The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-15
A MA TRIMONIAL
ASSOCIATION
By HELEN R. OCELSBY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911
By HELEN R. OGELSeY

| You are invited to be present at meet
| Ing of bachelors and spinsters for the pur-
pose of organizing matrimonial exchange
| for elderly persons.
Because that period at which persons
usually marry has passed there is no rea-
son why marriage should be entirely CIV
en- up. The exchange Is Intended for those
who have before them a lonely old age.
that they may be thrown together with
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 ffty-two, but did not
consider herself old enough to entitle
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 Weathersby re-
ceived shock. Men and 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 chairwoman
Of the ladies' reception committee and
made bold to express the opinion that
those she saw present were entirely
too old for marriage. To her aston
lshment the lady informed her that
most of the women present were her
juniors.
A gentleman was presented to Miss
Weathersby, whose name she did not
hear, who began to chat with her, nat
urally choosing for a subject the pur
poses of the exchange. Miss Wealth
ersby declared that she had come sim
ply from curiosity; that she was per-
fectly satisfied with single life AMI
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 were obliged to send him
away?"
II certainly was"
Sometimes in such matters the wo
man is partly at fault"
THAT was not so in my case"
Il was dismissed by girl loved.
| was but twenty-five years old, she
nineteen. She considered herself very
badly treated by me. felt sure that
she was in error. therefore If yield
ed to her / would not only make a
mistake in that instance, but be oblig-
ed to continue yielding to her, right or
wrong, throughout our married lives.
| I chn dicnniccnH
me-"
my case was very different" said
Miss Weathersby. II was entirely
right. and my lover was entirely
wrong. | had a brother who needed
my care. l insisted ON his living with
me after my marriage. My lover very
selfishly declined the arrangement.
naturally clung to my brother and let
my lover co.
"Was your brother worthy of the
sacrifice of the happiness of two per
sons"
He was"
"Affectionate. unselfish. honorablef"
"All these"
"Is he still living with your"
mo. He died twenty years ago."
There was a pause in the dialogue,
during which the gentleman looked
thoughtfully at his companion and
with q tinge of melancholy in his eye
Then he said:
"What would you think of your ac
ton If it could be proved to you that
your brother was unworthy of the sac
rifice you made for him-a sacrifice
that involved your lovers lifelong hap
pinessT
mo such suppositlon Is possible"
He drew forth his pocketbook and
took out paper which he handed TO
her. She read it. and every vestige
of color left her face. 1t was a con-
fession written many years before tc
her lover by this same brother that
he had stolen money from him, the
confession being made on condition
that the debt was Cancelled and the
theft kept a secret. When Miss
Weatherby looked up she gasped:
"And you are Tom"
II am Tom"
"Why did you not tell me Of this
at the time it occurredT
II preferred that you should choose
between me and your brother rather
than between me and a criminal A
lover, a husband who is willing to be
second to any one is weakling."
From the time of her entrance into
the world to the present moment Miss
Weathersby had been one of those
women who are best described by the
words. "She knows it ALL" This trait
was strengthened by a strong will
The paper that trembled in her hand
nad produced in her a revolution. II
came late. but 1t left in her not one
trace of her former fault From q
lioness she had become lamb.
81 beg your forgiveness for showing
you that paper" resumed the man
81 had an object in doing so. Fol
two decades have lived in a foreign
country. Returning, l received an in
vitation to join this exchange and &C
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