Telegram-herald., 1889-09-20
MATCH MAKING.
A Plain Littla Story with q Per-
spicuous AoraL

which Mrs. Ferguson pridod herself, IL was
her talent fer matchmaking. Her large,
spacious house was fun OF coxy corners and
tiny noozs, curtsiaed. carpeted and caintiiy
furnished. where . tste-atsts Was luxury
not 10 DO despised. She had a positive
genius for efaelng herself aud al other sn-
berfuous people when John and Jane were
10 be brought 10 understand each other, and
she was constantly on the watch for Johns
and James 10 benefit
IL can not be denied that Willstown, like
the proverbial republics, often proved IN
grateful, the wrong Johns being frequently
being paired with the James OF their special
adherence, and II 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 be-
nevolent old lady that II marriages were
started IN Heaven, she was not q special
agent upon earth 10 forward them
IL may therefore be imagined what q
"thorn In the flesh" IL was 70 this scheming
lady 10 have under her own roof, daily al
her table, "a nephew who, at the mature age
Of twenty-eight, was, IN spite OF her cease
less endeavors Il had almost written persc-
cution) still bachelor.
"Poor Charles 90 his aunt would sigh, ''he
is so shy, so reserved He viii never have
the courage 10 woo his wife. and il is my
positive duty TO help himW
But the more persisteatly she drove him
into her coolest hooks and corners with the
prettiest girls In WilIstown, the more he
avoided her parties, be they luncheons, teas
or evening gatherings.
II was not entirely the fault Of the pretty
girls either, for Charles Barker was a man
TO whom women naturally incline, gentle,
dreamy, poetic and exceptionally handsome.
Had he lived in the present rage for the
aesthetic, he might have been accused OF
affectations of posing for admiration; but
il was with him a sincere alteration or art,
a dreaming poetic temperament, that could
lift itself out of the commonplace surround
ings of his life, and dwell in an ideal world
apart.
Wealthy, and not very strong physically,
Charles Barker devoted his life to his books,
his pen and his pencil, never attaining TO
the highest excellence in poetry, music or
painting, vet possessing talent above the
average amateurs. And into his dre2m-life
there crept \ reality that filed his heart and
brain with new visions and hopes. He fe.l
in love! Rather, he softly, tenderly hoated
light Of fair womanly beauty, till, scarce
lv conscious Of his own infatuation, he gave
TO Bertha English the whole love OF heart
as yet untouched by woman's charms.
That she was an heircss, wooed by others
the gentle belle of more than one social
circle, did not trouble him for moment
He scarcely asked II she loved 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, join
ing her in woodland rambies, filing his port
folio 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 uD his rubbish one morning a
task she never trusted 70 a servaDt-upset
his portfolio and plunged into the very
heart of his secret. She was delighted
Bertha English would have been her
own choice rom all tie world CT women.
She had been so afraid that Jennie Ralston
would succeed n her b-azcn-faced enceav-
ors TO captivatc Charles that she had fairly
tremblcd for him. Ii was true that he
seemed 20 be serenely unconscious OF that
pretty. saucy domscrs endcavors 10 win
him. but there were times when Mrs. Fer
Cuson feared his own absent ways might
draw him into some avowal that his sensi-
tive honor would compel him TO repeat
Having made her discovery. Mrs. Fer
guson next attacked the victim. How he
shrauk and quivered when bis chegish he'd
secret was dragged out and spread before
him could never describe: how every
nerve shuddcred and recoiled "a Mrs Fer
cuson urged upon him the necessity Of ir-
mediate action. can never be told l. was
ike tearing open tnc petals Of e noss-rose
bad, and then bidding 1t 70 bloom 70 full
beauty as II il had been suffered TO softly
unfold itself IN the sunlight.
"Yo1 must propose soon or you will lose
her Mrs. Ferguson had declared. Nv hy,
she has dozen ado-ers. Do y01 suppose
they viii a.. shily-shaily as YOU dor
she worried and badgered him until he
actually wrote his prop sal, which size IN
dertoox 70 deliver. II was as unlike the
courtinz # which he had dreamed o. noon
ravs 20 gasiirht, but he cid ask 20 have his
love returned. and begged Bertha N bs
his wife. Only instead II Bertha" beng
once started with pen in bis hand. be
wrote darling" and dearest" snd my
own sweet love"
Once possessed % this document Mrs
Ferguson became poetic, resolving that Il
should rot bs delivered in a common place
envelope. but. as suited such natures "a that
OF hcr nephew. in basket q flowers buried
in roses snd smctnered in perfume
Tho basket vas a marvel q beauty when
MAY Mss Eng ish's maid, brought Il %
her room.
Mrs Ferguson ie't e., miss. an6 hai not
tine 70 call She did not set ont of her car
-iare"
Now. Bertha had her dreams. 700. where q
the hero possessed Charles Barsers VEL
vetv brown eyes. - waving brown barr
ard VsutrSe Beard. he eIsssic fes sfrres ard
low. musical voice. Hsiress ss Sc vas.
conr-e6 fsr-e-ed ard petfed. 80 fa1 2
pure gtrlsh heart. fal - r1r,sace sz4 tea
dsrn sss. ard ste rad given 10 IN ifs f-s'
s~-etnsss - Ctarles Psrser. Lcrl I'm.
sts. -co. rad visions 90 dsT raer 1e
w-alt whisrsr his hearts serre+ ITO tf-
ear. and ii soft. ten6s- accents T7o ner e
Be rs 0Vr-
ske loozsd csrs,ess'y = tde s7vsrs'
Poz7on a Comp exon Powder = ur.-
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