The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-10-30
Miss ManTRA'S MATCHMAKING.
BY AUGUSTA AvoNDALE.

B1 AuGUbIA ANONDALEs
81 declare to goodness, Robert" Miss
Martha said. rubbing her nose in way
peculiar 10 her, Il don't know what
you will do unless you get married
yourself.
Robert Alderman looked ut his sis
tea in mild remonstrance as he said
gently:
Mary! /! You forget, Martial"
Marthas face softened. Under the
daisies, in tho village cemetery, slept a
blue-eyed girl who had been betrothed
to her brother eighteen long years be-
fore, and died one week before the
wedding day.
sit is so long ago" she said, apollo
getically.
"Yes," her brother said, signing;
sand am too old TO begin n new life.
Thirty-eight in December, Mar ha. F"
"Wel," said Miss Martha, tartly, 81
am five years older. and L intend to
marry John Sanderson in three months.
Nov, Robert'-this very coaxingly-
~there is Dorothy Gaines"
"Doa't trouble yourself to pick out
my wife" her brother said; Il have no
intention OF marrying, and certainly no
desire to marry Dorothy Games"
He left the breakfast-table abruptly
as he spoke and went to his study.
Miss Martha rubbed her nose vigor-
ously.
"Alen arc so unreasonable, she
thought; Robert must have some one
to keep house for him when L go. And
Dorothy Gaines is the best housekeeper
In Meadowvlle!"
The idea of Dorothy Gaines presiding
over the china closets and linen chests
that had been her lifes delight, until
Cupid came to win away the old maids
attention, became more and more
agreeable to Miss Martha as the morn
ing wore away.
Il II just give Dorothy hint" she
finally concluded. Anybody can twist
Robert around finger ii they half try. ;"
1t was a speech founded upon long
experience. flor Martha had ruled with
undisputed sway over her brother and
his belongings for many long years.
They We're people of position in
Meadowville. Their house was large,
and well furnished in old-fashioned
style. With good servants, well trained
under her own severe discipline, ample
means, and brother who never found
fault Martha's housekeeping certainly
had few thorns.
But when she consented to become
the wife of the curate of Mea lowville,
the transfer of her power and privileges
became weightv burden. But one
solution seemed possible; her brother
must marry some steady, middle-aged
spinster, who would keep up the prim
neatncss and the hundred fussy details
of Miss Martha's domain. Miss Dorothy
Gaines, vinegar-iaced, sharp-voiced
Woman of limited income, and unlim I'd
energy and temper, proved to |be
.smilinglv willing TO take Miss Aartha's
hints in good part.
Indeed, one word leading to another,
they arranged trousseau and bridal
tour before they separated. 1t had
been n very satisfactory afternoon TO
Miss Martha, and sine came home to
tea in q very placid state of mind. Her
brother, after lunch, had found himself
unequal to his usual afternoons re ID
ing, and strolled down a shady lane in
the direction Of the church. Was it his
sisters suggestion that had so brought
back the sweet face Of his betrothed to
his memory that he sought her grave,
for OF late years he had not been very
often to the secluded corner where
Alice Desmond slept, in the shade of a
great oak tree.
Ho walked slowly, musingly, his
eyes en- the ground, till he was close to
the grave. Then he looked up, and
reelcd back as if shot. Close to the
grave, one little hand resting on the
marble headstone, was slender girl of
seventeen or eighteen, dressed in pure
white, with wide straw hat that
shaded Alice's great blue eyes, Alice's
long. fair curls.
Robert Alderman felt as If he had
lost his reason. His voice was hoarse
and strained as he said:
~Who are You. child?"
az am Alice Desmond" said low,
sweet voice. at is the name on the
stone here That Alice Desmond was
my aunt, who died when 1 was baby.
Papa thinks / look like her."
The explanation was given with child
like frankness and simplicity, and
gradually the sufIocating throbs OF
Roberts heart became quiet, and his
voice was natural and had it's habitual
qentleness as he said:
II knew your father we'll before he
left Meadowville, and / knew your
aunt. You may have heard of Robert
Alderman? ?"
"Who was to have married Aunt
ALICE"
ayes, dear child. You are like her
very much like her. Are You staying
at Meadowville?"
"Yes. / have been i'll. Not very,
very i'll; but"-and she gave n little
gleeful laugh-"the doctor says / must
go TO tho country, and not study 81
hard. So / am living with papa
cousin, Miss Dorothy Gaines.
"Ah, yes. Well, you must let m'
como to see you sometimes, for YOU
fathers sake"