Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-19
A MATRIMONIAL
BLUNDER


ajar. She ~soliloquized thus:
mot very good looking. Nose very
bad. Hair fine and glossy, but there's
not enough of it. A little too tall and
slender"
1t was in the old city Of Genoa.
where many of the marriages are
brought about by brokers. They keep
a list of manageable girls and their
good points, such as accomplishments,
beauty, fortunes, etc. The brokers arr
range the marriage for the would be
groom with the girls parents, and the
couple are introduced afterward. Either
party may recede after the introduce
ton, but If the man wishes to do so he
must pay the brokerage and expenses.
Such an arrangement had been made
for the union Of Vittori Conci and Luz
cha Armodeo, and the young lady, hav-
ing made no her mind what course to
pursue, opened the door and stepped
into the apartment where the gentle
man awaited her. Ten minutes later
he left the house. and Signorina Armo-
dec joined her mother in the library.
Il think" said the daughter indecis-
lively, that l shall decline to fulfill the
contract. He is either very wise or
very stupid, for he opened his eyes
upon me-they are his only redeeming
feature but scarcely opened his
MOUTH
The front door creaked and her ia
Their entered.
ITS all off" he said.
What do you mean?" asked the
daughter, starting.
Il met Signor Conci on the doorstep.
He declines to complete the contract.
He chose rather to pay all expenses.
However, since you are only seventeen,
there is yet time"
Indeed there is" replied the daugh-
ter under her breath and with a dam
gerous glitter in her eye.
One evening soon after this episode
Vittori and Lucia met at a ball.
Good evening, signor,' she said. 81
am glad to meet you again. Because
we do not marry there is no reason why
we may no be friends" and, slipping
her hand within his arm, she walked
away with him. The orchestra was
playing one of Straus' delightful
waltzes, and what could the young
man do but propose that they should
dance? Then, when they had finished,
the girl proposed that they should sit
awhile in a recess and chat. He SEEM
ed embarrassed at first, but his COM
panion put him at his ease. Indeed, be-
fore they parted he felt bold enough to
apologize for having refused to marry
her, but his courage forsook him and
he stammered incoherently.
Don't speak of that" she said. 1T
was presumptuous in me even to think
of such a thing. You are so much
brighter than l. so prominent socially:
a marriage between us was not to be
considered. Besides, there is too great
a difference in our ages"
II nm thirty" he remarked, some
what chopfallen.
"And l am Only seventeen. Thirteen
years is a great difference. 1 respect
elderly men, but a chit like myself
should not aspire to marry one of
them
Vittori went home feeling very UNI
comfortable. Lucia in her ball dress
had appeared far more to advantageI
than in home costume. He regretted
his decision. But what troubled him
most was to have been informed thatI
he was passing into an 80 which
young girls consider old.
One day Vittori met the broker who1
h,J .,-,1. A. .-.+uo.4 o., H. Tt- II
man chided him for Withdrawing. Wit
tori admitted that he had made q mis-
take.
'Tn fix up a new contract" said the
broker.
"Tll pay you another commission"
Done"
A few days later the broker notified
Vittori that a new contract had been
made with Signor Armodeo for his
daughters hand. Vittori was much
pleased. He did not know how Lucia
felt in the matter, but Italian girls
We're used to obeylng their fathers.
There would be no trouble.
One day the broker informed Wit
tori that all had been arranged and
NE HliSHt cdll upon Lucia as SOon us ne
liked. He found Lucia arrayed in
her most dainty visiting costume, with
hat and gloves.
Il am pleased to see you, Signor
Conci, but l fear there has been a mis-.
take. My father has informed me that
he had made a new contract for us,
This he has done without my consent.
Yesterday l was eighteen and of age,
coming into my fortune. l am sorry
If you are disappointed. AS l have
told you, your gray hairs stand be-
tween u.s."
my gray hairs!' said the astonSsh-
ed Vittori. Il was not aware that !
had one!'
You must not be put to expense in
this matter. Here is my check for the
commission. Good evening. am sor-
ry that you have been put to unneces-
sary trouble. You must excuse me. l
am going out"
The suitor tottered to the door and
out into the air, which he sadly needed,