pre-
sents Mrs. j. and Mr. S.
Just married, l see, said the ge-
NAL proprietor. "Walk right up. and
Ill give you the best rooms in the
house. ] like bridal couples, l do; re
minds me Of the time when me and
my old woman did the tender racket
and cleaned our teeth with the same
brush"
After waiting in the reception room
half an 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. AT
ter supper they jOurneyed to the ball
room, and sat listening TO the music.
Then the brides got fidgeiy and disap'
peared 10 their rooms. One was a
short. sprightIy brunette, all fire and
sparkle, and as plump as a partridge;
the other a tall, Juno.limbed blonde,
with complexion Of cream and rose,
sleepy, sensuous-just such type rs
Rubens loved TO paint. The groOms
were alike in stature; both had beard
less faces, with an adolescent nous
tAche growing. and il is needless TO
add that they were from the country,
and taking their first dip into the
stream of fashionable life.
After the departure of their wives
the two incipient fathers, all unknown
10 each other, and too much engrossed
in their own blissful thoughts to no.
tice other people, passed an hour or
two looking on the billiard players, and
varying the monotony by going up to
the bar every Eve inmates and taking
a drink.
Now, II happened that a gentleman,
dare not mention his name, had
been watching the whole proceedings
and with amused and observsnt eye,
and having looked at the register, a
most sinful and thoughtless idea came
ia his head. Gazing around cautious
ly he saw that the clerks attention
was engaged elsewhere, SO he slyly
takes the pen and changes the nought
to one and one to naught. II is very
simple thing to do, but very wicked.
So the rooms were transposed.
BY and by MIR. Jones, getting tired
ofiounging around, went to the book
to see the number Of his room; II read
1el, and he goes along the dimly
lighted passage, with the joker steal
ing behind him. Arriving at the
door he scanned the number to see il
he was right, and then walked boldly
in, for the door was unlocked, and the