Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-02-12
The Spinster's Chance.
Turn Widow and the Husband
VIII BE Forthcoming.


It's generally the case tina
the moFe beautiful and richer
young female is the more diff.
cult are both her parents anc
herself in the choice Of "a hus-
band, and the more offers they
refuse. The one is too tall
the other too short, this not
wealthy, that not respectable
enough. Meanwhile, one spring
passes after another; and year
after year carries away leaf al
ter leaf Of the bloom of youth,
and opportunity after oppOrtr-
nifty. Miss Harriet Selwood
was the richest heiress in her
native town, but she had already
completed her 9th year, and be
held almost all her young friends
united to men whom she had at
one time or other discarded
Harriet began to be set down
for an old maid. Her parents
became really uneasy, and she
herself lamented in private a
position which is not a natural
one, and TO which those to whom
nature and fortune have been
niggard Of their gifts arc OBJ
liged to submit, but Harriet, as
we have said, was handsome and
very rich.
Such was the state of things
When her uncle, a wealthy mer-
chant in the northern part Of
England, came on a visit to her
parents. He was a jovial, live
ly, straightforward man, accus-
toned to attack all difficulties
bravely and coolly.
"You see" said her father to
him one day, Harriet contin-
ues single. The girl is hand
some; what she is to have for
her fortune you know; even in
this scandal loving town no one
can breathe an imputation a
gainst her,"
True" replied the uncle;
''but look you, ,brother,th grand
point in every affair in the world
is to seize the right moment;
this You have not done. It's a
misfortune, but let the girl go
with me, and before the end Of
three months | will return her
to you as the wife of q man
as young and as wealthy as her
self"
Away went the niece with
her uncle. On the way home
he thus addressed her.
Mind what I am going 10
say. You ape no longer Bliss
SelwoOd, but Mrs. LumIey, my
niece, a young, wealthy, chil2-
less widow; you had the misfor-
tune to lose your husband, Co.
Lumley, after happy union Of
a quarter Of a year, by a fall
from his horse, while hunting"
but, uncle
'Lct me manage, if you
please, Mrs. Lumley. Your IA
ther has invested me with fur
powers. Here, look You is the
wcdding-ring given you by
your late husband. Jewels,
and whatever else you need,
your aunt will supply you With,
and accustom yourself to cast
down your eyes"
The keen-witted uncle intro
duced his niece everywhere, and
everywhere the young widow
excited a great sensation. The
people thronged about her, and
she soon had her choice out Of
twenty suitors. Her uncle ad-
yised her to ACCEPT the one that
was the deepest in love with
her, and q rare chance decreed
that this should be precisely the
most amiable and opulent. The
match was soon concluded, and
one day the uncle desired to say
a few words to his future neph-
ew in private.
"My dear sir" he began, eve
have told you an untruth,"
"How so? Are Mrs, Lum-
ley's affections"
"Nothing of the kind; my
niece is sincerely attached to
you
''Then her fortune, I suppose,
Is uOI cC lddI W " ilab gOu tOAA
me?"
"On the contrary, tits larger"
"Well, what is the matter,
then?"
"a joke-an innocent joke,
which came into my head one
day when / was in good hui
NOR; we could not well recall 1t
afterwards. My niece Is not a
widow"
"What! Col. Lumley livingF
'No, no; she is a sPinster."
The lover protested that ne
was a happier fellow than he
had ever conceived himself, ana