The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-02-05
A Prearranged Marriage.

As boy had but one great trouble
in the world, and its name was Eliza.
"My Eliza" Godmother Richards
called her. She was very nightmare.
am sorry to say that news of her de-
mise would have given him intense
Joy. But that was my godmother's S
fault, for but for her I ahould never
have cast thought upon Eliza.
Ny Eliza was nothing now to me.
When was in frocks this model little
girl, year my junior, was spoken OF
ecstatically. whenever Godmother
Richards came to the city. She was
her other godchild, model of grace
and beauty and obedience. al shall
bring her up for Billy" she would
say. "They shall be little man and
wife. Don't you want to send XII IS
to your Eliza, Billy-a nice sweet
one?" At four used to send it. At
eight I allowed it to be taken. At ten
l refused my lips.
II was hard to bear then, but moth.
ing to the persecution it became at 16.
Then I was obliged to hear what
pieces my Eliza could play upon the
piano-how much French she could
speak-how she had on long dresses
how much handsomer she was than
any godmother knew, and, in short,
how it was the hope of the old lady's
heart to bring us together some day
and make match of it. Even the
dislike ] had to quarrelling with the
fairy godmother who could convert
my pumkin of hope into coach and
horses with wave of her pen, could
not make me exhibit any show of com
placency when Eliza was spoken Of.
I scowled in silence and refused to
praise, and had the satisfaction Of hear
ing my godmother inform my mother
in stage-aside, that actually the dear
boy was head and ears in love with
Eliza already.
This sort OF thing went on until ]
was %, growing even worse with
time, and fast approaching a climax
We were to be introduced to each
other before long meeting was on
the tapis. We were ordered to be
mutually stricken with love at first
sight, to do our courting in the short
est possible space OF time, and to live
thereafter with Godmother Richards,
who confessed to having divided her
property between us with a view to
our ultimate union. According to
her account of affairs, the young lady
would throw no obstacle in my way,
but 'felt as though she know me al.
ready"
Forward little wretch" said to
myself. "She is perfectly disgusting.
No power on earth shall ever make us
acquainted. Perhaps my brother
Tom, who introduced MY Eliza into
his conversation in most trying man.
ner, md who drew picture upon
our room wall of our imaginary meet
ing wherein she fell into my arms il
. highly dramatic style, excited my
wrath against the young lady to {
pitch to which it could scarcely hav,
arisen otherwise.
Godmother Richards never did any
thing like other people. She nevel
wrote to say that she was coming ant
game. But always pounced dowr
upon ps at s of the morning or 1:
1t night, without warning.
was shaving in the early morning
when some one at my door cried
don't mind me-" and in came the god
mother.
''Prepare yourself for joyful sur
prise, my dear Billy" she cried
''She has consented at last to NEE
you. I'm going to have you bot
with your parents at my house for
week. Wednesday is the day. and
you can't manage to make her sa
yea in that time, why you're nc
worthy Of your godmother."
The surprise had made me cash m
cA1n, and tnrnsd upon her with an,
1kjne bit a sniabls oountsnsnoe.