Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-07

Ing Of bachelors and sptnsters for the pur-
pose CT organizing q matrimonial exchange
for elderly persona
Because that period at which persons
usually marry mas passed there 10 no g,..-
son why marriage should DO entirely Civ
en up The exchange is intended for those
who have before them q lon.sly old age,
that they may DO thrown together with q
view to forming matrimonial copartner-
ships for their mutual comfort.
Miss Weathersby thought the matter
over and concluded to attend the meet
ing. She was dfty-two. but did noa
consider herself old enough to enritls
her to a membership to the exchange.
Nevertheless she was very lonely and
ready to catch at any straw that might
bring her companionship.
On entering the room where the
meeting was held Miss wearhersby re-
ceived a shock. Men arud women
whose hair was either sprinkled with
gray or had turned white were chat
ting together. any one OF whom. she
thought. must be older than herself.
She was received by the chaifwomnn
OF the ladies' reception committee and
made bold TO express the opinion that
those she saw present were entirely
too old for marriage. To tier aston
ishment the lady Informed her that
most of the women present were her
juniors.
A gentleman was presented TO Miss
Weathersby. whose name shs did not
hear. who began 10 chat with her. nat
urally choosing for a subject the pur-
poses OF the exchange. Miss Wealth
ersby declared that she had come 81 m
ply from curiosity: that she was per-
fectly satisfied with single life and
would not marry ON any account.
Perhaps said the gentleman.
years ago you loved some young man
from whom fate separated you"
Rather say his own innate wicked
ness"
"And you we're obliged to Bend him
awayY
81 certainly was"
Sometimes In such matters the wo-
man is partly at fault"
'sfhnt was not SO In my case"
Il was dismissed by a girl loved,
was but twenty two years old, size
nineteen. She considered herself very
badly treated by me. | felt sure that
she was In error. therefore II yield
ed to her would not only make n
mistake in that instance, but be oblig-
ed to continue yielding TO her, right or
wrong, throughout our married lives.
Therefore ] refused. and she olsrnisscd
me-"
My case was very different" said
Miss Weathersby. ~ was entire
right. and my lover was entire
wrong. had brother who needed
my care insisted ou his living with
me after my marriage. My lover very
selishly declined the arrangement
naturally clung to my brother and 1t
my lover CO."
"Was your brother worthy OF the
sacrifice OF the happiness Of two per
sonsT'
He was"
"Afrectionatc. unselRsh. honorablei'
"All these"
SIS he still living with your
"No He died twenty years ago"
There was pause in the dialogue.
during which the gentleman iookcd
thoughtfully at his companion Rnd
with Il tinge OF melancholy in his eye.
Then he said
"What would you think OF your n
ton II II could be proved to you that
your brother was unworthy OF the sac.
rifice you made for him-a sacriiire
that involved your lovers lifelong hHp-
pinessT'
"No such supposltiOn IL possible"
He drew forth his pocketbook and
took ont n paper which he handed 20
her She read 81. and every vestig"
Of color left her face. II was cor.
fessiOn written many years before 10
her lover by this snme brother that
he had stolen money from him, the
confession being made on condition
that the debt was Cancelled and the
theft kept secret. When Miss
Weatherby looked up she gasI'ed:
And you are TomT
81 am Tom"
"why did you not tell me Of this
at the time II occurred"
'I preferred that you shonld choose
between me and your brother rather
than between me and n criminal. \
lover, a husband who In willing TO 80
second 20 any one is a weakling
From the time Of her eDtraSce into
the world to the present moment Miss
/ weathcrsby had been one Of those
women who are best described by IN"
( words, "She knows Il all" This trait
was strengthened by a strong VIII
The paper that trembled in her hand
had produced IN her revolution II
came ia'r. Ju' Il Ief' In her not or"
. y ."r r' -n- former " ~ From a
/ luur. ,lj I...L-,. % lnu.H
ro-g e., e rr Hh"w.1I
rl r. ...' resume f'r IIfn
4 huG an Object Tn doing 80. For
twv a.. ades have lived Ia ii foreign
country Returning. I received an IN
vitation 10 join this exchange and mc.
cidentally learned that you were
member I came here with one OBJ
tect, to meet you. and that we should
meet understandingly ! preferred 10
explain the past"
At the next regular meeting OF the
exchange the president announced
that the hrst match had been made
Mr.. Thomas Harrington and Miss Ma
E1lda Wsathersby were engaged