The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-04-05
mOlLIE's mATcH-mAKlNe.

MOLLIE'S mATCH-m MAKING.
A dainty parlor with numerous easy
chairs-a glowing fire in the nickel
trimmed heatcr-a pretty little woman
listening for tie footsteps Of the lord
and master. 7 i, charming picture Of
domestic bliss John Ackerman fully ap-
preciated as he stepped into the room .
few minutes later.
"Well, Mollie, what's the news?"
"Oh, nothing, only supper has been
waiting half an hour. Come. lot US
hurry and eat; ! want to talk with
YOU"
Il thought there was something on
your mind; didn't know but / was geing
to get lecture for being late"
"You deserve one, for this is the last
evening shall spend with you for two
whole weeks; shows how highly you
appreciate your wife's society"
Mrs. John Ackerman tried to frown,
but failed completely.
In another half hour they were back
in the CHEEKY parlor, and Mollie be-
gan:
81 think Tom is splendid fellow,
and there were never two brothers more
alike than you and he"
"Thank you, my dear; honor your
judgment"
"Anl, John. I have the most brilliant
plan concerning him."
DO tell" John said, with q 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.
II 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, rs John showed signs Of insubor-
dination.
Somehow, the vision of the little par
lor without Mollie's lively chatter did
not seen to strike him very fayorably;
perhaps this was why he tossed the
paper to the other side of tho room, and
obedicntly 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 sci
up housekeeping in the cottage like this
one across the street, and--oh, John, il
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?"
"Dont laugh, John, for Tn in earn
est. know they will like each other
and have set my heart on the match
just think how nice it would be to have
Amy here always; and Tom is such I
darling! Amy should furnish her par
lor just like ours, only where this i.
blue hers should be cardinal, for she j.
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 plal
readily enough.
L tell you what it is, Mollie; 70,
don't want to say o word of this to Ton
or Amy, or they will take dislike I,
each other Immediately"
IT know it," wisely rejoined Mollie
"When told Tom / was going to visi
Aunt Hetty did not mention Amy
name, and don't think he knows Of he
existence; as for Amy, l have been viii
her SO little since was married that
am sure / never spoke to her Of Tom.
well, see that you don't do so now
you couldn't mention his name withou
praising him to the skies, and she woul,
see through your plans ut once"
Mollie departed tho next morning
leaving directions enough to distract
man If he tried to remember half 0
them. John did not try; he only had
confused recollection OF something b
be done with plants, silver spoons, ca
nary-birds, etc. Jenny. the servant
would know all about it, he reflected.
"Don't have Tom ut the house whe1
we return" was Mollie's last injunction
"Amv will be tired with the journe.
and want her to have chance I
bcautify little before she meets him.
When they reached the depot Mollie'
courage began to fail.
II am almost sorry to 60, john" sh
said. Suppose something should haI
pen to you while am away?"
Nonsense, darling! Go and have
good time; and be sure and come bac
in two weeks and bring Amy with you.
Mollies heart was SO thoroughly
her pet plan that she found it very har
to refrain from all mention of her adol
able brother-in-law during the tw
weeks that followed; once she did refe
to the cozy party Of four which the
would make, and then she was oblige
to turn it of on Jenny. the little maj
of all work as making the fourth.
The day before Mollie was to retur
, Aunt Hetty fell ill. A nervous attae
she called it, but Mollie privately al
nounced it contrariness. Aunt Heti
declared she must die il left alone vii
the servants, and Amy felt obliged
postpone her visit for few days
least Mollie could 90 on As she ha
intended, and she would follow rs soc
as Aunt Hetty could spare her. TIL,
1t happened that Mollie had arrive
home alone.
Amy will certainly come up ne
week" she assured John; "but ! coul
not wait another day. 1t seems an ~
since | went away"
a 4 4