The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-14
M0LLIE'S MATCHMAKING.

"
chairs-a glowing fire in the nickel
trimmed heater-a pretty little woman
listening for the footsteps of the lord and
master. This charming picture of domes-
tic bliss John Alderman fully appreciat-
ed as he stepped into the room few
minutes later.
well, Mollie, what's the news?'
''Oh, nothing, only supper has been
waiting half an hour. Come, let us
hurry and eat; / want to talk with you. J"
Il thought there was something on
your mind; didn't know but was GO
ing to get lecture for being late"
You deserve one, for this is the last
evening | shall spend with you for two
whole weeks; shows how highly you APP
preciate your wife's society,"
Mrs. John Alderman tried to frown,
but failed completely.
In another half hour they were back
in the CHEEKY parlor, and Mollie be-
gam
81 think Tom is a splendid fellow, and
there were never two brothers more alike
than you and he"
''Thank you, my dear; 1 honor your
judgment"
''And, John, have the most brilliant
plan concerning hinr'
do tellr' John said, with a move
ment toward his. coat pocket, where the
evening paper lay in uncut solitude.
Mollie observed the motion, and
promptly informed him that he should
not read word until she was through
talking.
Il am going away tomorrow, and
then you may read the paper from the
time you enter the house. until midnight,
with no one to bother YOU" she said.
as John showed signs of insubordina-
ton.
Somehow. the vision of the little par
Tor withc at Mollie's lively chatter did not
seem to strike him very favorably; per-
haps this was why he tossed the paper
to the other side of the room and obedi-
emily promised to listen. Mollie perched
herself on one arm of his chair and com
menced.
'.You know my sister Amy is coming
home with me for long visit, and don't
you think it would be splendid if she and
IQm would fall in love, With each otherf
They could get married and set up house
keeping in the cottage like this one across
the street and-oh, John, it would make
me perfectly happyr'
John Alderman laughed long and
heartily.
'Match-making, by Jover' he said
at last. Miserable yourself, and want
everybody else to be; is that it, Mol
lie ?''
Don't laugh, John, for Pm in earn
est. / know they win like each other,
and have set my heart on the match;
just think how nice it would be to have
Amy here always; and Tom is such a
darling! Amy should furnish her parlol
just like ours. only where there is blue
hers should be cardinal, for she is dark,
you know
John was laughing again by this time,
and it took considerable management to
reduce him to order. This once accom-
plished, he fell in with the plan readily
enough.
81 tell you what it is, Mollie; you don't
want to say word of this to Tom OIL
Amy, or they will take dislike to each
other Immediately"
81 know it, wisely rejoined Mollie.
s.When / told Tom / was going to visit
Aunt HeEy / did not mention Amy {
NAME I have been with her so little
since l was married that / am sure
never spoke to her of Tom"
'sWell, see that you don't do so now,
you couldn't mention his name without
praising him to the skies, and she would
see through your plans at once"
Mollie departed the next morning,
leaving directions enough to distract 8
man if he tried to remember half OF
them. John did not try; he only had 8
confused recollection of something to be
done with plants, silver spoons, canary
birds, etc. Jenny, the servant, would
know all about it, he reflected.
ssDon,t have Tom at the house when
we RETURN was Mollie's lastinjunction.
s.Amy will be tired with the journey.
and | want her to have a chance to
beantify little before she meets him. y
When they reached the depot Mollie' /
courage began TO fail.
.I'is almost sorry to go, john she
said. ..Suppese something should hap
pen to you while am away?"
s. Nonsense, darlingl Go and have a
GOOD time: and be sure and come back
in two AVeeks and bring Amy with you.
Mollie's heart was SO thoroughly II
her pet plan that she found it very hard
to refrain from all mention of her ador-
able hratlter-irI-law during the two
weeks that followed; once she did refer
to the cozy party OF four which they
wolld make, and then was obliged tC
turn it off on Jenny. the little maid-of-
;,ll-work, as making the fourth.
The day before Mollie was to return,
Aunt Hetty fell i'll. A nervous attack,
she called it, but Mollie privately pro-
nouneed it contrariness. Aunt Hetty
declared she must die If left alone with
the servants. and Amy felt obliged tc
postpone her visit for q few days al
least. Mollie could go on as she had
intended. and she would follow rs soon
as Aunt Hetiy could spare her. Thus
it happened that Mollie arrived home
alone
Amy viii certainly come up next
week. she assured John; -.but | could
not wal another dag. 1t seems an age
since ! went away.
twas 50 pleasant to be at home once
more, :,:tl mistress faIl she surveyed
note frais1 Amy ss,,sssIa..s sire sEolltd come
on The Following Saturday sci her mlno
completely at rest. She WIS really scr.
ry to hear John SAY, Que nlsrning,-
Il tisiaa we lad better take Tat run