News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-08-09
HE KISSED THE BRIDE.

Zeke and are twins. We were, in
fact. at the time of my story. Always
have been as far back as L can re-
member, and that is a good long
while. | know that is the reason they
called us Zeke and Zed-Zekiel and
Zedekiah, but somehow we could new
er quite forgive them for giving us
those names. We are alike and al
WAYS have been. When we were boys
mother had a great fancy for similar
ity 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
it, for people were ever on the look
out for that wart. But it was not to
be gotten rid of so easily.
We we're very fond of each other. |
am sure up to the time of our man
hood one never did nor could do
ANYTHING without the other one at
his heels. But when we were twenty
one 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, was now altogether
too near and one too many. 1t was
a bitter pill to me-to be put in a
secondary place, and so | told him.
"Go and do likewise" was all he
said.
1t made me 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
paired off 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 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 nv mind the wedding must be
very near at hand. | thought Zeke
ought to take me into confidence IN
this matter as we'll as in others.
think so still | would never have
been half so mad at him if he had
But he and father would stand out
and view that south forty acre lot
and pace off the plat for the house
and one for the barn, and il | neared
them they would begin to talk about
fertilizing it for nextyear'scorn crop
Had | been a lad of ten | would never
have cared-but Zeke's twin, anC
treated like a stranger | could not
guess the cause of Zeke's actions.
But in later years, when | found
little lass just to my eye, and wher
other fellows looked on her feltrath
er selfish and-well, "stingy" too.
know now, because | looked like Eek
and talked like Zeke and behaved
like Zeke !; he, Ezekiel Dune, was afraiC
Nellie Lambert would swap twins
But then. [ was only angry. AS
said. knew the wedding could no
be many moons away. Inthose day
"belling" was the fashion. Woe unit
each newly married couple if the,
did not appear at the door durin'
the serenade and stand treat for tn
crowd. l mentioned in half-anger t.
nv best friend next to Zeke one nigh
at the singing school that Isuppose'
Zeke would soon quit such places c
amusement and settle down by hi
own fireside. OF course they wante
to find out when The affair would tax
place. l confessed ignorance.
The following plan was matured
But will relate the results instea
of the plan, only will say first if Eek
had used me like twin brothe
ought | would have been better, toe
] feel half ashamed of myself now, a
I sit gray-headed and grandfather
To be sure, laugh over the joke, We
it was rather hard on Nellicand you
humble servant, too.