The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-16
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

Marriage is the saving Of young
man." said my Aunt Tabitha senten-
tiously.
assented, for find it pays to give a
ready acquiescence to abstract propo-
sitions.
''You must marry" continued my
aunt.
/ hesitated, for to assent to the con-
crete is more dangerous.
Il am still very young" said,
meekly.
My aunt turned to my mother.
"Whom shall Alfred marry"
Somebody nice," she volunteered.
''What do you say to Letitia Brown
lowT~ asked my aunt
81 would prefer to say nothing to
Letitia Brownlow," interposed,
hastily.
90 Amelia Stafforth?''
as she not rather"-my mother
waved one hand-'.and Alfre is so
SLIM"
81 think she has very fine figure"
responded my aunt. "Or there is Ger
trude Williams; ST F. will have a for
tune If she outlives her sisters"
''There are only five Of them," said
hopefully.
''Or Mabel Gordonw
"She has taken a course of cooking
lessons" observed my mother.
No, none of thesew l cried, de-
cisively.
My aunt looked offended.
Every well, then, choose for your
SELF" she said, tartly.
Perhaps that would help" re-
marked, thoughtfully.
"You will choose somebody nice,
won't you, Alfred?'' said my mother.
with money" observed my aunt.
"Well connected" emphasized my
mother.
Not too young" added my aunt.
"And religious" begged my mother.
There is no objection to her being
good looking?" asked, trife timidly.
mo, think not" said my aunt, pro
vided she fully understands beauty is
but skin Deep"
81 will tell her." murmured.
'sWell," said my aunt, impatiently,
after short pause, whom do you sug-
gestT
thought for moment.
"What do you say to Winifred
FraserY
THAT minXr' cried my aunt.
'Oh, Alfredr' echoed my mother.
''Why not?" asked.
.-Such a dreadful family" said my
mother.
$50 fastr' interjected my aunt.
But have you never noticed the sun
on her hair? asked, innocently.
My aunt drew herself up.
I'VE have not noticed the sun on her
hafr," she said, with much dignity;
nor do we wish to observe the sun on
her hair"
was justly annoyed. 81 really think
1t must be Winifred Fraser" said.
''She is very fond of me"
"How can you be so cruel to mer'
cried my mother. "Have you no
ticed how gray my hair is getting? You
will not have me long," She drew out
her handkerchief.
You will come to bad end" said
my aunt. 81 always thought you were
depraved. If you marry that painted
hussy you must not expect my counten-
ance."
Under the circumstances I will not
marry Winifred Fraser" 1 said, with
great magnanimity, for did not par
ticularly want my aunt's countenance.
- My aunt sniffed. "You had better
not"
81 merely joked," said, soothingly,
remembering she had not made her
will.
'Indeedw
''The truth isl dropped my voice
ST am in love with some one else"
"And you never told mey' said my
mother, reproachfully.
''The girl 1 love is not Free"
"Marriedv' cried my aunt.
mot married-but engaged"
''Who Is it?" asked my mother
gently.
was silent for moment, and then !
sighed.
"It is Constance Burleigh."
''It would have been most suitable
MATCH" murmured my mother.
VERY suitable" replied my aunt.
There was a momentary silence
broken by my aunt.
81 did not know Constance was IN.
gagged
'.It Is a secret; you must not rc2eat
what have told you"
Il don't like these secret engage
ments," said my aunt, brusquely
"Who told you?"
@oI
"Who is the man?"
81 do not think I should repeat hi.
name"
'I hope Constance is not throwing
herself away"
l shook my head doubtfully
''You know the manY
I nodded.
SIS he quite-quite-"
Again / shook my head doubtfully.
s'What have you heard?" my aun
asked, eagerly.
81 don't think ought to repeat thes,
things"
'You can surely trust your mother,
murmured my mother.
"And my discretion" said my aunt
.sWell," said, ST have been tod he Il
cruel to his mother"
.sRealIyw cried the two ladies In 6
breath.
.His mother told me so herself"
''How sadr said my mother.
'And what elseY' asked my aunt.
Another relation of his told me ht
was depraved.
.'Poor, poor Constancew whispered
my mother.
..And would probably end badly.