Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-12-19
HER UNCLE'S STRATEGY.
How To MAKE A YoUNG WIFE OF AN
OID MAID.

The following true story light perhaps
furnish matter for little comedy. It is
generally the case that the more beautiful
and the richer the girl Is the more diff =
cult are both her p,rents and herself in
the choice of a 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 alter another, and
year after year carries away leaf after leaf
of the bloom of youth, anil opportunity
after opportunity. Miss Harriet Selwood
was the richest heircs in her native town
of shire, England; but she had al
ready completed her eth, year.. and le-
held almost all her young friends united
TO men whom she had at one time or
other discarded. Hrriet began to be
set down for IN old maid. Her parents
became really uneasy, and she herself
lamented in private position which is
not natural one, and to which those to
whom natnre and fortune have been
niggardly OF tireir gifts are obliged to
submit; but Harriet, as We have said, was
both handsome and very rich. Such was
the state OF things when her uncle,
wealthy merchant in the north OF Eng
land, came an visit to her parents. He
was jovisl. lively, streisht forward man,
accustomed to attack all difficulties bold
ly and ccolly. "You see," said her father
TO him one day, Harriet continues sing
10. Tae girl is handsome; what she is to
have for her fortune, you know; even in
this scandal-loying town. not a creature
can breath the slightest imputation
against her; anil yet she is getting to he
an old maid.
"Trus, ,lreplied the uncle; "but, look
here. brother, the grand point in every
aifAir in this wor'a is to seize the right
this you have not done-it is a
misfortune; hut let the girl go along
with me, and before the erd Of three
months I will return her to yoti as the
wife OF man as young and wealthy as
herself" Away went the niece with the
uncle. On the way home he thus adj
Ilrcssc'. her: "Mind what I am going to
say. You are no longer Miss Sclwood,
hut Mrs Lumley, my niece. young.
childlcss widow; ycu had the
misfortune t" lose your husband, Culcnel
after happy union of a quarter
IF year, by fall from his horse while
hunting" "But, uncle" "Let me
manage, il yon please. Mrs. Lumly. Your
a.her has invested me- with full powers.
Here, look you, is the wedding ring given
'"u by your late husband. Jewels. and
whatever elss you need. your aunt will |
upply you with; and accustona yourself
o cast down your eyes," The hset'>
vItted uncle introduced his ncice every.
where. and the young widow excited q
,rcat sensation. Thc gentlemen throng-
d about her, and ahe soon had her choice
'ut of twenty suitors. Her uncle advised
Ter to take tho ono who was deepest in
owe with her, and rare chance
Iscreed that this should bs precisely
lie most amiabls and Opueut.
rhc match was soon concluded, and one
lay the uncle desired to say few words |
o his future nephew in private. MY
lear SIR" he began, I'VE have told you an
"lIow soi Are Mrs. Lumley's |
fFections-" MY niece is sincerely at.
ached to you" Then her fortune. sup
y SC, is not cqua. to what you told m.?"
On the contrary, it islargcr." "Well,
rhat is the matter, then? l was ~ u good
Iumor--we could not well recall 1t after
Yard. My niece is not . widow"
What is Colonel Lumey lltin.?' mo,
lo-shc is O spinster." Ths lover pro.
ested that he Was happier fellow than
10 had conceived himself; and tho old
Maid was forthwith metamOfplrOset lit |
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