Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1890-08-28
A MATCH PREVENTED.
BY 5. A. WEISS.

RSASN''S
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 a dignity betitting
her position; and her brother Tom,
lOunging on the top step in cool linen
home neglige; and their aunt, Mrs. Bas-
comb, from the city, tanning herself in a
cane rocker. while her pretty daughter
Cora wound skein of silk, held for her
by very nice looking young man.
This was Mr.. Mayhem, a great-nephew
of Mrs. Bascomb's late husband - in
which relation lay his misfortune, since
that lady. being on principle strenuously
opposed to the intermarriage OF cous-
ins,' had, on that ground alone, for
whole year objected to his union with
her dauhter.
She was little worried now at his
presence in CovingtOn, though, as that
village was in summer Overrun with Wis
itors 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 had all been talking and laugh
ing over the private theatricals in which,
last winter, when Josie was on a visit to
her aunt, she and Mr.. Mayhem 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-even of Tom,
on whose freckled cOuntenance nature
seemed to have stamped a perennial grin.
CHANGING around, he could discern no
cause for this sudden change, unless it
might be the appearance on the lawn of
mild-looking old gentleman and slim
and vivacious lady of perhaps thirty.
Mr.. Mayhem ventured to enquire of
Tom who they were.
lone is Uncle Joseph replied that
young man, with characteristic frank
ness, "and the other-the lady is the
Widow Chamberlin, our future aunt-in-
law. They're an engaged young couple"
All three ladies looked reproachfully
at him, but only Josie spoke:
81 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 Jo-
seph.'
ssWhy?' said Mayhem, puzzled. II
should think Mr.. Walden was to be con-
graduated"
Josie, who, in the conviction that her
aunt would have to ''give I'M some time
as regarded Mr.. Mayhem, already
looked upon him as one of the family,
speke out unreservedly:
IF she really cared for him, it would
be an altogether different thing. But it
is his money that she wants, as every
body but himself can see.'
s'Does she reside in CovingtOn?"
s'She resides wherever she finds it most
convenient - with her relatives. or at
boarding houses. Naturally she wishes
home of her own, and it seems that this
place of uncle's Just suits her TASTE
s.She was here at the hotel last sum
mer," Tom drawled, q" fishing for Her
ring"
CHEERING? Trout you mean
II 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 10
seph. She's got him on the grass now
s'Tom'' said Josie, severely.
s!What could my poor, dear, innocent
minded brother be expected to do against
the wiles and cunning of such womanT
said Mrs. Bascomb, deprecatingly. "O1
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 be
ing made miserable for the rest of his
life.''
s'And our home has been such happy
one," said Josie, with tears in her eyes
'sShe will have her own way and altel
everything to suit herself, and it hardly
will be home to him any more"
Couldn't you get him to break thu
engagement? Mayhem inquired sym
pathetically.
s'We 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 re
grets having been led by his sympath,
for her affected loneliness and interest il
himself, to offer her home and hi
hand; but he considers himself bount
in honor by his engagement"
''And if he broke it," Tom put in
Eishe would sue for breach of promise
1t would take pile of ten or twent,
thousand One-dollar notes to plaster ant
heal her lacerated heart"
.'The only chance for him. said Josie
sis for some richer sutton to present him
self. In that case she would make moth
ing of throwing over uncle
sit isn't likely that such a chance vii
Offer said Mrs. Bascomb.
And then, after moments silence
she added, with much feeling:
Il don't see that anything whateve
can be done. And yet | would give hal
of all l possess, or do anything in tn
world for the person who would brea
off this match -
Cora, having finished winding her silk
had stepped into the house to put
away. Her lover took seat near Mrs
BascOmb.
s'If break your brothers match" h
said, ''may L rely upon the promise 70
have just made?"
Certainly" she answered, ''though
don't expect that you will ever be abb
TO claim it.
Il call upon you, Miss Josie and Ton
TO be a witness TO the bargain"
''Why, how do you propose to pre-
ceedi'' inquired Josie.
Il played the rich creole lover to yol
last winter. Why should l not act it a