Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-27
THE NAN WHO COMMITTED BIG.
ANY.

It was the most ridiculous of situations to
have lived thirty years under one name, mar
ried under it, and then be suddenly called up
on to change it, was enough to make even a
harder. headed man than Philip Sweetser a
little confused and when it came to his wfe's
taking a new name also, and that quite diff
ferent 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 aud an uncle in common, which
is a genealogical puzzle which lac may solve
who cares to take the trouble, although, for a
proper understanding of the matter, it should
be added that two more hcadstrong, crotchety
whimsical uil cclibatcs than these same rela
tives never snubbed dependents or quarreled
with friends. In their willul fashion they
were very fond Of Philip and Margret, aud
to them they willed the ample fortunes with
which fate had scvrraily provided them
They departed life at about the same time
and Aunt Merryweather left her property to
Margret on condition the latter assumed the
family name of the testatOr, while Uncle
Farebridge bequca,hcd his wealth to Philip
upon terms precisely similar. II made no es.
BtNlhl ulHtItuNt 10 I ull he WIZ not UNIV Ill
ing 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 moro
complicated Had she been single she could
have shifted her name temporarily changes of
this sort being among the accidents which are
supposed to enter into the calculations of ev.
cry young woman The idea of taking a
name which was not her husbands was an.
other thing, aud too ridiculous, she said it
suggested the weak minded yagaries 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 disa.
greeable Stark girls, Margret declared she
would sooner take forty names, or have no
name at ALL And so it ended in the invOca
ton Of legislative powers on behalf of Mrs.
Sweetser as well as of her husband, with the
ultimate result that the young couple became
legally known as Mr.. Fairbrdge aud Mrs.
Merryweather, a confusing colocaton Of cog.
nomens 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 7" Mar
garet demanded rs they were discussing de
tails. You say you cannot reach Magnolia
until week after l do, and it will certainly
look peculiar enough for Mrs. Merryweather
to announce that she is expecting her husband,
Mr.. Fairbrdge in few days. l simply
shall refuse to recognize you when you get
there. It is too utterly ridiculous for our
names to be different"
Nonsense" rehlied Phil. you couldn't
help rushing to meet me il you were called
Van ScLneippenhausenstad and l, Peter
SuOOks lpu adore IN mupb n ragigt
me, especially after a weeks separation"
adore you you horribly conceited
wretch - cried bis wife. I'm never speak
one word to you when you como to Magnolia,
il | die of lonesomcuess. won't even honor
you with glance Of my naughty Merry
weather eyes as Aunt Margret used to say
Oh, you shall see :"