Show two elopements Elope Elop ments emonts in a largo large square old fashions 11 0 U s 0 such as aa our fathers used to bu baiad il d alion solidity was more sought nought after than utility lity lived jphilip mon man son sea an anil J his sister E either other philip bad rea cleil 1 the mature age ol of forty and E esther asther was wan close to him still each land had pursued a solitary pathway through life seeking king no DO companionship save that of the other till there was waa to believe that they would continuo continue ts ta follow the stino course coarse till in the befall fall items of time they were gathered into tho the family tomb the receptacle of momy generations of the manson family there was more reason to think so sin since 0 a they took care to commend an unmarried lifo lifa not only by example but by precept no sail philip when assailed on this subject by a matchmaking match making lady 11 marrying may bo be very good for some people but I 1 could not bear to havo have my habits broken in upon and M my a whole ahonso turned topsy carvy by t tho by introduction of a wife but bat by and by when you grow older you tau will feel the need of a wife more than at present I 1 I 1 no said rhilip philip conclusively I 1 I 1 I 1 have hare a sister who is devoted to me and while she lives I 1 shall need no other As for miss esther site alia often do dared that sue she never would make a slave of herself for any man living if other bomea were foolish enough to give up their independence end and fitio atia thom themselves solves to a man for no other earthly purposes than to burden themselves with cares and toil from morning till night she was sure she ha had a no objection for her own part she was wiser wiser her brother and she had always 1 eye lived together peaceably and it happily and shu she did not think she bile could eo lai make tiny any change for the bettor better of course conrao it was insinuated by those whose opinions dif differed fored widely from fro vs miss esthers that in adopting this pinion opinion she was only making virtue ol of nece necessity anil and that it was best to toba be contented with ones lot providing there was no mo chance of improving it il but bat E esther selaer d ld id not hoar those remarks remuis and so was not disturbed toy by them she continued to live in the old house honse with her brother they kept no domestic domo stio since ince either eather rather plumed plumea herself on 11 glicr or housekeeping qualities and there wits was really lint but little to do so usher as her brother waa usually absent during the day she ehe was left tor for the most part to ilia companionship of her own thoughts unless some neighbor chanced to call in ft thing by the way of rather rare occar ronce since most moat of the neigh bore bora had large families of their own which necessarily confined them at home early one afternoon after naon just after esther manson had bail completa tl her task of clearing away the dinner dishes and storing them away in the cupboard after a thorough washing she aha was waa star startled tied by arap at the door somewhat surprised by a collor caller at this unusual hour hoar she sha answered the summons ammons um mons bhe was a little sire bira ahat hat it wits was a neighbor who had of late proved arry from her lubit habit of borrowing articles arli oloa ani and owing it la 18 to bo be to an Labi habitual neglecting to return them I 1 hopa aha lusod 11 that if it itis Is mrs mra bailor bailey she will be ba wanting to borrow some bial ng I 1 havu not go got t 11 la al ell the door but in no mrs illy pre 11 tea herself to lo 10 her or expecting vai c gazada gentleman of forty five carefully are fully nay ClO cl gAntly stood before her 1 I bog bag your pardon tor for intruding madame said eald he as lie noticed noti ced esthers look of surprise b but t c canyon direct me to the house hoano of th the I 1 laia V xiu mr Yeli fleet I 1 have heard it was alo tor rattle sale a and d from tho the description I 1 have hoard heard of it fajga it will suit salt mo 1 it is the next house on the left sir answered esther either no so lad had had bad time white the gentleman was speaking totz ll 11 I 1 I 1 I 1 1 I 1 iii urn no lis ilia appearance which did not fail to impress latr favorably think thank you yon tor for the alio information I 1 trust you will pardon the tha I 1 have 11 have 8 occasioned you the gentleman gent leiann bowing not the least tron blu in tho ilia world replie I 1 lather esther it a little fluttered V by a deference defa to which 1110 bell not bren i i accustomed T two days 6 0 afterward Iter wards lather hoard heard that tbt wo MI NI alie 1 yv elldee td hd bad been purchased by bv it a man blaag Di golow she bhelt at once anil and rightly that this was the same with her visitor A few ilaya days and leather esther manson alanson received reco ived another visit from torn the gent gentleman lemah 11 I 1 have lafavor a jimr to ask of 0 you miss maebon ho it seems lie ho had ascertained her bamo tiao it 1 I rua ata aware that our one slight flight acquaintance will hardly justify it but I 1 trust timo time will remove this thia objection you must know ho he that I 1 am aia it a bachelor dependent in many respects res upon nay my housekeeper honBo koeper who ilia ugh a gool good bowart in ill lor her way I 1 rim bin afraid is not reliable in ia matters of 0 taste lasto As my furniture has arrived but has bag not yet boon been arranged arran geil I 1 would esteem it a real you would give giva me ino your opinion in some little matters respect ima its proper disposition dispo my carriage is ia at the door ready to carry you over bat bid ether esther a little hesitatingly I 1 I 1 do not mot olalia claim to have much I 1 taste te I 1 fear ear I 1 shall prove no more reliable reable I 1 18 ia fix that prospect than your housekeeper 1 I have but to look bronnel rae me said mr bigelow Big slow politely to bo be fully am satisfied upon apon that point E estberg st liers cheek flushed with pleasure at this comp compliment limont anil and sho gho made preparations to comply with her now 8 it was wan not without a little conscious nea of the tha singularity of lor hor position that found herself heraelto tilling riding by the side of a gentleman with whom she aha had scarcely eoa reely exchanged half a dozen words worda in the course of her lifa tha distance ho however w avor was but short abort and she had bad ba time for reflection on arriving arming at ler her place of destination she bho found tho the chief part of her business accomplished the garniture farn furni iture turo which by the way was now bud bad handsome had bad been arranged in the rooms looms after a fashion bat esther bather was wa able abla to point out several changes for tho the better with oil all of which ur bir bigelow professed sOd himself Lii aBelt delighted be h moreover moreaver asked her advice us as to the tha proper in which to hang bang several boo pictures that he had bad picked up in the mo course of his E european arolean travels shia was accorded corded uc with some hesitation mr bigelow would not cot be without showing his now naw found acquaintance all over mo alio house from kitchen to garret when all was waa completed lie be overpowered her with protestations test te stations atio as ol of gratitude for her kind service and landed her bar at her own door just jast live minutes before her brother came in esther was wag rather sial lad of this as sho she was a little I 1 OILS that her bar brother would consider eon her adventure rather a quixotic otio one to avoid colmant com oom mant mout she gho did not oven even inform philip that the she hid had over ever mot mr bige bigelow low ila ha took look I 1 frequent I 1 qu I 1 t opportunities suniti tu niti to cull cil pa het her on bamo bomo 0 0 slight preto pretext to or another other but a it t always chanced to bo be at e z time when her brother was absent 1 I I 1 wonder said philip carelessly as he sat by the fre fire one ev evening erting whether he t her mr bigelow will not be looking out for a wife before long 4 I 1 I 1 dont know said esther either and in her embarrassment dropping drop dropping fing halt half a d dozen 0 zea stitches from tho the bloc stocking ing which 6 ehe he hold held in her bar hand 11 not that I 1 approve of marriage at least in my own case said philip not noticing this demonstration but it may bo be different with mr bigelow lie ile has no sister bister to saper superintend intend his bis establishment lish ment I 1 dont know however whether there is anybody likely to suit him in this village tillage let me bee there is miss preston she might do no I 1 dont think she aha would suit anil him at all bild esthor either with a spirit which considerably surprised her brother aba isnora very vary little about housekeeping 1 wh why y I 1 thought you and miss preston were wera friends friend a said philip 61 little puzzled well so BO we axe returned esther in list her usual tore tone 11 but bat I 1 I 1 hardly think she would salt mr bigelow 1 perhaps he rejoined and so BO til alio a conversation ended from the abo conversation which we have recorded above the reader will obtain some insight into the ter ot of ESt bArS feelings howardi mr bigelow ano would hardly confess it to herself but its as a mattor matter of last fact liar her ideas of 0 marriage mar riago hall had millered a tan aerial change within a briel brief period meanwhile Mean whilo the gentleman goat lemin continued his visits oftentimes he ha would ask to gee boo the bed of flowers on which esther rather lather prided herself bera elf bud and sometimes he ha won la petition for seeds being very fond of flowers flow oia its ha said aard and very vary anxious to ace them in his hia own gardon garden on oa one of these oc caloss mr bigo low after a little visible em embarrassment barras baia hesitatingly IlI 1 I would woula like to lo ask aik miss misa either on rather a delicate sub jt and ono one ot of groat great importance to in cay Y self there is one thing I 1 wish to bocare to make my complete but I 1 hardly know in what manner to ask lor for it what isit is it you refer reer to asked esther either A wife wai tho the reply instantly it de deep c f imson hashed tl esthers che chellis ch eolis ok a aha did dot trust truit let herself to speak need I 1 tay may that ym air aro the he one whom of all others I 1 would woul a see seek k to place in that position Y he ha took hoc unresisting hand and kissed kissea it ft with all the gall a of a young lover bat what will my lay brother say 21 in I 1 paired lather either when v lien she sha found fauna voice boico to lo speak whytt should lia he say bay you are our oar own mistress surely barely 1 1 yes but he bo is la always tle the id idea e ot of im arriago und aind I 1 yen vm ture to tell him no need of it lots lets tau tan away to new york and got get marri marrion oJ you yon know ho he added gaily 11 wo aro both young and ami romantic aud and it would be ba quito quite in character ch tractor either at first objected but when she blie cajoto came to consider cona iJar that in this ihn way aho oh I 1 would be ba relieved reli oved ot of a great port portion ion of the tha embarrassment chioli one ancl a step ate n would naturally bring with it she bho CZ con settled find and that day yeek week was VM appointed for tho tha departure aho required reul reil ired this thia time to pre a rations meanwhile if E listher vs ther haa bill uoti not been so BO exclusively occupied with her own of fifi fairs sho she might have noticed that a chau chango goliad hid como coma over Philip howes he wab often absent evenings ove ninga and when ut at homo home was moro more silent and abstracted than was his hia wout noat the ilia lormor former she ebo readily attributed to the cause which he assigns a pressure of b bubi mesa desa tho latter she sha did mot observe ob sorro her mind being belag preoccupied wenho we who are in the secret may tako take the liberty of following follo MUg lim on one of his hia business calls it was train from whose front door dangled un an immense knocker f that hit philip manson knock eel the door was opened by the tha same miss misa preston who some boma months bifora he be thought 11 might do for mr bigelow Bl gelow 11 good evening maria was aga lis lie salutation as an he entered after a brief conversation about the weather the crops and other standard topics which however trivial they nifty may ai am could hardly ba dispensed with lie lia began bega ito show signs of and finally I 1 1 manu alarm miss preston I 1 moan meau maria what are your opinions about mar marriage riago 11 why sail eaul she I 1 I 1 I 1 hardly know I 1 doal doa t think I 1 hiiro have given much consid oration elation to the subject because continued philip I 1 find my opinions have a great change on this thia point skora wm was a timo time when I 1 thought it unwise but now it if I 1 could got get a good wife such bach as you for example I 1 should be inclined to try it 11 0 lor mr mauston Mai iBon baid aid mma miss broat broston proston Pr oston ia fa some boma perturbation how you talka five minutes afterwards miss pres ton con hal bail accepted the ibo proposal of philip smil anil the two were to all intents and purposes engaged engage J tho iha louly thing I 1 can think of said tho the gentleman after i a la Is not my sister nistor esther either is ia a decided en emy to marriage and I 1 hardly laro daro to tell her that I 1 am about to marry if wo we could go away and have hava the ilia ceremony performed it would bo be plena anter suppose we go to now new york nug aug rested tle the bride elect 11 A good idea wo 11 RO go when CAR can you be ready V next monday morning orning la so 00 next monday morning was waa agreed upon apon it so BO happened that esther was waa to start on monday afternoon for the same bama place with tho the sauto bania purpose in ia view lint bat of this coincidence neither party wera aware the reader will please go forward a week by this thin time the tha parties have reached now new york been united in tho holy londe ot of matrimony and ore are now legally man bud and wife th they y were located at lotela hotels situated on th the C same game street and oven on the same eaino hido eida ot of tho the way war but wore were far ur from rora being aware of of the propinquity on the morning succeeding the two marriages for ot by a singular eio gular chance they happened on tho the same bamo day sir mr bigelow and esther started out for a walk down tho the street it so happened that philip P all and d his wife were veto at the same moment walking up street the natural consequence was th the a two parties met good he heave avenal nil my bi sterl exclaimed philip Mere merciful ifal goodu goodne ial tny my br otherl I 1 returned rolar noil lather esther what brings yon heio bore wit with la mr bigelow Bi golow nay bow happens it that you aro hero here with miss preston miss misa preston is now my kilell and mr bigelow is u now my hua bus band I 1 11 bat I 1 thought you yon wore were opposed to matri matrimony 1 11 and 1 supposed you were equally I 1 so my fri frends 1 ds 11 interpose mr bige biga low oil this thi i is s a day of a but I 1 trait ul such a nature that wo we shall be made the happier thereby my Uy regret mr mansou ol of robbing bobbing you of your housekeeper is s quite dissipated by the that you yon have so BO soon filled her place tho the sensation excited in the village lago by the return retarn of the two brides with their respective husbands may botter better bo be imagined than it gives us w pleasure plea soro to state that neither philip nor his bis sister ever bad occasion to regret tho the double elopement soled lee lector |