Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-03-28

anu III was JokihBiy suggested py
more than one, that | was the do
mestically destined individual who
put it forth.
On Monday morning / sent a
boy to the newspaper Office for p.
P's. letters. | expected he might
be followed by some inquisitive
persons; so told him on his way
back to call at a bachelor neigh
boris of mine for a book. The
trick told. The lad was followed
by some persons who never lost
sight of him until they ran him
to my friends, and then they went
back and announced that he was
the advertiser. | thus discharged
in full one or two practical jokes
which my neighbor had played up
on me. The answers were of the
usual character-several seeking to
elicit my name, and still more sug-
costing places of meeting, where l
was to exhibit myself with flower
in my button-hole and white
handkerchief in my hand. One
only looked like business. 1t was
from lady, who proposed an inter-
view in an neighboring city, about
forty miles north. She said there
was something so frank and straight
forward in my advertisement, that
shs was convinced it was real, and
she could rely upon my keeping her
name q secret, if after we met moth
ing came of the meeting. She
would, therefore, see me at the
at, on a certain day, and if mu-
tual appreciation did not follow the
interview, why there was no harm
done.
Most people would have put
down this as trap to give me a
journey for nothing. | did not. A
presentiment impelled me to accept
and keep the engagement.
This was in the old coaching days
when a man had time to make an
acquaintance in forty miles, not a;
now, when you are at your Journeys
end before you have looked around
your company in railway carriage
There were but two inside--myseli
and a pleasant, talkative, honest.
faced elderly gentleman. Shy anc
timid in female society, | was yet
esteemed animated and agreeable
enough among my own sex. We
had no trouble, therefore, in max
ing ourselves agreeable to one an
other; so much so, that as the
coach approached e., and the
old gentleman learned that | meant
to stop there that night, he asked
me to waive ceremony and have a
cup of tea with him after | had
dined at my hotel. My 'falr en-,
gagement" was not till the next
day, and, as | liked the old gentle,
man, | accepted his offer.
After my pint of sherry, brush.
ed my hair and went in search Of
my companion and my promised
cup of tea. had no difficulty i'll
finding him out, for he was a man
of substance and some importance
in the place. was shown into the
drawing-room. My old friend re.
ceived me heartily, and introduced
me to his wife and five daughters
''All spinsters, sir" said he ''young
ladies whom an discriminating
world seems disposed to leave upon
my hands"
IF we don't sell, papa" said the
eldest, who with her sisters seemed
to reflect her fathers fun, lit is not
for want of putting, for all your
introductions are advertisements"
At the mention of this last word,
| felt a little discomposed, and al
most regretted my engagement for
the next day, when that very night,
perhaps, my providential opportuni-
ty had arrived.
| need not trouble my readers
with all our sayings and doings dur
ing tea; suffice it to say that l
found them very pleasant friendly
family, and was surprised to find ]
forgot all my shyness and timidity,
encouraged by their good-tempered
ease and conversation. They did
not inquire whether ! was married
or single, for where there were five
young minated daughters, the ques-
ton might seem invidious. l, how
ever, in the freedom of the momen t,
volunteered the information of my
bachelor-hood; ! thought l had no
sooner communicated the fact than
the girls passed round glance of
arch intelligence from one to an
other. | cannot tell how odd 7 felt