Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-09-11
T any cost, Agatha, I must
find q husband this year.
I am six and twenty and
rs getting SeriouS.'

My dear Rachel, will do anything
in my power to help you, but have
suggested every one I know who is at
all likely to suit you"
Young men whose prospects are In
the dim future or who have no pros
poets at all. am obliged to you. And
some Of them were very pleasant, but
I have told -ou before, that kind Of
man simply won't do"
81 don't think you are asking too
much" said Mrs. Challinor, looking at
her friend refectively. "You are good
looking, you dress well, have plenty of
so. To tell the truth, have never
been able to understand why you have
not married long ago."
az don't know, either" said Rachel,
rather savagely. 81 felt very low
down this morning and almost made
up my mind to write to Stead"
..To Steadw echoed Mrs. Challinor,
rather helplessly.
ssYes; he seems able to do anything
and to help every one. I thought of
sending him my photograph, stating
my case and asking him to try to find
some one for me. Do you think 1t was
very wild idea" trying to read her
friends averted face.
''Well,. think 1t was, rather. 1t
would be wiser not to do that kind of
thing. When you are married, you
Know" she went on, careful to con-
slider Rachers feelings, "you might
meet Stead, or some one else might
see your photograph, and very unpleas-
sant results might follow. Your hus-
band would be in rage"
"Oh, I shan't mind that. When he
is my husband he may be in as many
RACES as he likes. You know, Agatha,
1t Is quite natural for girl to want to
marry. 1 don't want husband just
for the name or to show him off to my
friends, but I want to begin to enjoy
myself; to Lave better dressmaker
: and to go al out and have good time
generally"
81 see," rejoined Mrs. Challinor,
"and now I come to think Of it, do
know Of some one else. Our neigh
Dor, Mr.. Benn, is coming home to-mor-
row. Frank told me last night; he
had letter from him on business.
He is middle-aged, q bachelor and rich.
DO you think you would care TO try
I for him?"
ABennp' repeated Rachel; 'T don't
care much for the name Rachel 3enn!
can't say 1t sounds attractive. And
middle-aged; but rich and O bachelor,
so that could train him in my own
ways from the beginning. The pros
and cons seem about equally balanced.
i would not mimi just seeing him, If
you would be so kind as to arrange it.
You see. marriage is Of such import
ance to a girl"
Certainly said Mrs. Challinor;; che
shall dine with us at the earliest OPP
portunity :,
There were no other guests on the
Z evening Mr.. Benn dtned with Them,
Mrs. Challinor intended Rachel to
shine alone, and shine she did. Her
dress was most becoming, she was
: looking her best, and the little feeling
Of nervousness she had gave her more
than her usual brightness Of speech
and manner. She talked much to Mr..
-Benn, but, though he listened and an
swered politely, he made no special
effort to talk to her, nor, as MI. Chal-
linor told his wife afterward, did he
show any impatience to join her In
the drawing room after dinner. Dur
ing the evening she sang and played,
but he seemed rather bored than any
thing else and said, little callously,
that he did not care for any music ex-
cept "Home. Sweet Home" and "God
Save the Queen" and of those he was
not sure which was which until he
saw If the people stood up or remained
seated. Rachel, who, having under
stood from Mrs. Challinor that he had
some knowledge of music, had spent
all the morning practicing "Across the
Far Blue Hills, Marie" 'They Played
in Beautiful Garden" and other
songs of like nature, felt little ruff
fled in temper that her work had beef
thrown away. "Songs Without
Words" and melodies of Schubert met
with no better success. He thanked
her civilIy ut the end Of each and at
once relapsed intt business or political
talk with Mr.. Challinor, evidently
thinking the ladies might be left to
themselves. At the end Of the even
ing she felt disappointed and out Of
spirits. She had shone her brightest
and her rays had not warmed him In
the least; he had stayed no later than
usual and on shaking hands with her
he had said no more than the conven-
tional and meaningless things about
having been pleased to meet her.
They saw one another often after
that; Mrs. Challinor had no difficulty
In bringing them together. Rachel was
3 paying her a long visit and Mr.. Benn
{ had always been fond Of coming to her
house. No other guest was ever there
to dispute the ground; Rachel had
things all her own way and yet very
little progress seemed to be made. One
dlIGE duOtucl Suc u1u oiopioySo aSA
various accomplishments, but had re-
ceiyed nothing more appreciative than
the remark that she seemed to be q
very clevr young lady. Mrs. Challinor
had even gone so far as to arrange
IN occasion for her friend to show her
natural sweetness Of temper. That had
certainly seemed to impress Mr.. Benn
more than anything else; but when
people are visiting friends and work
ing to make good impression on IN
acquaintance, sweetness Of temper is
supposed to be their unavoidable frame
Z of mind and effective tests cannot be
arranged every day.
SLOW dc you think you are getting
on dear?' asked Mrs. Challinor one
day.
tsWhat do you suppose q perfect