The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-24
MATRIMONIAL.

but sympathetic bystanders, and she
was telling them her story.
II answered it in good faith" she said.
"Here is his advertisement. I cut it
from matrimonial agency paper"
She took the clipping from her pocket
and read it aloud. her black eyes snap
ping dangerously:
am q widower, "a years old. live, with my
two little girls, upon my cotton plantation. l
have ], 900 acres, more or less, my own unin-
numbered property, situated on the beautiful
Bayou St. Lucas. have nice cottage home
EMPOWERED in vines. with gardens, chickens,
>cows, harness and saddle horses, flowers, fruit
every comfort except wife. With view to
supplying the deficiency, ask a correspond
ence with some respectable young lady, hoping
to persuade her to
''Share ny cottage, gentle maid.
1t only waits for thee
To add a sweetness to its shade
And happiness to me-"
References exchanged
ALEXANDER GRANVILLE.
~ answered that advertisement" said
the black eyed girl sitting on the zinc
covered trunk.
81 was teacher in a small private
school in New York. The work was hard;
the pay was poor. l had a stepmother
at home and houseful of small half
brothers and sisters. l wanted to get
away. I-I-had had disappointment"
the black eyes flled-"and I was I'M
happy. I had read Jane Eyre and L
really thought that man might be anoth-
or Rochester. We correspondent. He
gave the postmaster as reference.
wrote to the postmaster, and he answered
that Mr.. Graville's character and stand
ing were all right. He had a good farm,
he was honest and paid his debts.
s'Mr. GRANVILLE wanted me to come on
and be married at his home. I drew
what money l had saved out of the saw
ings bank, sold my watch and came on.
My stepmother was glad to get rid of
me. 1 got here yesterday. He had said
he would meet me at this landing-it
would be pleasant ride out to his cot
taae. had written a letter just before
I left, saying when 1 would arrive. 1
found nobody to meet me. I asked the
way to Mr.. Alexander Graville's. No
body could tell until an old darby sung
out:
Dat white oman mus mean ole
Sandy Gravel. He live back here in the
swamp, but he amt got no ca'age to send
for nobody. Got nuthin but er cyart.
Hits here now. His son Ben driv' in
to git some pervisions.'
I" Has he sonr asked.
"'Got a swarm of EN- was the an
swer. All done married but Ben
my mind misgave me, but had no
place to go to-no money, SO l hunted up
Ben and told him was going to his ia
theirs house. He was freckled, patched,
stupid looking young man. He looked
at me with eyes and mouth open In
amazement and was SO bashful that re-
Trained from asking questions. never
limited to Ben that had come on to be
his stepmother.
sOn we drove, over stumps and roots
and gullies-throughm mud and swamps.
1t seemed to be 20 miles. At last we drew
up before dingy, two roomed house
with q shed at the back. A few scruggy
peach trees and neglected grapevine
were the only green things in,the yard
beside the weeds. A woman was milk
ing a scrawny COW in front of the gate.
She had her back to us and sunbonnet
on. Two shock headed, barelegged chill
dren sat on the fence. They gave the
Nalarm when they saw stranger in the
cart, and man, who had been squatted
in fence corner holding off the calf got
up and came toward us.
:" That's pap said Ben.
"He looked nearer 60 than 35. He was
grizzle and snaggle toothed; his neck
was red and wrinkled. He came up to
the cart. He was agitated and chewed
his tobacco wonderfully fast. got up
from the -four sack.
&c I am Amelia Jones'
ssHe turned very red and told his son
to carry the sack of flour into the house.
's'I wasn't expectin YOU he said. Its
10 long since you wrote
".You have deceived me- burst out.
You said you had nice home, en-
powered in vines and fruit trees. You
said you were So. You said you had
only two little girls. You said you were
rich
emo, didn't he interrupted. 4 said
had 1000 acres of land-so have
though big part of it is swamp. Acres
don't make folks rich in these parts.
This amt Now York. I said was 30.
l didn't say was few years over, for
lin spry and young enough for any wo-
man. said had two little girls Twin
with me--said nuthin about the boys.
They're all big fellows and married ond
gone, 'cept Ben. AS for the house, amt
that good house?-double pen and a
shed to boo.l Don't leak unless it rains
and got first rate chimney. And amt
there 0 zins? And whats the matter
with them peach trees--ain't there
frriJy
"'And DO yor imagiae any young wo
man in her senses would marry you and
live herIr cried.
"'Do l? Cell, tncxe's no imagination
about il. There's three women have
married mo and lived HIRE. Two Of 'em's
dead and buried, and yonder stands
tother. 4 oplGnt heag fzem yen. / con