Nevada County picayune., 1890-05-07
ALL A MISTAKE.


 think it very silly of me-" said Mis-: Maroon. But I really think 1 an quite old and experienced enough tt manage these affairs for myself And Eve heard of a great many happy marriages that have been ar, ranged just in this way. To be sure it is running risk but after all, life is lottery, and people have to take things as they come in this world. ''
 Miss Malvina Maroon (generally known as "Mally" by her friends and acquaintances) was sitting in 2 very stiff back chair, in the best room of the little country tavern al Infeld- d-on-the- Hudson. The stage had been in for an hour at least, and Miss Maroon was tired of waiting She had chirped to the thrush in his cage, counted all the little red balls on the Jerusalem cherry tree Tn the window, and looked at the picture of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence until she knew every wig and buckled shoe by heart, and still nobody had come to meet her. She was beginning to feel little un- easy at this unexpected delay. The landloard had peeped at her under the pretense of coming to fill up the big stone pitcher with cabbage 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 dinner.
 "I don't expect to be here to din- ner," said Miss Maroon, with dignity.
 "Oh." said the landlady.
 My friends will doubtless be here to meet me in very few min utes," explained Miss Maroon, glancing at the clock.
 "Ah! :" said the landlady.
 But this was where Miss Maroon had intrenched somewhat on the strict truth. She had no friends at Infield-on-the-Hudson. She had come there-under our breath be it spoken-wth the desperate resolve to answer a matrimonial advertise ment. She had seen it in the paper. She had read it twice over and rather liked the way in which 1t was worded. She had asked herself, "vhy not?" and echo had returned no unfavora- ble response. And she had, so to speak, taken her fate in her own hands, and come boldly to Inlield-on- the-Hudson.
 Bnt now, as the moments sped by, she was beginning to wax secretly uneasy. Suppose there should be any mistake? Suppose the adver tisement should be suited" already {? Suppose any number of awkward circumstances to have interposed themselves in the way of her welfare: :: But, just as she was beginning to make herself thoroughly uncomforta- bic, there came tap, tap, at the door, and in walked a stout, short man with red necktie and a coun- tenance to match
 "Lady from New York: 7" said this parsonage, without the least embar- rassment.
 Miss Maroon rose with dignity.
 "Yes, sir" she said.
 He was not exactly aristocratic looking There was no mistake about that. He wore no gloves, and his hands were stumpy and freckled his hair stuck up like the bristles of the frightful porcupine, and his face, although good natured, bore in it no trace of ancient blood or lofty lineage But Miss Maroon bethought herself of the old proverb about the deceitfulness of appearances, and plucked up spirit.
 You saw the advertisement, l suppose?" said the stout man.
 II did sir, said Mss Maroon.
 "Think you'll suit:" questioned the stout man.
 "Sir?" said Miss Maroon.
 "Because he's a little peculiar, v explained the man; and it ain't ev- erybody meets his views you sec.'
 "Oh! !' said Miss Maroon, a light breaking in upon her darkness, "then you are not the party himself?'
 "Oh, mo-" said the stout man. No; Pm the business man! l set tie everything for mm."
 II should prefer negotiating with principals, :" said Miss Maroon, draw