Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-08-21
KISSED THE BRIDE.


zeke and are twins wewere, fact,
at the time of my story. Always have
been as far back as lean remember, and
that is good long while. I know that
is the reason they called us Zeke and
Zed-zedel 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 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
ft, for people were ever ON the lookout
for that wart But it was not to be got
rid of SO easily.
We were very fond of each other. ]
am sure up to the time of our manhood
lone 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. I
have never quite forgiven him yet. He
fell in love. And. whereas before I was
never too near, / was now altogether
too near and one too many. 1t was very
bitter to me-to be put in secondary
lplace, and so I told him.
go and do likewise, y was all he
said.
II s,,,,;1, - soo1 49,, ....,,. .,l I
felt inclined to give him something to
turn the channel of his thoughts, but
somehow I loved him too much to
bother him, and 50 we logged along for
IA year.
We used in those days to have sing
ling and spelling schools. and it was at
those places that we young people pair
led of for the walk home One night
stopped and talked with some of the
boys after zeke and Nellie had gone
home, so had good chance to observe
them Just ahead of me as neared them
Ion my way home. The moon was bright
and the snow white, and-well, zeke
Istooped over to look inside that hood
lso many times or to do something else
THAT made up my mind the wedding
must be very near at hand. thought
lZeke ought to take me into his conf
dence in this matter as well as in all
Others. / think SO still. Iwould never
have been half mad at him if he had
But he and father would stand out and
view that south 40 acre lot and pace off
the plot for the house and one for the
barn, and If I neared them they would
begin to talk about fertilizing it for next
years corn crop Had been q little
lad of 10 1 would never have cared
hut Zeke's twin and treated like a
strangerI could not guess the cause of
Zeke's actions.
But in later years, when I found a lit
tile lass just to my eye, and when other
fellows looked ON her, I felt rather self
ish, and-well, ''stingy' too. I know
now, because looked like Zeke and
talked like zeke and behaved like Zeke.
He, Zekiel Dune, was afraid Nellie
Lambart would swap twins. But then
4 was only angry. AS said, i knew
the wedding could not be many moons
away. In those days 'sbelling' was the
fashion. Woe unto each newly married
couple if they didnot appear at the door
during the serenade and stand treat for
the crowd / mentioned in half anger
Ito 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
freside. 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. I feel hall
ashamed of myself now as I sit gray
headed and grandfather. To be sure,
u laugh over the joke yet, but itlwas
rather hard on Nelly and your humble
servant too.
/ was to find the secret plans from
Nell herself And ]. did. We were al
singing school, Zeke and !, and, accord
ing to our custom, dressed Just alike.
had seen Zeke get through the cere1no
my so often knew just how. SO while
one of the other boys kept Zeke at tn,
schoolhouse / took Nelly under my wins
and escorted her home. Zeke was a lit
tie anxious to be gone, they said. bn
Bob said the girls were waiting In TIN
entry ESQ they were, most of theml, AMI
he was anxious to lay the plans for
grand sing and exhibition in the nea
future, SO kept Zeke all right.
But to return to Nell and myself. /
was wicked, to be sure, but 1 took he
little hand in mine and pressed it as
knew Zele did and walked ON silently
There's Dave aud Jen behind us, ;
Z whispered at length, $50 we'n tall
dow. =
Yes, . she replied / hardly lmey
what to say next. yet half the dista1c
was travelled, and was listening TO
| Eeke,s stride behind us.
What makes you go SO last, Zeke, :
She whispered It VIII be over to
soon >,
TO keep them behind US, ;, replied
LET them pass, . and she stoppei
4 still, and Daye and Jen laughed gayl,
rs they went on.
II want to ask you, Zske # We has