The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-24
m.
LET LOVE ALONE.


was her talent for matchmaking. Her
lerge, spacious house was full of coy cor
ners and tiny hooks, curtained carpeted
and daintily furnished, where tete-a-tete
was luxury not 10 be despised. She was
q positive genius for eHacing herself and
all other superhuous people when John
and Jane were TO be brought 70 understand
each other, and she was constantly on the
watch sar Johns and James to beneit.
1t cannot be denied that Wilsstown, ike
the proverbial republics, often proved I'M
grateful, the wrong Johns being frequently
paired with the James OF their special abb
florence, ard 1t had been more than once
whispered by disappointed wooers that
they wished Mrs. Ferguson would mind
her own business"
But nothing would ever convince that
benevolent old lady that II marriages were
started In heaven she was not q special
agent upon earth to forward them.
It may therefore be imagined what
thorn in the flesh IL Was to this seheTn-
ing lady to have under her own roof
daily at her table q nephew who at the ma
ture age OF . was, In spite of her ceaseless
endeavors q had almost written persecu-
tion), still bachelor.
Poor Charles r. his aunt would sigh, che
Is so shy, so reserved. He will never, never
have the courage so WOO his wife, and il is
my positive duty TO help him."
But the more persistently she drove him
into her coolest hooks and corners with the
prettiest girls in Willstown the more he
avoided her parties. be they iuncheons,
teas or evening gatherings.
il was not entirely the fault of the pretty
girls either, for Charles Barker was q man
TO whom women naturally inciine-genfle,
dreamy, poetic and exceptionally hand
some. Had he lived in the present rage for
the aesthetic, he might have been accused
Of Alterations, of posing for admiration;
hgt IL was with him sincere alteration OF
art, dreaming poetic temperament, that
could lift itself out OF the commonplace sur
roundings of his life and dwell In an ideal
wY.ld apart.
Wealthy, and not very strong physically.
Charles Barker devoted his life to his
books, his pen and his pencil, never attain
ing 20 the highest excellence in poetry,
music OF painting, yet possessing talent
above the average amateurs. And into his
dream life there crept q reality that filed
bis heart and brain with new visions and
hopes. He fell in Lowell Rather, he softly,
tenderiy fioated along upon the music Of o
sweet voice. the light OF a fair, womanly
beauty, till, scarcely conscious OF his own
infatuation, he gave to Bertha English the
whole love of heart as yet untouched by
q woman's charms.
That she was an heiress, wooed by others
the gentle belle of more than one social
circle, did net trouble him for q moment
He scarcely asked IL she losed him, content
to worship her. Thoroughly impractical,
full of visionary, ideal dreams, he did not
| try TO plan future, seeking his love in
her home when he was sure she was alone,
| joining In her woodland rambles, filing
his portfolio with sketches of her face, and
writing poems to her out of the fullness of
/ his heart
And therein he erred for Mrs. Ferguson.
clearing up his rubbish" one morning.
task she never trusted 10 q serysnt-upset
his portfolio and plunged into the very
heart OF his secret. She was delighted.
BsFtha English wonld have been her own
choice from all the world of women. She
| had been 50 afraid that Jennie Ralston
would succeed in her hrazen-faced en-
deavors 20 captiyate Charles that she had
fairly trembled for him. IL was true that
he seemed TO be serenely unconscious of
| that pretty. saucy damsei's endeayors 10
/ win him, but there were times when Mrs.
Ferguson fesSed his own absent ways
might draw him into some avowaI that his
! sensitive honor would compel him to
| repeat
Having made her discovery, Mrs, Fergu-
son next attacked the victim. How be
shrank and auivered when his cherished
secret vas dragged out and spread before
him | could never describe; how every
| nerve shuddered and recoiled as Mrs.
Ferguson urged upon him the necessity oil
immediate action, can never be told. II
was Ike tearing open the PETALS of 3 moss
| rose bud. and then bidding il TO bloom 70
1 full beauty as II IL bad been suffered 20
/ Sefsly unfold itself In the sunlight.
"lou must propose soon or you wiz lose
! her, Mrs. Ferguson had declared. why.
i she has dozen adorers. no you suppose
they win at shiIly-shally a. you do9"
i She worried and hadgered him until he
actually wrote his proposal, which she ua-
dertook 10 deliver. Il was as unlike the
eonrting AZ which be had dreamed rs moon
rays 10 gAsiight, bus be did ask 10 have his
love returned, aud begged Bertha 10 be his
( wife Only instead Of Bertha heirss
once started with e pen in hts hard. be
wrote darling and dearest. +" and emy
own sweet love,
once possessed Of this document. Mrs.
Ferguson became poetic, resolving that ii
shoaid not he delivered in q commonplace
[ envelope bGt. - suited scch natures a
that a her nephew, ia basket Of flowers
buried II roses and smotherea in perfume.
The basket was a marvel Of beauty when
Mary, Miss Engiish's maid. Brought 1t q
her room
Mrs. Ferguson left il Miss, aud had no,
tirae 20 call She dsa nos geS oat az her
/ carriage
New hertha had her dreams, 600. where's:
the hero possessed Charles Bankers velvetv
hsown ayes, his waving brown hair ard
Fandyse beard, his classic features and
lev. musical voice. heiress IS sac was.
coarted battered and Pegted. she bad :
pare. gsraish heart full ef romance and
tenderness, and she had given il IN its srss
sweetness 80 Charles Barker. Loving him.
she soo. had visions Of aay whea he
wo1ld whisper bis hearts secret into her
ear, and IN Soft. tender accents WOO her 10
- sxis awn
she laoked czresesssv az she flowers
then, attracted By their beanty. admired
amd petted thea
Mary. she sssa. ssput ca year bat ana
taAs this 20 Cd Mrs. Worth. with nv lovs.
] bad intended 10 cut her some towers 10.
DAY bat sAAs il pvessseE than l eoald A..
( range
May ol@yrd and Rersha sook up The
tAfpaa q beg musings
! I'exry ne old Mrs worsE said. Miss
Bertha Is very kaad. Thank her for me.
( A~vw