The Placer herald., 1871-10-28
My ATTEMPT Az MATCH-MAKING
BY GEORGE c. LYMAN.

by the window with her sewing Through
| the light meshes of the lace curtains the
bright sunshine came in and fell upon her
soft dark dress, smooth hair, and pretty
white work, while the fresh breeze, floating
in through the open window, blew into bloom
carnation pink upon her cheeks. And sit
ting there in the breeze and sunshine, saw
that my Aunt katherine was very handsome.
AT FIRST l thought it strange that | had
never noticed the fact before; but it was not
strange, for children seldom think anything
about their parents or guardians looks, ex-
cept that they be pleasant Or unpleasant,
and was little more than a child. Ever
since l could remember, Aunt Katherine,
with her dark dress, smooth hair, and gentle
ways, had taken care of me; and when
grew into tall girl of fifteen, old enough to
go to kissing parties and have young beaux,
she watched over me still. She was my
mother, my companion, my friend. never
realized my orphanage or want of other kin,
but had been the same careless, light hearted
merry girl ever since could remember that
| was on the June morning | watched her at
work in the sunlight. She looked up at last.
" Addie, isn't 1t most school-time?" she
said.
"Yes, auntie, l am going in minute;
but first tell mo"
"What, child?"
"Why you were never married"
Because | never liked nybody well
enough to marry him. Now go and get
ready for school"
She smiled as she spoke, and after glance
at her face | smiled, too, and ran off for my
bonnet and sachel. Coming down stairs
again, put my head in at the sitting room
door.
"Aunt Katherinc!'
"Well!
{" If you found anybody whom you liked
well enough, wouldn't you marry him p
81 don't know suppose so. Why,
what in the world has got into your head,
Addie 2"
laughed, slammed the door, and bounded
through the hall into the road. Half way
to the schoo-house met my teacher, Mr..
Charles Devereux.
"Good morning, Miss Addie! Recita-
tions all ready?'
" Yes, sir" | answered, and he passed on
ahead. sauntered on slowly, thinking of
my Aunt Katherine. thought it would be
a nice plan for her to be married The next
thought was who could she marry?
There were only half dozen unmarried
middleaged men in the village-Aunt Kath-
crime was twenty-seven; so of course she
wouldn't marry very young man. rapidly
enumerated the half dozen eligible ones and
their suitability for my plan. Lawyer
Hyde, thirty, rich, aristocratic and stingy;
he won't do. Mr.. Leighton, thirty-fve,
handsome, good, well off, but wdower;
and I've heard Aunt Katherine say she did
not like widowers. Mr.. Pierson, twenty
eight, handsome, wealthy, but too fast; she
would not like him. DR.. Jarvis, thirty-six,
small, grabbed, miserly, and unbearable
generally. Mr.. Howe, too homely to be
thought of; and Captain Haynes, with his
yellow, bushy whiskers, and nine thousand
dollars worth Of nortgaged property, which
he is always talking about, worse yet.
Rather sorry array in all
Just then the school-bell rung, and went
in to my books and Mr.. Charles Devereux
aged twentyeight handsome, intelligent,
well educated and unmarried. The class in
intellectual philosophy was called first, and
though had carefully committed my lesson
to memory the evening before, my late
thoughts had quite driven all remembrance
of it from my head, and my recitation was
imperfect Mr.. Devereux looked supposedly
at me, but said nothing. In French gram
mar my performance was still worse.
Miss Addie, said Mr.. Devereux, as
passed him on my way to my seat, " do you
have any trouble with those French verbs in
learning your lessons ?"
Yes, sir, little" replied.
&C You want a little reviewing, | think.
If have time, will call in at your house
this evening and help you a little while you
are studying"
Mr.. Devereux knew that always studied
evenings, and had several times called in and
spent an hour in assisting me with particu
larly difficult task designed for the next days
recitation. So was not surprised to hear
him make this offer, though a little ashamed
Of the cause of it, as my failure had resulted
from my willlul inattention and carelessness.
thanked him, however, with flushed face
and went to my seat. But it was not entirely
shame that flushed my face.
AS | expected, Mr.. Devcreux came in the
evening to explain my French lesson, But
he did not find me alone. Aunt Katherine
sat by the table sewing, and looking even
handsomer than i'll the morning. My heart
gave little hutter of impatient anticipation
every time Mr. Devereux looked at her, and
after the lessons were through, | did my
best to make her talk to please him. My
aunt always talked well, but she quite ex-
celed herself in convcrsing that night !
saw that Mr.. Devareux was interested, and
| was delighted with the good success of my
secret plan.
In the course of the evening, John Aubrey,
my lover, came in. OF course | claimed
John as my lover, for though he was nice
young man of twenty and | mere