Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-06-04
WIDOW OR SPINSTER

The following true story, says a
Manchester, England, paper, might
perhaps furnish matter for q little
comedy, if comedies were still written
in England:
1t is generally the case that the
richer and more beautiful a young
female is, the more difficult are both
her parents and herself in the choice
of husband, 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 af-
ter year carries away leaf after leaf of
the bloom of youth, and opportunity
after opportunity. Miss Harriet Sci
wood was the richest heiress in her
native town, but she had already
completed her twenty-seventh year,
and beheld almost all her young
| friends united to men whom he had,
at some time or other, discarded. -
Harriet began to be set down for an
old maid. Her parents became real
ly uneasy, and she herself, lamented
in private position which Is not a
natural one, and to which those to
whom nature and fortune have been
niggard of their gifts are obliged to
submit; but Harriet, as we have said,
was handsome and very rich.
Such was the state of things when
her uncle, a wealthy merchant in the
north of England, came on visit to
her parents. lie was a jovial, lively,
straight forward man, accustomed TO
attack all difficulties boldly and cool
Fly.
"You Sec" said her father to him
one day, "iarriet continues single.
The girl is single; what she is to have
for her fortune, you know; even in
this scandal loving town not a crea-
ture can breathean imputation against
her.
"Nrue,' replied the uncle; "but
look you, brother, the grand point in
eveW affair in this world Is to seize
the right moment; this you have not
done. II is a misfortune, but let the
girl 90 along with me, and before the
end Of three months | will return her
to YOU Us the wife Of II man Us young
and wealthy as herself"
\ way went the niece with her un-
Gle. On the way he thus addressed
her:
Mind what | am going to say
You are no longer Miss Selwood, but
Mrs. Lumley, my niece, young,
wealthy, childless widow; YOU had
the misfortune to lose your husband,
Col. Lumley, after Il happy union of
a quarter Of year, by fall from
his horse while hunting
But Uncle
Let me manage, if you please,
Ms. Lumley. Your father has in
vested me with iull powers. Here,
look you, is the wedding ring given
YOU by your late. husband. Jewels,
and whatever else you need, your
aunt Will supply You with; and &C
custom yourself to cast down your
eyes"
The kccn-witted uncle introduced
his niece everywhere, and everywhere
the young widow excited a great SEN
sation. The gentlemen throngGd Il
bout her, and she soon had her choice
out of twenty suitors. Her uncle ad
yiseI her 10 accept the one deepest in
love with her, and rare chance de
creed that this should be precisely
the most amiable and opulent. The
match was soon concluded, and one
day the uncle desired to say few
words to his future nephew in pri-
vate.
MY dear sir" he began, eve have
told You an untruth."
"How so? Are Mrs. LurAley's af-
, fections-"
Nothing OF the kind; my niece is
sincerely attached to YOU
Then her fortune, ! suppose, is
net equal TO what you told me :"
"On the contrary, it is larger"
"Well, what is the matter, them
"a joke-an innocent joke, which
came into my head one day, when |
was in good humor; we could not
well recall it afterwards. Ny niece
is not a widow
What. Is Colonel Lumlcy liv-
ing?'
"No, no; she is spinster."
The lover protested that he was a
happier fellow than he had ever con-
ceived himself; and the old maid was
Immediately metamorphosed into .
young wife.
How it Happened