The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-28

Onoef the cooking OF Der touch,
But seemed TO stand In mortal fear
OF ver'thing--when ma was near.
s--Adwasd N. Wood In Atlanta Constitution.
KISSED THE BRIDE.
Zeke and I are twins. We were, in fact,
at the time of my story. Always have
been as far back as can remember, and
that is good long while. i know that
is the reason they called US Zeke and
zed-Zekiel and zedekiah, but some
how we could never quite forgive them
for giving US those names. We are
alike, and always have been. When we
were boys, mother had great fancy for
similarity in our dress. A patch on one
knee meant a similar patch on the other
boys knee. The storekeeper never tried
to sell her samples of goods unless the
remnant contained enough for two pairs
of pants or two coats. Hence none but
our parents knew us apart. Zeke had a
large wart upon his left hand, while /
had none. He had often tried to remove
1t, for people were ever on the lookout
for that wart. But it was not to be got
rio of so easily.
/ We were very fond of each other. ]
am sure up to the time of our manhood
one never did nor could do anything
without the other one at his heels But
when we were 81 Zeke did something
which left me entirely in the cold. !
have never quite forgiven him yet. He
fell in love. And, whereas before was
never too near, i was now altogether
too near aud one too many. 1t was very
bitter to me-to be put in secondary
place, and SO ! told him.
go and do likewise" was all he
said.
1t made mo feel rather mean, and
felt inclined to give him something to
turn the channel of his thoughts, but
somehow / loved him too much to
bother him, and SO we logged along for
year.
We used in those days to have sing
ing and spelling schools, and it was at
those places that we young people pair
ed off for the walk home. One night
stopped and talked with some Of the
boys after Zcko and Nellie had gone
home, so | had good chance to observe
them just ahead Of me as neared them
on my way home. The moon was bright
and the snow white, and-well, Zeke
stopped over to look inside that hood
so many times or to do something else
that ! made up my mind the wedding
must DO very near at hand. thought
Zcke ought to take me into his conf
dcnce in this matter as we'll as in ali
others l think so still. ! would never
have been half mad at him if he had.
But he and father would stand ont and
Wow that south 40 acre lot and pace of
the plot for the house and one for the
barn, and if neared them they would
begin to talk about fertilizing it for next
years corn crop Had | been Il little
lad of 10 would never have cared
but Zeke's twin and treated like O
strangerl could not guess the cause OF
Zoke's actions
4 But in later years, when found a lit
tie lass just to my eye, and when other
fellows looked on her, felt rather self
ish, and-well, "stingy" too. l know
now, because | looked like Zeke and
talked like Zeke and behaved like Zeke.
He, Ezekiel Dune, was afraid Nellie
Lambart would swap twins. But theI
was only angry As l said, knew
the wedding could not be many moon,
away. In those days ''belling" was the
fashion. Woe unto each newly married
couple if they did not appear at the dooi
during the sorcnade and stand treat fol-
the crowd. l mentioned in half ango,
to my best friend next to Zeke one night
at the singing school that l supposed
Zeke would soon quit such places OF
amusement and settle down by his owl
freside. OF course they wanted to fine
out when the affair would take place.
confessed ignorance.
Il The following plan was matured
But / will relate the results instead Of
the plan, only will say first if Zckt
had used me like a twin brother ought
would have been better too. l feel hal
, ashamed Of myself now as / sit gray
!, headed and n grandfather. To be sure
laugh over the joke yet, but it wa
rather hard on Nelly and your humble
servant too.
4 was to find the secret plans from
Nell herself And / did. We were a
singing school, Zeke and /, and, accord
. ing to our custom, dressed just alike.
had seen Zeke get through the ceremo
Ivy SO often knew just how. So Will
one of the other boys kept Zeke at tn
! schoolhouse / took Nelly under my win
and escorted her home. Zcke was lit
, tie anxious to be gone, they said, blu
. Bob said tho girls were waiting in tn
entry ESQ they were, most of them, an
, he was anxious to lay the plans for
grand sing and exhibition in the nea
future, so kept zeko all right
But to return to Nell and myself.
was wicked, to DO sure, but l took he
little hand i'll mine and pressed it as
i, knew Zeke did and walked on silently
There's Dave and Jcn behind us,
l whispered at length, so we'll tai
S low. F."
Yes" she replcd. hardly lne'
what to say next, yet half the distanc
. was Travelled, and was listening fc
= Zeko's stride behind us. =....
, "What makes You go so fast, Zelke,
she whispered. at will be over tc
soon. "
ITO keep them behind us, " replied
, Let them pass, ;" and she stoppe
, still, and Dave and Jen laughed gayl
as they went on.