Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-12-07
An Unconscious Matchmaker.


81 O tell me, old fellow, how on
earth it is possible for such a
~ metamorphosis to have taken
place. Not a month ago we sat here,
two hardened ba achelors, determined to
remain so to the end of our days, and
now 1 find you transformed into most
devoted husband"
A hearty laugh was the immediate
answer to this outburst, and DIR. Tren-
ton, to whom it was addressed, took a
puff at his pipe before replying.
"Well, you see, Jim," he said, Il
thought it would be fun to surprise you
thoroughly for once. But Della shall
tell you the story, and you may be sur
prised to learn that you yourself, I'M
Consciously, 1 admit, made up the
match"
81 suppose it is for penance, VIII,
that 1 am to narrate my own mistakes
and misdeeds to Mr.. Allison. Two
months ago 1 was stupid little coun-
try girl. My eldest brother had sent
for me to keep his house. Our parents
have been dead many years and l had
lived with an aunt. Henry, my brother,
had written me that it would be impos-
sible for him to meet me at the depot,
and that I should drive to the Tudor
Flats, where he was living on the
fourth floor. My poor brain was GER
tainly in a whirl after my long drive
through the noisy streets. When L ar
rived at the Tudor Flats l walked
bravely up the stairs.
81 know you will laugh at me dread
fully, Mr.. Allison, but you must remem-
ber that had never before seen so
many stairs. In my ignorance l was
unaware that the entresol does not
count; therefore, when 1 arrived at
landing where door was ajar and an
old man servant replying to an inquirer
the the doctor would not be home until
2 o'clock, naturally concluded that l
had reached my journeys end, for my
brother also bears the title doctor. To
old James establishment 1 walked
calmly in, saying:
The doctor expects me. Please have
my luggage seen to-
"'But, Hiss, 1 don't know he ven
tured, 4 have tine strictest orders never
TO allow any one 10 enter my udSleE >
study during his absence
"'I am the doctors sister, and he him
self arranged my coming l answered,
condescendingly.
with that he admitted me, mutter-
ing: Never heard about sister, into
the smoky, dusty apartments, which 1
assumed to be my brothers.
-
to work and busted furniture and
books, spread clean cloth on the table,
ard prepared lunch Though James in
formed me Master never eats at homeO
Of fresh butter, homemade bread,
cheese, ham and apples; then decorated
the room with roses and honeysuckle
brought from home.
seTo pass away the time, I took up a
book and began to read. note fell out
of this book. My eyes fell on the first
words and my attention was instantly
son, and read:
"sDear Old Man: So you have decided
to install that awful creature in your
house, though you acknowledge that all
hopes of peace and comfort of your life
will be gone. My dear fellow, do be ad-
yised and give up this preposterous
idea. At any rate, don't be surprised if
I cut your acquaintance for the present,
and leave you to enjoy the company of
Miss Della. Your friend,
"CHARLIE ALLISON"
sMy dear lady," Interrupted Charlie,
"you don't mean to say-it isn't possible
that any misunderstanding arose out of
that? MY dislike and"
81 do mean to say so," she replied,
laughing; sit was quite possible-in-
deed. natural-I should assume that
those words referred to me. l was at
first highly indignant and then began
to cry. My resolution was soon formed;
would go away at once and not ever
see the heartless brother who had dis
cussed me in such manner before my
rfval
"While repacking my bag came upon
a photograph of myself. A sudden i'm
pulse made me write few words on
the back of it and leave it on the table.
Then I heard steps outside. 1t was
Henry, 1 thought. He should not find
me there. Seeing the door of small
room open, 1 slipped in and closed it
behind me"
'Let me tell the rest" interrupted the
doctor; 81 fancied / was dreaming as
Ibecame aware of the invitingly spread d
table; then 1 noted two covers laid as
if for a delightful tete-a-tete, and upon
my napkin a photograph of the sweet
est face had ever seen. Listen to what
was written under it:
GAS I am so ugly; as l destroy your
peace and drive away your friends,
leave you to lunch alone and shall find
a home elsewhere
"While puzzling about what this
might mean, I heard a terrific yell from
Della, my parrot; opened the store
room door and Della, my wife, fell into
my arms.
"After explanations had been made
1 restored her to brother Henry as
housekeeper, but claimed her in five
weeks for my own. Now do you be-
lieve that you are a matchmaker?"-
Boston Post.