The Somerset reporter., 1894-08-23
KISSED THE BRIDE.

IN - - - - y -
Zcke and are twins We Were, in fact,
at the time of my story. Always have
been as far back as | can remember aud
that is good long while | know that
is the reason they called Ms Zeke and
Zcd-Zekiel and ZcGekiah, but some
how we could never quite forgive them
for giving rs those names We are
alike, and always haye hccu. When we
were boys, mother hal a great fancy for
similarity III our drcss a patch on one
knee meant similar patch on the other
bows knee The storckeeper never tried
Ia sell her samples of saods unless the
remnant contained enough for two pairs
Of pants or two coat- Hence none but
cur parents knew Us art. Icke had a
large Wart upon his loft hand, while |
had none He had often tried to remove
it. for people were ever on the lookout
for thai wmt. But ItWas not to be got
rid of 80 easily.
We were very fond # each other. |
am sure up to the time II our manhood
one never did nor could do anything
without the other one At his heels. But
when we were 2 Xcke did something
which left me entirely IN the cold. |
have never quite forgiven him yet. He
fell in love, And, whereas before l was
never too hear / Wa HOW altogether
too near and one too many 1t was very
bitter to me-to be pat IN secondary
place, and so | told him.
"Cio and do likewise, was all he
said.
It made me feel rather mean and |
felt inclined to give him something to
turn the channel Gf IN, thoughts, but
somehow | loved him too much to
bother him, and so we logged along for
"a year.
We used i'll those days to have sing
4 ing and spelling schools. and it was 1T
those places that we young people pair
ed off for the walk home. one night |
stopped and talked with some of the
bows after Zeke and Nellie had gone
home, so L had good chance to observe
them just ahead Of me rs neared them
on my way home. The moon was bright
and the snow white, and-Wcll, Zele
stopped over to look inside that hood
so many times or to do something else
that | made up my mlnd the wedding
must be very near at hand. thought
Zcke ought to take mo into his conf
denco in this matter as well as i'll all
others. | think so still. | would never
have been half mad at him if he had
But he and father would stand out ana
view that south 40 acre lot and pace off
the plot for the hou-e and one for the
4 barn, and if | neared them they would
begin to talk about fortilizing it for next
years corn crop Had | been II little
lad of 10 | would never have cared
but Zekes twin and treated like Il
stranger! could not guess the cause OF
Zekc's actions.
But i'll 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, "stngy' too. | know
now, because looked like Zeke and
talked like Zele and behaved like Zekc.
He, Ezekiel Dune, was afraid Nellie
Lambart would swap twins. But then
| was only angry As | said, knew
the wedding could not be many moons
away. In those days ''belling' was the
fashion Woe unto each newly married
couple if they did not appear at the door
during the serenadc and stand treat for
! the crowd | mentioned in half anger
to my best friend next to Zeke one night
at the singing school that | supposed
Zeke would soon quit such places of
amusement and settle down by his own
Preside, OF course they wanted to find
out when the affair would take place.
confessed ignorance.
The following plan was matured.
But | will relate the results instead of
the PLAN only | will say first if Zeke
had used me like twin brother ought
would have been better too | feel half
ashamed of myself now as | sit gray
headed and grandfather. To he sure,
| laugh over the Joke YET, but 1t was
rather hard on Nelly and your humble
servant toe.
was to find the secret plans from
Nell herself. And | did We We're at
singing school, Zeko and |, and, accord
ing to our custom, dressed just alike. |
had seen Zeke get through the ceremo
ny so often knew just how. So while
one of the other boys kept Zeke at the
schoolhouse took Nelly under my wing
and escorted her home Zeke was lit
tie anxious to be gone, they said, but
Bob said the girls were waiting III the
entry $50 they Were, most of them, and
he was anxious to lay the plans for Il
grand sing and exhibition in tho near
future, so kept Zeke all right.
But to return to Nell and myself 1t
was wicked, to be sure, but | took her
little hand in mine and pressed it as !
knew Zeke did and walked on silently.
There Dave and Jen behind us, .
l whispered at length, $50 we'll talk
low"
Yes" she replied l hardly knew
what to say next, yet half the distance
was travelled, and l was listening for
Zeke's stride behind us.
What makes you go SO fast, Zeke, y
she whispered. 1T will be over too
soon.
ITO keep them behind us, " replied.
Let them pass, and she stopped
still, and Dave and Jen laughed gayly
as they went on.
Il want to ask you, Zeke, if we had
not better have breakfast at 8 instead
of 7, for the hour is rather early, and
am afraid Cousin Helen won't get
over in time" she whispered still. My