The suburban citizen., 1901-08-17
I any cost, Agatha, l must
find a husband this year.
l am six and twenty and
IFS pptting spriouS "

! euSSesleu every one KNOW VINO is ~
all likely to suit you"
Young men whose prospects are il
the dim future or who have no pros
| poets at all. am obliged to you. And
some of them were very pleasant, but
have told you before, that kind OF
man simply won't do"
II don't think you are asking toe
much," said Mrs Challinor, looking al
her friend refectively. "You are good
looking you dress well, have plenty OF
go. To tell the truth, l have never
been able to understand why you have
not married long ago"
Il don't know, either" said Rachel,
rather savagely. II felt very low
down this morning and almost made
up my mind to write to Stead"
ITO Steadw echoed Mrs. Chaliinor,
rather helplessly.
Eyes; he seems able to do anything
and to help every one. | thought Of
sending him my photograph, stating
my case and asking him to try to find
some one for me. Do you think it was
a very wild ideaY trying to read her
friends averted face.
well, think it was rather. It
would be wiser not to do that kind of
thing. When you are married you
know" she went on, careful TO con-
slider Racheps feelings you might
meet Stead, or some one else might
see your photograph, and very unpleas-
ant results might follow. Your hus-
band would be in a 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,
it is quite natural for a girl to want to
marry. l don't want a husband just
for the name or to show him off to my
friends, but l want to begin to enjoy
myself; to Lave a better dressmaker
and to go al out and have a good time
generally"
II see," rejoined Mrs. Challinor,
"and now l come to think Of it, l do
know of some one else. Our neigh
bor, Mr.. Benn, is coming home to-mor-
row. Frank told me last night; he
had a letter from him on business.
He is middle-aged, bachelor and rich.
Do you think you would care to try
for him?
"Benn" repeated Rachel; II don't
care much for the name Rachel Bennp
/ can't say it sounds attractive And
middle.aged; but rich and a bachelor,
so that l could train him in my own
ways from the beginning. The pros
and cons seem about equally balanced.
/ would not mind just seeing him, if
you would be so kind as to arrange it.
You see, marriage is Of such import
Rnce to a girl"
"Certainly," said Mrs. Challinor; "he
shall dine with us at the earliest op-
portunlty."
There were no other guests on the
evening Mr.. Benn dined 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 Mr.. 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. Challlnor that he had |
some knowledge Of music, had spent |
all the morning practicing Across the !
Far Blue Hills, Marie" "rhey Played |
in n Beautiful Garden" and other |
songs Of a like nature felt a little ruff |
fed in temper that her work had been |
thrown away. Songs Without |
Words" and melodies Of Schubert met
with no better success. He thanked
her civilly at the end of each and at |
once relapsed into business or political |
talk with Mr.. Challinor, evidently |
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
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
after another she had displayed her
various accomplishments, but had re-
ceived nothing more approciative than
the remark that she seemed to be a
very clevr young lady. Mrs. Challnor
had even gone so far as to arrange
an occasion for her friend to show her