The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-12-25
MATCHMAKING.

MATCHMAKING. :.
Three very different break fast. tables
were linked together one morning By
each receiving An invitation to the same
country house. s.: \
The first plsoe belongs to Sir Steph.
90 Dashwood, in vir.ua Of his super-
ior. though not vsry exalted, rank Of
bsrouet. ..
He was alone with bis mother, who
held in her h.qd ID capenn letter, and
lookiog up from it said, "De.r Stephen,
you mast go. to please me-" Tho last
words said so plesdipsly, in such .
sott, sweet voice, thatit seemed strange
to hear him sns~er sternly, "No, moth.
er; you know how little I care for that
scrt Of thing. A g.y party 10 such q
house as the Dudley Harewood's i, the
last I should wish to join, I am really
becoming an old man, and l mean to
stay at home now"
"You are not forty yet"
'Thirty .sine. Quite old enough to
be allowed to give up dissipation. and
take care Ct my mother."
Give nae one yeat more, Stet hen.
I Gao not give up my hope Of q pretty
young mistress tor the old Court.
Don't look 20 sad, dear; it is fifteen
years since Annie died. Even if she
had been your wife you have mourned
her too long. l can not besr to see al
the brightness Of your life buried in
her grave"
Sir Stephen walked to window aud
looked out on his beautiful park for
some minutes, but Bis eyes had an .b.
seot look, and all be saw was a white
marble croes IN church:yard far
away.
He came back to Lady DISH wood At
last, and said, in low voice, II will 20
to this place, as you wish it so much.
As to marrying, have often told you
l would marry if could Cure for any
one, but no one has made my heart
beat faster since -since-years ago.
Dearest mother, Why will you not BE-
content to be the only woman ! love 2"
:"Contsos Yes, for myself; but
should be 50 happy, Stephen, to leave
this dear old place to your wife, and TO
60 aud wait in my own little home tor
the time for me to meet your dear ia.
ther again. An old womao may wait
to rejoio the husband she loved. for
thirty years but, indeed, your case il
diferent.''
"My dear mother, I never thought
Of comparing it. I have promised. l
will 60 to Birohleieh; but what on.
earth baa that to do With my marry.
| ,ng?"
"Why, in your letter, did you not
sse the Ashleys sze asked1''
"Weu?"
~ like Miss Ashley 20 much. She
y such nice, sensible girl Not less
than twenty.six, 90 that she would not
bs TOO young. Good.looking, 50 we'll
connected, on her fathers eide, aud 40
he'ress! Not that you oeed marry for
money, but there is = great deal you
could do here with it."
$50 she il the selected viotiml I
grant she is pleasant and handsome.
However, unfortunately, there arc two
serious objections 70 your pl.u, my
dear lady:; l do not care for her, aud
| I am sure she does not care for me-
"You must make yourself care for
her. And then, my dear boy, do you
suppose soy woman could help caring
for you?" And the tond mother looked
up with pride At her really very hand.
some SON. I i ":,* -,
he laughed good-humosadly. "Youne
ladies' ire net'so iofasosted g you sre
bot l promise 70 60 to this place, and
(also to try to like Miss Ashley; only
my firm conviction is that I shall cpme
back - heart'whole % 1 CO." And
Sir Stephen sighed as he thought how
very fer hs was from being heart. whole,
The'old sorrow, nevertheless, had partly
changed into: .. sad memory, and bis
mother had, At lasb made him almos,
believe that it was very irksome to bel
to take charge Of his hospitable house
and also that, ss the last Of 40 sncien'
race, it was his positive duty to marry
Caring for 10 one, he VAS now almost
really to propose to any. enc bis mother
, wished, partly to please her, p,rtl,
from sad wesrioess Of the subject.
"Wbea people think they are SAT-
they are often in, most danger" 40
s"ered Lady Dashvood.
:zsstAnd there's dancing in tho case
soo," gro,ued her son, % took up ,hi
invitation again. "Wh.s. does Mr.
bare VOID ~ ~ :De'r 9, :M.r,'s birthd.!!
, is on II. 2 24otlh, .nd q E.he ha,. ,set he
''''''' on 1 ball. 4 s'''''s'' sl..' d..