Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-24
BILLY AND The TWlNs
BY J. M. CROWN.

tious. AS Billy was twice-a-wcek
caller at the home Of the Misses FL
len and Mary Roy, 1t is to be pre-
sumed that It meant something fat
tering.
The twins looked alike and dressed
alike and sang alike and became SEN
timental each in the same way. Billy
didn't know which one he wanted.
Half the time he didn't know which
was Ellen, and the rest Of the time
he didn't know which was Mary.
Where he escorted one, he escorted
the other. It was expensive. Billy
began to run into debt.
"This won't do" he decided. "1'll
get g photograph of each. Then I'll
20 off by myself and decide which
one gets the prize.
The Misses Roy gave their photo
graphs willingly. Billy took thcm
home. He sat down with lead pen
Gil to mark them for Identification.
This one is-H'm! Why didn't I
let them autograph them?' Which one
Is this one? Blessed if I know.
Well, we'll mark this No. 1 and this
No. g."
Next day Billy started on his va
cation. He went to a quiet farm
house. The board was cheap, and the
quiet gave him plenty Of time to &C.
eide his fate. He scanned the pic
lures in the woodland. in the meadow,
in the fields, and in the orchard. FL
nally his troubled soul was stilled. No.
is smile was just bit smilier than
No. 2's.
"That's the one III marry" sa;2
Billy Peters.
So he came home. He had decided
that he'd forthwith propose to 70.
1. Then his soul sickened. Which
was No. /?
However, Billy was equal to li:tie
thing like that. He carried the Pho
to of No. with him to the Roy home.
The twins entertained him in the par.
lor Billy took the photo from his
pocket.
Whose little face is this?" he a"::'
ed. Mary Roy studied the Likeness.
why, that's Ellen"
Ellen studied 1t. at is not. l. )
you, Mary"
Billy Peters went home With a
headache.
It took Billy two days to straightan
out this tangle. This time he had a
real idea. He put two slips Of paT2r
into q hat. One was marked Ellen and
the other was marked Mary. &c
closed his eyes and drew out Ellen.
That night Billy called again. Cae
Of the twins was in the parloE.
ELLEN" he began, TREMENDOUSLY.
I'm Nary" she smiled.
Billy swallowed hard. Well, wat
difference did il make?
Mary" he asked, will you be Il:
wife,"
She shook her head. I'm sorry.
Billy. 1 like you. But I won't marry
until Ellen marries.'
The other twin entered the parl2r.
Billy manipulated his fountain pen al[
then shook hands with Ellen. lie
seemed quite sorry that he had in!7 II
her hand But lie had her mari d.
That was the main thing.
Half an hour later one of the tH':1:
left the room. The one that remain
had ink on one hand. Billy hastcr@t.
to her side.
"Ellen." he whispered, "will you 3c
my wife,"
She shook her head. I'm sorry.
Billy. like you. But l won't mary
until Mary nlarries."
Billy Peters staggered 10 the deer.
What do you think anl," he C.
manded, "a Mormon
But there was still fight left II
this much harassei lover Soon 10
had another plan. He'd dip up a rise
ciap-lots Of nice chaps. He'd tax
them 10 the Roy home. If one Of tn. N
married Ellen he'd take Mary. and j!
one married Mary, he'd march off VII
Ellen.
He brought nine young men to th";-
home Then the twins woke up ald
told him to stop.
I'll marry nobody but you," SAID
Ellen.
"And I'll marry nobody but yca,'
said Mary.
But I won't marry you unless yo1
marry Mary"
and I won't marry you unless y2u
marry Ellen"
"And 1 won't marry until Mary mr.
ries."
"And I won't marry until Ellen mar
RES
There was wild light in Billy Ie-
ter's eyes. He thanked them for
the great honor they mad thirst
upon him and made his way to lie
street.
Six hours later a man stealthily -
preached policeman. who was mild.
ing his own business, as police
men do.
SSH" he said Look"
The policeman looked. "Railrc ID