The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-03-29
ALL A MISTAKE,

ALL "A MIDI AhE,
al dare say, all my relatives will think
it very silly of me, said Miss Maroon.
"But really think / am quite old and
experienced enough to manage these
affairs for myself And I've heard Of a
great many happy marriages that have
been arranged just in this way. To be
sure, it is running a risk; but, after all,
life is lottery, and one has to take
things as they come, in this world"
Miss Malvina Maroon generally known
as "AIally" by her friends and acquaint-
ances) was sitting in very stiff backed
chair, in the best room of the little
country tavern at Infield-on-the- Hudson.
The stage had been in for an hour at
least, and Miss Maroon was tired of wait
ing. She had chirped to the thrush in
his cage, counted all the little red balls
on the Jerusalem cherry tree in the
window, and looked at the picture of the
"Signing Of the Declaration of Independ-
ence" until she knew every wig and
buckled shoe by heart, and still nobody
had come to meet her. She was begin
ming to feel little uneasy at this unex-
pected delay. The landlord had peeped
at her, under pretense of coming to fill
up the big stone pitcher with fresh cab
bage roses; the landlady had courtesied
at the door, and asked her if she should
cook little piece of steak or a dish Of
brook trout for her dinner.
81 don't expect to be here to dinner"
said Miss Maroon, with dignity.
"Oh!" said the landlady.
"My friends will doubtless be here to
meet me in a very few minutes" ex-
planned Miss Maroon, glancing at the
clock.
"Ahp' said the landlady
But this was where Miss Maroon had
intrenched somewhat on the strict truth
She had no friends at Infeld-on-the-
Hudson. She had come there-under
our breath be it spoken-with the des-
perate resolve to answer a matrimonial
advertisement. She had seen it in the
paper She had read it twice over and
rather liked the way in which it was
worded. She had asked herself, "Why
not?' and echo had returned no unfavor-
able response. And she had, so to speak,
taken her fate into her own hands and
come boldly to nfield-on-the- Hudson.
But now, as the moments sped by, she
was beginning to wax secretly uneasy.
Suppose there should be any mistakei
Suppose the advertiser should be ''suited
already Suppose any number of awk-
ward circumstances to have interposed
themselves in the way of her welfarei
But, just as she was beginning to make
herself thoroughly uncomfortable, there
came a tap, tap at the door, and in
walked stout, short man with a red
necktie and a countenance to matchl
Lady from New York;" said this per.
sonage, without theleast embarrassment
Miss Maroon rose with dignity. "Yes,
sir" said she.
He was not exactly aristocratio look
ing. There was no mistake about that
He wore no gloves, and his hands were
stumpy and freckled-his hair stuck VI
like the bristles of the fretful porcupine
and his face, although good natured
bore in it no trace of ancient blood OF
or lofty lineage! But Miss Maroon be
thought herself of the old proverb about
the deceitfulness of appearances, anC
plucked up spirit
"You saw the advertisement, sup
poser" said the stout man.
81 did, sir" said Miss Maroon.
"Think you'll suit?" questioned th'
stout man.
"SirT" said Miss Maroon.
because he's little peculiar" ex
planned the man; "and it amt everybody
meets his views, you seeI'
"Ohl" said Miss Maroon, light break
ing in upon her darkness, "then you ar,
not the party himself'"
"Oh, no, said the stout man. "No
; I'm the business mani I settle everything
for him.
81 should prefer negotiating with prin
cipals,' said Miss Maroon, drawing her
self up.
''It's the usual way we does it, re
: marked her interlocutor, picking broom
splint from the floor, and beginning +
chew it.
''The usual wayY" repeated Miss Ma
room, more puzzled than ever. MAY
ask how often the-the gentleman ha
been married beforeY"
"Never been married in his life" sal
the stout man. Circumstances wa
o against it, you see"
Il "Oh" said Miss Maroon.
c "He amt hard to manage" said tn
stout man. ''rhem as he takes fame
e to can do most anything with him."
d Miss Maroon cast down her eyes am
simpered at this.
"Did you bring any references sal
the stout man, abruptly.
''Referencesr' echoed Miss Maroon,
ever had any experiencey' he went on
'Sir" said Miss Maroon. II really
don't quite understand
. "Your age seems quite suitable" saiC
the man. Il calculate you're about 40
amt You? We couldn't give you man!
: holidays, nor Sundays out, but for
good, regular, steady place
"Stop," cried Miss Maroon, edo stop
/ don't at all know what you're talkinl
, about. Holidays Sundays outl I'd hav
l YOU to know that 1 am no housemai
looking for place. And as for being 4
years old, my appearance must be yer
deceptive if you take me for anywher
near that age, ann only six-and-thirtYi