The Matchmaker Read Online Free PDF Page A

seem to know the family name.”
    “They were originally from Ohio, you see. But moved here a few years back. When Elizabeth Martin heard that I was to come here, she invited me to stay at their farm for a few weeks. To visit, you know.”
    Emma turned the buggy into the parking lot of the fabric store, located next to the Kitchen Kettle in the town of Intercourse. While the tourists tended to visit the cluttered stores of the shopping village, few ventured to the hidden treasure of the dry goods store next door. It was hidden by the hardware store and a well-kept secret among the Amish. “I’m sure that was nice to visit with an old friend. A great way to start your new life in Lancaster County.”
    For the next hour they browsed through the rows of bolts of fabric, discussing the different colors and patterns while rubbing the cloth through their fingers to check the quality of the material. They ignored the few Englische tourists who walked past them, staring at the two Amish women while they shopped. To further isolate themselves, Emma beganspeaking Pennsylvania Dutch so that the outsiders could not eavesdrop on their conversation. Hannah suppressed a giggle when Emma did that, and both of them had a laugh about it when they finally left the dry goods store, their arms laden with wrapped cloth.
    “Do you mind if I run to the hardware store, Hannah?” Emma was putting the packages into the back of the buggy as she spoke to her friend. “My daed needs a new hinge for the stall door. I promised I’d pick it up today as Paul Esh volunteered to stop by later and fix it for us. The old one is barely hanging on!”
    “Of course!”
    Emma smiled at her friend. “He’s such a gut man, Paul Esh,” she started. “That was thoughtful of him to offer to fix the hinge. My daed’s hands don’t work so well anymore, you see.”
    Hannah nodded her head in agreement. “He seemed most pleasant the other day at your haus .”
    Together they crossed through the parking lot and entered the hardware store’s back door, avoiding the foot traffic along the main street of the town. “And a godly man, at that,” Emma was quick to add. “Why, I was visiting a sick elderly woman just a few weeks back, and just as I was about to leave, he showed up with a box full of canned peaches! Very thoughtful of him, ain’t so?”
    “Ja , ja !” This time Hannah seemed a bit more enthusiastic as she responded.
    No sooner had they started walking down the center aisle than a young man almost bumped into them. He was a tall Amish man who wore dirty black pants and a white shirt that was missing one button. Emma had never seen himbefore so she was quite surprised when Hannah greeted him with a smile.
    “Ralph Martin! Whatever are you doing here?”
    “Why, Hannah Souder!” He grinned in response to her greeting. “I thought you were staying in Lititz with Gladys! A pleasant surprise bumping into you, I must say.”
    A hint of a giggle escaped Hannah’s lips and she blushed. “We only just came to town for quilting supplies.”
    Emma frowned, looking first at her friend before turning her gaze to the man standing before them. He looked to be not much older than she was, but there was a weathered look to his face. Certainly he was a man who worked outdoors, and that most likely meant that he was a farmer. Yet she could not understand his disheveled appearance. To come to town in such a filthy outfit, she thought!
    His eyes flickered toward Emma.
    “Forgive me,” Hannah gushed. “Ralph, this is my friend Emma.”
    He nodded his head in acknowledgment but paid no further attention to Emma. His eyes were large and wide, seeing only Hannah.
    “Elizabeth will most certainly tell me to send her regards,” he said. “She has missed your company.”
    “Danke ,” Hannah replied, her cheeks flushing under his constant stare, the change in color not going unnoticed by Emma.
    “You are staying in the area then?”
    The question was directed to