Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-01-13
r T was the proud boast of Mrs. Malt

Hotel, SeabreeZe, that In each of the
twelve years during which she had
owned and managed the establishment
on the shore at SeabreeZe she had sue
cessfully brought two young people
into relations with one another that
had resulted in matrimony. To tell the
truth, Mrs. Maltworth was born
matchmaker, as many a young lieuten-
ant could have witnessed.
Mrs. Maltworth was one of those rare
individuals who can sink their own dis
comforts and smile on the pleasures of
others. 1t was largely due to this fact
that the Esmeralda had prospered, and
during the season its rooms were flood
ed with young people bubbling over
with holiday spirits, who joked and
laughed together as If the office and the
counter were nothing more than mere
imaginings which would not reappear
at the expiration Of brief fortnight.
But Mrs. Maltworth and her two
daughters were growing desperate. The
season was rapidly growing to a close,
and as vet no two young people had
been attracted to each other. To be
sure, there had been one or two mild
fllrtatons which had excited consider
veloped" and had expired before the
participants left Seabreeze.
Here's letter from Major Rum
sey, my dears," said the widow one
morning "He wants to come next
Monday with his son and daughter to
stay-why, he doesn't say how long he
will stay"
"Who is he?" inquired the elder Of
the Misses Maltworth, a prim young
lady of %, whose living interest was
centered and clrcumferenced in the cut
ting down Of expenses at the Esmer-
aida.
The widow passed the letter to her.
"He writes from ShOreham, you see,
and that is very select. We shall have
to put him and the son in the second
floor front and his girl in the room oppo-
site ours"
The youngerd daughter nodded approx
al. She was pretty girl, who had all
her mothers amlabillty and tenderness,
mixed with her fathers soldierly pride.
Major Rumsey duly arrived with his
son and daughter. He was a middle
aged gentleman whose hair was gener-
ously sprinkled with gray, labeled mill
tary from head to foot, and possessed
of a bluff. hearty voice that instantly
won the widows heart.
81 always feel thoroughly at home
with army gentlemen" she confessed
to him ere he had been In the house half
a dozen hours. You see, I'm soldiers
daughter and married a man who car
ried'a commission.
Madam" replied the Major, "you
surprise and honor me-"
"Yes, my poor husband, Captain Malt
worth, of the -th Cavalry"
"Whatw roared the Major, springing
from his chair. Your husband-old
Bob Maltworth of the thu"
"The same, sir"
"My dear Mrs. Maltworth, this Is In
ded a pleasure. l and old Bob-er-
Captain Maltworth. were mates togeth-
er before Have you never heard him
speak of his old friend Rumsey?
"Bless my soul, my dear lady," con.
tinued the excited Major walking tC
the window. Fancy coming across the
widow of my old friend. The world Is
after all, quite little place; now, ISM
itW
The opening of the door and the en-
trance of Mabel caused him to turr
round.
"Mabel, my dear, this Is Major Rum
sey-and-and he is an old friend o
your poor papa's."
The Major bowed to the fair yount
girl before him, while she blushed ant
murmured, "How d'y' do" in so prett.
q manner that the Major was on the In
slant charmed and captivated.
That evening there was merry par
ty in the Widows little drawlng-room
which excited considerable curiosit
among the other boarders. There wa
much laughter and just few tears O
the part of the hostess, and that nigh
young Harold Rumsey dreamed of
blushng blue-eyed girl who had calle
him "Mr. Rumsey" no end Of times, a
though he would have given anythln
to have been called Harold.
The visit of Major Rumsey, Mr.. Hal
old Rumsey and Miss Eleanor Rumse
Ito quote the Seabreeze News was dC
cldedly time Of unqualified enjo!
ment. The happiness of the three SUI
fused through the whole of the Esme
aida Hotel, and the proprletress wa
heard to remark that never in all hC
life had she seen so jolly compan
as her boarders at this period. The Wis