The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-04-06
MOLLIE'S MATCHMAKING.

A dainty parlor with numerous easy
chairs glowing fire in the nickel
trimmed heater-a pretty little woman
listening for the footsteps of the lord
and master. T is charming picture of
domestic bliss John Alderman fully APP
preciated as he stepped into the room
few minutes later.
"sWell, Mollie, what's the news?"
"Oh, nothing, only supper has been
waiting half an hour. Come, let us
hurry and eat; l want to talk with
you"
81 thought there was something on
your mind; didn't know but / was going
to get lecture for being late"
"You deserve one, for this is the last
evening L shall spend with you for two
whole weeks; shows how highly you
appreciate your wife's society"
Mrs. John Alderman tried to frown,
but failed completely.
In another half hour they were back
in the CHEEKY parlor, and Mollie be-
gan:
II think Tom is splendid fellow,
and there were never two brothers more
alike than you and he"
"Thank you, my dear; honor your
Judgment"
"And, John, have the most brilliant
plan concerning him! !"
"Do tell" John said, with move
ment toward his coat pocket, where the
evening paper lay in uncut solitude.
Mollie observed the motion, and
promptly informed him that he should
not read word until she was through
talking.
81 am going away tomorrow, and
then you may read the paper from the
time you enter the house until mid
night, with no one to bother you," she
said, as John showed signs of insubor-
dination.
Somehow, the vision of the little par
Tor without Mollie's lively chatter did
not seen to strike him very favorably;
perhaps this was why he tossed the
paper to the other side of the room, and
obediently promised to listen. Mollie
perched herself on one arm of his chair
and commenced:
"You know my sister Amy is coming
home with me for long visit, and don't
you think it would be splendid if she
and Tom would fall in love with each
other? They could get married and set
up housekeeping in the cottage like this
one across the street, and-oh, John, it
would make me perfectly happy!"
John Alderman laughed long and
heartily.
Matchmaking, by Jove!" he said at
last. Miserable yourself, and want
everybody else to be; is that, it Mol
lie?"
Don't laugh, John, for I'm in earn
est. / know they will like each other,
and L have set my heart on the match;
just think how nice it would be to have
Amy here always; and Tom is such
darling! Amy should furnish her par
Tor just like ours, only where this is
blue hers should be cardinal for she is
dark, you know.
John was laughing again by this time,
and it took considerable management
to reduce him to order. This once ac-
complished, he fell in with the plan
readily enough.
81 tell you what it is, Mollie; you
don't want to say word of this to Tom
or Amy, or they will take dislike to
each other Immediately"
IT know it," wisely rejoined Mollie.
"When L told Tom was going to visit
Aunt Hetty L did not mention Amy's
name, and 1 don't think he knows of her
existence; as for Amy, L have been with
her so little since / was married that L
am sure l never spoke to her of Tom"
well, see that you don't do so now;
you couldn't mention his name without
praising him to the skies, and she would
see through your plans at once"
Mollie departed the next morning,
leaving directions enough to distract
man If he tried to remember half of
them. John did not try; he only had a
confused recollection of something to
be done with plants, silver spoons, ca
nary-birds, etc. Jenny, the servant,
would know all about it, he reflected.
Don't have Tom at the house when
"Amy will be tired with the journey,
and L want her to have a chance to
beautify little before she meets him."
When they reached the depot Mollie's
courage began to fail.
IL am almost sorry to go, john" she
said. Suppose something should hap
pen to you while 1 am away?"
Nonsense, darlingl Go and have a
good time; and be sure and come back
in two weeks and bring Amy with you"
Mollie's heart was so thoroughly in
her pet plan that she found it very hard
to refrain from all mention of her ador-
able brother-in-law during the two
weeks that followed; once she did refer
TO the cozy party of four which they
would make, and then she was obliged
to turn il off on Jenny, the little maid
of all work as making the fourth.
The day before Mollie was to return
Aunt Hetty fell i'll. A nervous attack
she called it, but Mollie privately an
nounced it contrariness. Aunt Hetty
declared she must die if left alone with