Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-04-18
VOL. 70.
MATCHMAKING.

gift upon which Mrs. Ferguson
prided herself, it was her talent for
matchmaking. Her large, spaci'
GUS house was full of cozy corners
and tiny hooks, curtained, oarpeted
and dalntily furnished, where
tete a tete was a luxury not to be
despised. She had positive ge'
Mus for effacing herself and all
other superhuous people when John
and Jane were to be brought to
understand each other, and she
was constantly on the watch for
johns and James to benefit.
1t cannot be denied that Wills
town, like the proverbial republics,
ofteu proved ungratetul, the wrong
Johns being frequently being pair
ed with James of their special alb
horrence. and it had been more
then once whispered by dlsap'
pointed wooeis that they "wished
Mrs. Ferguson would mind her
own business"
But nothing would ever convince
hat benevolent old lady that il
marriage were started in Heaven,
she was not special agent upon
earth to forward them.
II may therefore be imagined
what "thorn in the flesh" it was
to this schemng .ady to hsYe un'
der her own roof, daily at her table
nephew who, at the mature age
of twenty eight, was, IN spite Of
her ceaseless endeaYOrs 1 had al
most written persecutiOn) still a
bachelor.
"Poor Charles !" bis aunt would
sigh, che is so shy, so reserved
He will never have the courage to
WOO his wife, and it is my positive
duty to help him y
But the more perslstently she
drove him into Ler cOziest nooks
and coruers it'll the prettiest girls
lin WilStOwn, the more he avoided
her parties, he they luncheOns, teas
or evening gatherings.
1t was not entirely the fault OF
tue pretty girls either, for Charles
Barker was a man to whom women
naturally incline, gentle, dreamy
poetic and exceptionally handsome
Had be lived ia the present rage
| for the aesthetic, he might have
been accused of affectations, oil
posing for admiration; but it was
with him sincere alteration OF art,
dreaming poetic temperament
that could lift itself out of the com
monplace surroundings of his life,
and dwell IN an ideal world apart.
Wealthy, and not very strong
nhVsicallV. Charles Barker devoted
his life to his books, his pen and
his pencil, never attaining to the
highest excellence in poetry, music
or painting, yet possessing talent
above the average amateurs. And
Into his dream.life there crept
reality that filed bis heart and
brain with new visions and hopes
| He fell in love ! Rather, he softly
tenderly fOated along upon th'
music OF a sweet voice, the light O
a fair wolnenly beauty, till, scarce
lly conscious OF his own intatuatlon
he gave to Bertha English th'
whole love OF heart as yet un
touched by a wOman's charms.
That she was an heiress, wOoe'
10y others, the gentle belle of NOR
than one social circle, did nc
trouble him for a moment. II
scarcely asked if she loved him, COZ
tent to worship her. Thorough
impractical, full of visionary, ide;
dreams, he did not try to plan
future; seeking his love in h'
home when he was sure she We
alone. joining her IN woodlan
t rambles, filing his portfolio VIII
b sketches of her face, and writir
e poems to her out of the fullness
! his heart.
II And therein he erred, for MI
- Ferguson, ''cleaIing up his ru
IS bish" one mOrDing-a task the g.
. Ineyer trusted to a seryant-ups
= his portfolio and plunged into Z
very heart of his secret. She W
delighted Bertha English won
. have been her own choice from
the world of women. She had he
!, so afraid that Jennie Ralsten wOu
!, succeed in her brazen-faced G
!: deavOrs to captiyate Charles th
\ she had fairly trembled for hi
y It was true that he seemed to
: serenely unconscious of that pre-
: ty, saucy damsers endeaVOrs to "
him. but there we're times VIII
Mrs. Ferguson feared his own a
;, sent ways might draw him IN
some avOwal that his sensiti
honor would compel him to
peat.