The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-03-12
low to Make Young wife OF nm Old
III 81 Maid. 81 e or.

The following true story might per-
haps furnish matter for a little COM
cdy, If comedies were still written in
England: rs t
Ii is generally the case that the
more beautiful and richer young
female Is, the more difficult are both
parents and herself I'm the choice of
n 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
after year carries away leaf after leaf
of the bloom of youth, and OppOrtu-
nifty after opportunity. Miss Harriet
SelWOOd was the richie st heires5 In her
native town, but she had already com.
pleted her twenty-seventh year, and
beheld almost all her young friends
united to men whom she had, ut one
time or another, discarded. Harriet
began to be set down for an old maid.
Her parents became really uneasy,
and she herself lanentod in private
a position which Is not 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 hand
some and very rich.
Such was the state of things when
her uncle, a wealthy merchant i'm the
north of England, came on visit to
her parents. He was a jOvial, lively,
straightforward man, accustomed to
attack all difficulties boldly and
cOolly.
You see," said her father to him
one day, Harriet continues single
The girl Is handsome; what she is to
have for her fortune, you know; even
i'm this scandal-lOving town not
creature can breathe IN imputation
against her."
"True," replied the uncle; "but
look you, brother, the grand point In
every affair i'm this world is to seize
the right moment; this you have no,
done. 1t is a misfortune, but let The
girl go along with me, and before the
end of three months i will return hel
to YOU as the wife of man as young
and wealthy as herself"
Away went the niece with heI
uncle. On the way he thus addressed
her:
"Mind what 1 am going to say
You are no longer Miss SelwOod, but
Mrs. Lumley, my niece, a young
wealthy, chiidless widow; you had
the misfortune to lose your husband
Colonel Lumley, after q happy union
of quarter of a year, by fall from
his horse while hunting.O
but uncle"
LET me manage, If you please
Mrs. Lumley. Your father has in
vested me with full 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 keen-witted uncle introduced
his niece everywhere, and every.
where the young widow excited q
great sensation. The gentlemen
thronged about her, and she soon had
her choice out of twenty suitOrs. Hei
uncle advised her to accept the one
deepest in love with her, and rare
chance decreed that this should be
precisely the most aimiable and Opu.
lent. The match was soon concluded
and one day the uncle desired to say
u few words to his future nephew In
private.
my dear sir" he began, "wc have
told you an untruth."
elbow SO? Are Mrs. Lumley's af.
actions"
Nothing of the kind my niece il
sincerely attached to YOU"
"Then her fortune, / suppose, is
not equal to what you told me-"
con the contrary, it is larger"
"Wcll, what is the matter, then "'
"a jOke-an innocent joke, which
came into my head one day, when
was i'm good humor; we could not
well recall it afterwards. My niece Is
not widOw!'
"What! Is Colonel Lumley liv-
ing"'
"No, no she is a spinister."
The lover protested that he was a
happier fellow than he had ever con.
ceived himself; and the old maid was
forthwith metamOrphosed into 4
young wife. - Manchester, (En9.,
Times.