Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-12-01

| ulACi CHC0 W UtduX. LIVELY one Vi
these young people had reached an
age when beaux were speculated up
on as necessary contingencies in eve
ry young and attractive lady's exis-
tence, and that aunt Ray, who sang
so beautifully, danced so tirelessly,
and wore such 'ssweet dresses and
things" should remain beauless was
a growing mystery to them Once
one of them had overheard mamma,
in confidential chit chat with
Grandma, declare that Ray would
never get over it, since when she
had attained to certain distinction
in their minds as heroine of ro-
nance, and l will not say they did
not invest her with the nimbus of a
martyr. But they all loved her and
would have fought her battles roy
ally, il there had been any to fight.
TEL US story, auntie Ray, do.a
80, auntie is signing ~
"Her dinner isn't digesting, see
how red her cheeks are! Isn't that
q sign z"
Hush, madcaps, / am going to
tell you story
"a jolly one ~
ut is not ended yet," said aunt
Ray, but her voice was little pen
sive.
30, then it is true 70
at is about twins"
| 80, like uncles Holl and Roll!n
"They were brothers, and they
were not very handsome. They were
precisely alike from their birth.
When they were babes their mother
and nurse could only tell them apart
by the color of the ribbon tied around
their wrists. AS they grew older
they were constantly being question
ed as to which was which. At col
lege they played all sorts of tricks
upon the professors and escaped all
punishment by personating each 9th
er. Indeed, / have been told that
one spoke to his image in the glass
on one occasion, mistaking it for his
brother, but for the truth of that I
cannot vouch But they We're not
altogether alike in their mattress
"Ah, here it comes-the good one
is to bear his wrongs nobly and the
bad one to go scotfree."
well, that is the way of life, is it
not ?" and aunt Ray leaned a little
further back in her chair and let her
hand holding the cobweb of lace,f fall
a little YEARLY into her lap. "There
was woman in the case you know
she said, after pause with laugh.
| "Of course, or it would not be a
love story"
| "She was the sweetheart of both,
unfortunately, though that was
secret all around, for the younger, as
he was called, because his brother
seemed older on account of his gra-
witty and dignity, went far away to
seek his fortune, and the other one
stayed at home, and in the course of
time mooed and won the girl. 1t was
a mystery to me why they should
both have cared for her."
"You knew her then, aunt Ray 2"
20, yes; some day when the story
| ends. if it ever does, l will show you
her picture. First, let me tell you
that for what happened NOBODY was
to blame Well, this miserable lit
tie woman was the choice of both
these brothers. The girl neverknew
how jealous each had been of the
other, until after circumstances
proved it.
One had been away for three years
| and the other she was to marry. Her
wedding clothes were ready, even
the cards were out. One evening,
few days before the wedding day APP
pointed, the girl sat before just such
fire as this, waiting for her lover,
and it happened-things always just
happen, you know-"they were all
looking wonderingly at aunt Rays
sweet face-her cheeks were bright
with color, her eyes cleaned strange
ly, and with how much more fervent
gaze and keen an ear, watched and
listened that unseen auditor behind
the curtains cit happened that on
that very evening the broth
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