The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-07-24
AN AWKWARD MISTAKE.

1 have known Joan Forsyth from the
time when she wore her hair about her
ears and her socks about her ankles.
She was Joan Langley then ard until
she was 20. when she married Charley
Forsyth, and was sorry for her mistake.
within the year. However. when he
died about three years later she spoke
of him with great affection; | could
not tell if il was genuine or prompted
by an artistic desire To make her man
ners match her mourning. | believe il
was an unconscious mixture of pro
priety and gratitude. At any rate. she
remained unmarried for some time ana
lived by herself in pretty little hcuS,,
on the comfortable income her husband
had not had time to lose. was wrong
in saying she lived by herself. for {,
friend, or cousin. or some old school
fellow was always staying with her.
Joan is a popular and cheerful youn-
woman and / have always been Nerr
fond of her, but she has, OF had. one
peculiarity which | could not apprC-
ciate. Until she was n widow il was IN
allegiance, but as soon as she put of
her first mourning and began 10 go
about and see her friends IL developed
rapidly She loved matchmaking.
could never understand why. for her
own experience of marriage had been
most unhappy. If she had been less
syveet-tempered 1 should have imagined
she was copying the fox who. having
lost his own trail. tried TO persuade his
friends to follow his example. Once
suggested To her that as marriages
were made in Heaven, and even then
were not always successful, she would
be wiser TO leave them TO be dealt with
ia the usual way.
You are quite wrong" she said. II
don't know who said that silly thing
about Heaven and marriages; of cours-
il was a man. and of course he thought
he was saying something very clever,
but he really was talking nonsense.
Now there is Biddy Machin. She i
such a dear girl she deserves 10 be hap
PLY married"
so YOU look on a husband as a re
ward of virtue, no matter what he Is
like"
We were sitting in her drawing-room
| at tea time. Miss Machin, Who was stay
ing with her, had not come IN. - yve
were enjoying our tea together. Joan
looked SO contented, SO oblivious of the
past, so determined to think well of
marriage as an institution that could
not help laughing.
How horrid you are, Jimi' she said
You're not a bit pathetic: YOU
ought to be glad to take an interest IA
anyone and bother about them. Do YOU
think it is for my own pleasure l do it,
Do you think l enjoy having Mr.. STAN
ford always here, for instance -
20. Stamford Is he TO be a victim -
I asked.
Il don't know why You should cali
him "a victim,'" she said. coldly. II
think he will be a most suitable hus-
band for Biddy Machin. She is one of
| the noblest girls l know, and has no
money. poor thing! So she must
marry"
why should Stamford provide for
| her?" L asked.
He will be very fortunate if she lets
him She is charming and pretty, and
he is well off, and very good sort of
man. 1t IS an excellent match"
Does she think so?" 1 asked.
| Il have not asked her. | have some
1 tact Jim. She likes him very much.
| and she must marry some one. They
are very good friends"
Il thought you intended young Sim
mons for her. Why did you changer"
1 / said
| Hes not well of, you know found
he had only expectations, and very dis
tant ones, so | think Mr.. Stamford
| will do much better"
| What a mercenary woman you are,
JOAN" 1 exclaimed DO you only
think of money in your matchmaking
| schemes2 How about love?'
20, love is such temporary thing,"
she said. with a synical air Anyone
with an ounce of reason can get over ar
| attack of love in a month, and do very
well without il, but money you must
| have"
And Stamford is To supply Miss
Machin with money instead of Ralph
Simmons giving her love That Is very
businesslike. When do you expect 10
bring il OFF,"
The engagement" she asked
NO, the wedding. Surely you've got
beyond the engagement. Miss Machin
has been with you six weeks"
Yes, but these things can't be hur-
ried," she said, slowly Il think Mr.
Stamford is only waiting for an opPor-
tunity 10 speak"
surely you give him plenty" L said,
with a laugh.
She blushed and said hastily: Your
not at all nice to-day. Jim L don't see
anything To laugh at. L can't help it
if the man won't propose"
20, is that it? He won't come to the
point?"
Il wish you would be nicer" she muir
INJURED.
Indeed, will be nice" protested,
| seeing she was really hurt. Tell me
about it,"
There's not much to tell. 1 saw
from the first he was just the man for
Biddy, and she seemed to like him, and
he is always very ready To come here,
| or go anywhere with u.s. and he brings
flowers, and sweets, and things"
For herr" l asked.
| Yes; at least, for both of us. and
they are very great friends, but-they
don't get any farther. He sits here for
hours. and L make all sorts of excuses
to leave them together. but when |
come back l find them sitting opposite
each other, just calmly talking: and
L shouldn't have thought he was shy
man."
He certainly never struck me as be
ing shy" said.
Then he must be FOOL she said,
Grossly. Il am always talking 10 him
about Biddy, and how sweet she is at
home; I've all but asked him TO pro-
pose to her, and he only smiles, and
agrees with everything / say. Never
mind, I'm determined he shall marry
her, and L always get my way"