The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1905-08-17
M LotterygMarriag
Ionginal.l

girl Of twenty, went to live with an
aunt. l had not been educated to I'LL
any position, aud. my father having
left me nothing. the outlook was dis
tressing. made up my mind to 60 -
work at something In which no prep
eration was needed, but my aun was
unwilling that l should be at such O
disadvantage and persuaded me, at
least temporarily. to wait for some bet
ter opportunity.
One day she came to me with q let
ter, which she read to me. It was from
Ethan Andrews, q civil engineer, WIN
had gone to Brazil to take q position
on o railroad that was then being
built and had determined TO make the
country his home. He was evidently
a practical Il called It brritaD sort Of
q fellow, without a spark OF romance
In him, for he asked my aunt to select
a wife for him and send her to him
just rs he would commission her TO
buy q horse. She proposed that !
should be the article purchased.
The case, ON Ethan Andrews part, l
have since learned was not 30 bad rs
1t appeared. Ny aunt had written him
about me with a view to making a
match and had sent him my picture.
but she said nothing to me about this.
leaving me TO decide. as 1t were. Ia
cold blood. The letter she had shown
me was his reply. They had their own
reasons for this course
At first l rebelied. but at last. In q
ft OF desperation, consented. taking
the leap as q hunted doe will jump
from a cliff. asked no questions as
to the traits Of the man into whose
arms | was about to cast myself. nor
to see his likeness. l was taken to the
steamer as q lamb led to the slaughter.
The steamer touched at Havana, and
this was my first appearance on deck.
Under other circumstances would
have been interested in this scene SO
recently connected with the Spanish.
American war, but now l was too
heartsick to be interested In anything.
When later we steamed out Of the
harbor. a gentleman began to tramp
back and forth apparently for exercise
near where l was sitting. Presently
he noticed my forlorn appearance and
gave me an involuntary look OF SYM
pathy. Then he went below. ! infer.
red. to get rid OF SO l~rgubrious a sight
as myself. but he soon reappeared with
q bundle OF magazines and d~eferential-
IL offered then to me. This was the
beginning Of IN acquaintance that In
q few days ripencd into friendship.
Though he delicately rcfrainei from
asking me the cause of my gloom, l
ionged to tell some one and conided 1t
to him.
poor child" he said. a world Of SYM
patty In his voice. his manner. and
especially In his kindly brown eyes.
do you wonder" l asked. that l
am the quintessence Of miseryf"
II 90 not. At the same time I can
understand the motives of the man
who has sent for you. Doubtless he
missed the companlonship of his own
countrymen. especially OF his country
women, and. remembering that love
Is blind and marriage Is a lottery
concluded to rely upon your aunt's Sc
lection, especially since he could not
% and select for himself. No. l am
not prepared to admit that the man
you are to wed has the unreflned in
stlncts you infer"
"And what do you think Of my action
In the matter?"
lie made no reply for some time.
lie was bordering.
you have evidently found 1t easier"
I said, ito excuse him than me-"
MY hesitation Is rather that you
require a woman instead of a man to
Judge for you. The adage put yourself
In Ills place Is In this cas- inpracti.
cable. No nan a put himself In q
worlan's place."
You al at least Judge whether ]
have acted wisely or not"
Under duress you have made q de-
clsion involving q risk. but who shall.
say whether your circumstances tusti-
fed the risk or whether 1t II a greater
than II you had selected your life
partner after a study of him during a
courtshlp In which you were blinded
by love and In which each participant
studies to conceal every defectr'
Ii the man who had sent for me had
put his proposition In such comfort
ing words I'm sure I should have
fallen into his arms. Possibly I gained
comfort from the modest ann In
which my companion analysed my
case, and more especially his soothing,
kindly tone. At any rate I was re
lieved and did not relapse into my
former state till we entered Rio har.
Dor. But at parting with my friend,
although he strove to cheer me. a.
soon as he was gone I collapsed.
The same evening Mt a hotel In Rio
a card came up to me. and. brushing
away tears, I nervcd myself to meet
the monster who was to be my part
lei for life. When. instead. the com
panion Of my voyage came into ths
room my heart beat with q wild hopt
that Providence had sent him with