Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-11-30
A MATRIMONIAL
BLUNDER
GOriginal.l

SlTI SlOOu pStplISo du Olen-
ing made by door standing slightly
ajar. She soliloquized thus:
Not very good looking. Nose very
bad. Hair fine and glossy, but there's
not enough of it. A little too tall and
slender"
It was in the old city Of Genoa,
where many of the marriages are
brought about by brokers. They keep
a list of marriageable girls and their
good points, such as accomplishments,
beauty, fortunes, etc. The brokers ar
! range the marriage for the would be
groom with the girls parents, and the
couple are introduced afterward. Either
party may recede after the introduc-
ton, but if the man wishes to Go SO he
must pay the brokerage and expenses.
Such an arrangement had been made
for the union of Vittori Conci and Lu-
| cia Armodeo, and the young lady. hav-
| ing made up 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-
| deo Joined her mother in the library.
Il think" said the daughter indecis-
| lively, that 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,
ther entered.
''It's all off, he said. a.
| SSyThat In 1vn1 nSs' oSI-o6 fhn,
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 dan
| gerous glitter in her eye.
One evening soon after this episode,
| Vittori and Lucia met at 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 not 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
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. cit
was presumptuous in me even to think
Of such a thing. You are so much
brighter than I, SO prominent socially;.
marriage between us was not to be
considered. Besides, there is too great
a difference in our ages"
81 am thirty" he remarked. some
what chopfallen.
"And am only seventeen. Thirteen
years is a great difference. I respect
elderly men, but h chit like myself
should not aspire to marry one of
| them.", =. :;
Eittori went home feeling very un-
comfortable. Lucia in her hall dress
had appeared far more to advantage
his decision. But what troubled him
most was to have been informed that
he was passing into an age which,
young girls consider old.
One day Vittori met the broker who
had made the contract for him. The
man chided him for withdrawing. Wit
tori admitted that he had made mis-
take.
''I'll fix up new contract" said the
broker.
'I'll pay you another commission"
| Done"
4 few days later the broker notified
/ Vittori that Il new contract Lad 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
were used to obeying their fathers.
There would be no trouble.
One day the broker informed Wit
tori that all had been arranged and
! he might call upon Lucia as soon as he ,
liked. He found Lucia arrayed in
her most dainty visiting costume. with
! hat and gloves.
81 am pleased to see you, Signor
Conci, but 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 I was eighteen and of age.
coming into my fortune. I am sorry
! if you are disappointed. AS I have
| told you. your gray hairs stand be.
! tween u.s. II
"My gray hairs!' said the astonish.
ed Vittori. II was not aware that I
! 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-