Wichita eagle., 1890-01-21
A MATCHMAKER'S MIDDLE.

More than any other, the especial gift upon
which Mrs Ferguson prided herself was heI
talent for matchmaking. Her large, spa
cious.house was full of cosy corners and tiny
hooks, curtained, carpeted and daintily fur
nished, where tete-a-tete was luxury not
to be despised She was positive genius for
effacing herself and all other superhuous PEG
pie when John and Jane were to be brought
to understand each other, and she was con-
SANITY on the watch for Johns and James to
benefit.
1t cannot be denied that Willstown, like the
proverbial republics, often proved migrate
full, the wrong Johns being frequently paired
| with the James of their special adherence,
and it 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 if marriages were
started in heaven she was not special agent
upon earth to forward them.
1t may, therefore, be imagined what q
''thorn in the aesh" it was to this scheming
lady to have under her own roof daily at her
table a nephew who at the mature age of 2S
was, in spite of her ceaseless endeavors q
had almost written peTsecution), still a bache-
! lor
Poor Charlesr" his aunt would sigh, che
is so shy, so reserved He will never, never
have the courage to WOO his wife, and it is
my positive duty to help him"
But the more persiscently she drove him
| into her contest hooks and corners with the
prettest girls in Willstown, the more he
avoided her parties, be they luncheons, teas
! or evening gatherings.
1t 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 age for the
esthetic, he might have been accused of af-
fectations, of posing for admiration; but it
was with him a sincere alteration of 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 paint
I ing, yet possessing talent above the average
amateurs. And into his dream life there
crept a reality that filed his heart and his
brain with new visions and hopes. He fell
in Lowell Rather, he softly, tenderly foated
along upon the music of sweet voice, the
light OF fair, womanly beauty till, scarcely
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 heiress, wooed by Others
the gentle belle of more than one social cir
Gle, did not trouble him for a moment. He
scarcely asked if she loved him, content to
worship her. Thoroughly impractical full
of visionary, ideal dreams, he did not try to
plan a future, seeking his love in her home
when he was sure she was alone, joining in
her woodland rambles filling 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 to a servant-upset
his portfolio, and plunged into the very heart
Of his secret. She was delighted Bertha
English would have been her own choice
from all the world of women. She had been
TO afraid that Jennie Ralston would succeed
in her brazen faced endeavors to captivate
Charles that she had fairly trembled for him.
1t was true that he seemed to be serenely IN
conscious of that pretty, saucy damsel's en-
deavors to win him. but there were times
when Mrs. Ferguson feared his own absent
ways might draw him into some avowal that
his sensitive homer would compel him to re-
peat.
Having made her discovery, Mrs. Fergu-
son next attacked the victim. How he
shrank and quivered when his cherished secret
was dragged out ana spread before him |
could never describe; how every nerve shud-
dered and recoiled as Mrs. Ferguson urged
upon him the necessity of immediate action
can never be told. 1t was like tearing open
the petals Of moss rosebud, and then bid
ding it TO bloom 10 full beauty, as if it had
been suffered to softly unfold itself in the
sunlight
You must propose soon or you will lose
her" Mrs. Ferguson had declared why,
she hiss a dozen admirers. Do you suppose
they will all shilly-shalv as YOU dog
She worried and badgered him until he
actually wrote his proposal which she I'M
dertook TO deliver. 1t was unlike the court
ing Of which ne had dreamed as moon rays to
gaslight, but be did ask to have his love re-
turned, and begged Bertha 10 be his wife.
Only instead of Bertha. being once started
with pen in his hand, he wrote darling
and dearest, and my own sweet love
Once possessed Of this document. Mrs. Fer
guson became poetic, resolving that 1t should
not be delivered ia a commonplace envelope
but, suited such natures as that OF her
nephew, in basket of flowers buried in
roses and snlothered IL perfume.
The basket was a marvel Of beauty when
Mary, Miss English's maid, brought it to her
room.
Mrs. Ferguson left it, miss and had not
time TO cali She did not get out OF her
carriage"
Now Bertha had her dreams. too, whereof
the hero possessed Charles Barker's veirety
brown eyes, his waving brown hair and Van
dyke besrd, his classic features and low,
musical voice Heiress as she was, courtei.
fsttered and pettesi she had q pure. giriish
heart. full Of romance and tenderness, and
she had given il Ia its first sweetness to
Charles Barker. Living him. she. too, han
visions of Gay wBs- he would whisper bis
,eert's secret into her ear and, IN soft, tender
accents. woo her 10 be mis- own
She looked carelessly al the flowers; then,
attracted by their beauty, admired and petted
hem.
Mary" she said. put on your hat and
axe this 70 old Mrs Worth. with n1y love
had intended 20 cut her some flowers today.
'ut this is prettier than l could arrange
Mary obeyed. and Bertha took up the
bread of her musings
"Desry me!T Old Mrs Worth said Miss |
Bertha is very kind Thank her for ne,
NARY"
.en she, too. fell TO adnlirinE the flowers /
inil - IsueI-ssx ..-A-.5ty gas