The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-08-14
A MATCH PREVENTED.
DY S. A. WEISS.


A group of five persons was collected
on the broad, vine-shaded porch of the
old Walden mansion.
There was Josie, the acknowledged
mistress of the house, plump and laugh
ing eyed, though with dignity be-
fitting her position; and her brother
Tom, lounging on the top step in cool
linen home neglige; and their aunt, Mrs.
Bascomb, from the city, tanning herself
in cane rocker, while her pretty daugh-
ter Cora wound skein of silk, held
Cor her by very nice looking young
man.
This was Mr.. Mayhew, grcat-nephew
of Mrs. Bascomb's late husband-in
which relation lay his misfortune, since
that lady, being on princip e strenuously
opposed to the intcrmarriage of
cousins" had, on that ground alone,
for whole year objected to his union
with her daughter.
She was q little worried now at his
presence in Covington, though, as that
village was in summer overrun with
visitors fond of scenery and trout fishing,
there was no reason why Mr.. Mayhem
should not have come with the rest for
his August vacation.
They all had been talking and laugh
ing over the private theatricals in which,
last winter, when Josie was on visit to
her aunt, she and Mr.. Mayhcw had sig.
nally distinguished themselves; but now
sudden silence fell upon the party, and
Mr. Mayhem was surprised to observe a
shadow On the faces Of all-evcn of Tom,
on. whose .ireckled countenance nature
seemed te have stamped a perennial
grin.
Glancing around, he could discern no
cause for this sudden change, unless it
might be the appearance on the lawn of
a mild looking old gentleman and slim
and vivacious lady of perhaps thirty.
Mr.. Mayhem vcntured to inquire of
Tom who they were.
"Onc is Uncle Joseph" replied that
young man, with characteristic frankness,
land the other-thc lady-is the Widow
Chamberlain, our future aunt-in-law.
They're an engaged young couple"
All three ladies glanced reproachfully
at him, but only Josie spoke:
~ don't see, Tom, how you can speak
so lightly of what is really so distressing
to us all. One would imagine that you
had no feeling for poor, dear Uncle
Joseph"
"Why?" said Mayhem, puzzled. ~
should think Mr.. Walden was to be con-
graduated.
Josie, who, in the conviction that
her aunt would have to ''givc in" some
time as regarded Mr.. Mayhem, already
looked upon him as one of the family,
spoke out, unreservcdly:
s'If she cared for him, it would be an
altogether different thing. But it is his
money that she wants, as everybody but
himself can see."
'Docs Snc reside in Covington?"
"She resides wherever she finds it most
convenient-with her relatives, or at
boarding houses. Naturally she wishes
q home of her own, and it seems that this
PLACE of uacle's just suits her taste"
''Shc was here at the hotel last sum-
mer," Tom drawlcd, Fishing for Her.
ring"
"Hcrring2 Trout you mean"
~ mean Captain Paul Herring, the
richest bachelor in Covington. But he
wasn't as fresh fish as she thought
him, and wouldn't bite, so this summer
she came back to angle for Uncle Jo-
seph. She's got him on 'thc grass
now"
"Tom!" said Josie, severely.
"What could my poor, dear, innocent
minded brother be expected to do against
the wilcs ana cunning of such woman9"
said Mrs. Bascomb, dcprccatingly. "Of
course it isn't his money that we care
for, since we are all independent of any
disposition that he may see fit to make
of it; but it is dreadful to think of his
marrying this heartless woman, and
being made miserable for the rest of his
life."
"And our home has been such happy
one said Josie, with tears in her eyes.
''Shc will have her own way and alter
everything to suit herself, and it will
hardly be home to him any more"
Couldn't You get him to break the
engagement" Mayhem inquired, sympa,
thetically.
ave have warned him of her merce-
nary views" Mrs. Bascomb replied, "bu'
it is of no use. can see that he is no,
happy, and that he really secretly regrets
having been led by his sympathy for hel
affected loneliness and interest in himself
to offer her home and his hand; but he
considers himself bound in honor by his
engagement.
''And if he broke it," Tom put in
"she would sue for breach of promise
1t would take a pile of ten or twenty
thousand one-dollar notes to plaster and
heal her lacerated heart"
"Tne only chance for him., said Josie
"is for some richer suitor to present him
self. In that case she would make moth
ing of throwing over uncle"
ut isn't likely that such chance viii
offer" said Mrs. Bascomb.
And then, after moments silence
she added, with much feeling:
al don't see that anything whatever
can be done. And yet would give hall
of all possess, Or do anything in the