The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-23
THE EVENING STORY
Aunt Ellen's Matchmaking.
(By Donald Allen.)

(By Donald Allen.)
Aunt Ellen Henderson. who was a
widow, had arrived at the farmhouse
of her sister, Mrs. George Taylor, on
visit. The family of the sister con-
sisted only of herself, husband and
daughter. Minnie, the latter having
arrived at the age of twenty-one
years.
Aunt Ellen called it visit, but in
reality it was plot. She wouldn't
have owned. even to herself that it
was, for she was a very conscientious
woman, but it was a plot, none the
less.
Besides being a very conscientious
woman, Aunt Ellen was a born match
maker. There were at least thirty
happy marriages in Warren county
that she had brought about by being
on hand and interfering at the critical
moment. In her home, forty miles
away, she had heard that her services
were needed at her sisters house,
and she had put off making her fall
soft soap to offer them.
Miss Minnie had two beaux. They
! had been calling for two years, and
neither one of them had proposed.
They had taken up hours and hours
of time that she might have devoted
to cutting and sewing carpet rags or
trying to play "OId Dog Tray, on
| the cottage organ, and it was time
they We're made to declare themselves.
OF course, poor. Minnie couldn't say
lacked moral courage, and of course
George Taylor was a stick of a man
and a father. A strong hand was what
was needed in that family for a few
days, and Aunt Ellen had brought it
along with her.
On the third night of Aunt Ellen's
stay Mr.. Graves called. He was a
farmers son and a nice young man;
he seemed to be hustling and ambi-
| tious, but not quite the man Minnie
ought to have. She was hoity-toity
and he was rather serious. There would
be clash.
Two nights later Mr.. Spinner
called. He also was a farmers son,
and very good natured. He was very
frank, and was known to be indus
| trious and saving. He was the man
| for Minnie! Two years and he hadn't
proposed, but Aunt Ellen hadn't been
around. She had arrived now.
A successful matchmaker does not
work in the open. That is, she never
lets the young lady in the case know
that she is the least bit interested.
| She pretends total indifference. or
hints that old maids are after all the
happiest. If the young man in the
case happens to be mentioned, she
carelessly observes that he is bow
! legged or lacking in character, and
| then changes the subject to Sunday
school picnics. It's the young man
she drops hints to. She keeps drop
ping and dropping until she gets him
all steamed up, and the first thing
he knows he rushes off and is
Aunt Ellen had nothing to say to
| her sister. She had nothing to say
to Minnie. She just watched and
waited for the time for her to step in
and weld two more happy souls to-
| gether, making sixty-two, more or
| less.
The time came in about ten days,
or when the rather serious Mr.. Graves
made his second call. She was watch
Ing, and she saw the love light in
Minnie's eyes and the admiration in
his. When he left she murmured
something about fresh air and threw
a shawl over her head and walked out
to the gate with him. There she
said:
Mr.. Graves, I am a plain woman"
"Yes?'
There should be no long delay in
these matters. Have you spoken
yet?"
Well, no.
You love her?"
Surely"
you and will say yes"
II think 1 will"
| Il had sized you up to be that kind
of man. Good night
The matchmaker had begun, but
only half her work was accomplished.
Minnie couldn't marry the two men,
was going to ask for her heart and
| hand, and was sure to get them, 1t
was only common decency that Mr..
Spinner should make himself scarce.
1t was quite little time before he
called again, as he had to go on a
journey, but the evening came at
last. Aunt Ellen was on the watch
for the love light. but she failed to
detect it. Her sister and husband
went off to bed at an early hour, and
she pretended to follow them, but she
was a deceiver. She went out to wait
at the gate instead
It was a long, long walt, but Aunt
Ellen remained. Whenever she had
anything to say she waited until she
could get it off her mind. It was II
o'clock and past before she could say
to the young man who came blinking
down the path:
"Mr. Spinner, I should like few
words with you"
"Oh, Lord, but I thought you were
a Govt" ne exclaimed.
mo, Mr.. Spinner, I am not. 1 am
only a plain woman. I say what
think
ct see.
Though I don't want to hurt any
ones feelings
That's kind of you"
''Mr. Spinner, you have been calling
here off md on for about two years. "
Eyes, bout two years"
''Whil, my niece has enjoyed your
company you must be aware that she
has arrived at the age when-when-
well, she has arrived at the age when
the average young woman is looking
forward to marriage and a home OF
her own"
! "I think understand"