Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-01

Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
Aunt Ellen Henderson. who was a
widow, had arrived at the farmhouse
OF her sister, Mrs. George Taylor, on
q visit: The family Of the sister con-
sisted only Of herself husband and
daughter, Minnie, the latter having ar
Aunt Ellen called it a visit, but in
reality it was plot. She wouldn't
have owned even to herself that it
was, for she was very conscientious
woman, but 1t a plot, none the
less.
Besides being very conscientious
woman, Aunt Ellen was 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 -.er 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 'tOld Dog Tray" on
they were made to declare them
selves. OF course, poor Minnie
couldn't say anything, and, of course,
her mother lacked moral courage,
and of course George Taylor was a
stick Of q man and a father. A strong
hand was what was needed in that
family for 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 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 careless
ly 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 dropping and dropping
until she gets him all steamed up and
the first thing he knows he PUSHES off
and is hooked.
Aunt Ellen had nothing to say to her
sister. She had nothing to say to Min
ME- She just watched and waited for
the time for2her to step in and weld
two more happy souls together, MAX
ing sixty-two, more or less.
The time came in about ten days, or
when the rather serious Mr.. Graves
ing and she saw the loveaight in Min
MES eyes and the admiration in his.
When he left she murmured something
about fresh air and threw shawl over
her head and walked out to the gate
with him. There she said:
.'Mr. Graves, I'm a plain woman"
"Yes?"
There should be no long delay in
these matters. Have you spoken
YETI"
We'll no."
'You love herr"
Surely"
ssThen speak. I am sure she loves
you and will say yes. I"
Ell think will"
ri had sized you up to be that kind
of a man. Good night"
The matchmaker had begun but
only half her work was accomplished.
Minnie couldn't marry the two men.
of course, and now that Mr.. Graves
was going to ask for her heart and
hand, and was sure to get them, it
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
lovelight, but she failed to detect it.
Her sister and husband went off to
bed at an early hour, and she pretend
ed to follow them. but she was de-
ceiyer. She went out to wait at the
gate instead.
1t was long, long wait, but Aunt
Ellen remained Whenever she had
to say she waited until she
colIld get 1T off her mind. 1t was = IL