The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-05-08
A MATCHMAKER

Major Macintosh was very good
fellow, but he had one little weak
ness. He was most inveterate
matchmaker.
No doubt there was some excuse
for him. Life seemed rather empty
and purposeless now that he had
left the army, and as he was still a
vigorous, energetic man he needed
some wholesome vent for his activ-
ity. Matchmaking provided him at
once with an interest and an occu-
patton. 1t gave him plenty to think
of by night and to do by day. With
out it he would have been the most
miserable of men. With it he was
the cheeriest and the most self i'm
portant. 1t is very good thing
sometimes to have little weakness.
Of course, the major prided him
self on his tact and delicacy and
fondly fancied nobody ever saw
through his transparent little arti-
fees. So sure of this was he indeed
that he not infrequently explained
them at some length to the persons
principally concerned, so that they
might know just when and how to
act under any given circumstances
"a very wise precaution and one
that saved an immense amount of
trouble and misunderstanding.
But though he took every care to
guard against failure matters would
occasionally go wrong and the most
prudently planned match come to
nothing, greatly to the majors dis
may. But he was reasonable man
on the whole, and when he knew he
was beaten he accepted defeat phil
osophically. Yes, when he knew he
was beaten-but as a bold Briton and
soldier he was very hard to con-
vince On this point and sometimes
struggled on manfully long after
defeat was a foregone conclusion.
Despite his weakness-or possibly
even in consequence of it the ma
jor was popular, and men and wom-
en- alike found much to admire in
him. His manner might be little
brusque, but his means were ample,
and this was great point in his fa-
vor, especially where the unmarried
ladies of his acquaintance were con-
cerned, for they were not blind to
the fact that he (the matchmaker)
would be a most excellent match,
and to many of them it seemed a
pity that he should spend so much
time and trouble in providing for
his friends happiness while his own
remained unsecured. More than one
kind hearted woman, though taking
small interest in his efforts to settle
other people, would gladly have
helped him to arrange match fol-
himself, but it was all to no purpose
Whether he saw nothing or too much
no one knew, but the result was the
same. The matchmaking major re
manned unmarried and on excellent
terms with all the ladies who would
willingly have married him, fact
which alone spoke volumes for his
good feeling and capital manage
ment-if indeed it were not purely
a matter of luck.
The major had but one near rela
tive in the world his nephew, Jacl
Macintosh. Jack was in a govern
ment Office, and as he was not q
years of age his uncle began to thinl
seriously of arranging a match fol
him. He had long had his eye OF
/ at least half dozen sufficiently
pretty girls, any one of whom nigh
be just the right thing for the young
fellow--if only none of the othel
five should prove to be better. TIT
major was very anxious that Jack ;!
match should really be triumph
and it cost him much thought ant
grave weighing of pros and cons fo
months before the critical tim
came. OF course he did not consul
Jack in the matter. To do so at s.
early a stage in the proceeding
would have been contrary to al
precedent No, he must muddle i
out for himself and only have tn
boy down to make the lady's &C
quaintance when he had finall,
| made up his mind as to which of tn
half dozen it was to be.
! And, after all, it proved to b
none of them.
No; despite the earnest cogitation
of months and all the careful stud
of six specimens of girlhood tn
major suddenly made up his min
that Nellie Bloxham was the ON
woman in the world for Jack, an
this within five minutes of his frs
introduction to her. The gin
charmed him, and he at once decid
cd that she must marry Jack.
letter was dispatched that YER
evening, and q few days later th