Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
s A Matchmaker 5
a Y,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

shes just the one girl for you,
JIM" he wrote In one Of his daily
screeds. for Tom had become quite a
letter writer. 1t may have been
brought about by his weakened health
and possibly took the place of some
more boyish occupation, but 1t was
true that he had Brother Jim hustling
in the endeavor to keep up with his
busy correspondent. You'd make n
stunnin couple. Don't think line
foolin. Laura likes me so well that
line pretty sure she would like you
too. On my account, Of course. Can't
you come down for a day or two?"
And Brother jim, greatly amused,
would thank Brother Tom for his kind
wishes for his matrimonial welfare,
and assure him that 1t would be quite
impossible for him to get away just at
present.
And then one day the letter with
the familiar handwriting was little
bulkier than usual. When he opened
the envelope a photograph dropped
out. 1t was the portrait of an unusual
ly pretty girl. OF course, this must
be Laura Garman. Brother Jim looked
at the portrait long and earnestly.
Brother Tom wasn't so far wrong
when he praised this gentlefaced girl.
Brother Jim placed the photograph on
the desk, where he could use 1t as con-
firmation of Brother Toms praises.
and then picked up the letter.
i've bin fishing for bullheads in the
pool" Brother Tom began, land cot
two-and one cot me. 1t didn't hurt
mulch and Laura tied 1t up with her
handkerchief. Ide know about bull
heads horns next time. 1 am sending
you Laura's picture. She don't know
1t. 1 begged 1t from her yesterday. l
want you to get 1t framed up nice and
charge 1t to pa. Then when she says,
What did you do with my pictchoor,
Tommy? lie say line getin' 1t framed.
Can't you come up and see a fellow,
Brother Jim? n. 1t don't nater her."
But Brother Jim seemed in no hurry
to have the framing contract carried
out The picture fingered on his desk
just where he could catch sight Of 1t
whenever he chose to look up.
"Dear Brother Tom" he wrote in re-
ply, II am sorry the bullhead horned
you. No doubt If you were bullhead
you would have done the same re
member having some experience with
bullheads myself, but there was no
charming young woman's handker-
chiefs to bind my wounds. By the
way, that portrait you sent to have
framed reflects credit on your taste.
Miss Laura deserves all your praise
She is a beautiful girl-and 1 am sure
she is as good as she is beautiful"
Two days later Brother Toms reply
was received. 1t wasfunusually brief,
but to the point.
Brother Jim," he wrote. IT showed
your letter to Miss Laura. Ny. how
she blushed. Say. can't you come up
next week? There's going to be a big
church picnic. Come sure"
Brother Jim scowled darkly. Then
he chuckled. What boy! The idea
CT his showing the letter. What must
the girl think of the liberty he tookp
Still, there wasn't anything really rude
about 1t. But he must be more care
tul when he wrote hereafter.
Then he sent Tom a short note. in
which he said 1t would be impossible
for him to attend the church picnic.
A few days later Brother Tom wrote
in somewhat melancholy tone. He
wasn't feeling quite SO well, he
guessed he missed his mother-aEd his
father. too, and maybe he was home
sick. He wanted to see Brother jim
30 much. But II Brother jim couldn't
come, would he send his photograph.
1t would be some comfort, anyway.
Brother Jim was considerably alarm
ed over this epistle. This precious
young brother mustn't have re-
.apse. That would never do. So he
hastily wrote an encouraging note to
Brother Tom, in which Brother Tom
was advised to cheer up and be man
and with the note he forwarded his
photograph.
The answer came back promptly, and
It was again to the point.
Il shode your picthoor to Miss Laura
and she liked It She made me mad
tho when she said you was better
looking than me. N. b. l told her 1t
flatered you. Can't you come up Sat-
urday"
Brother Jim scowled again and
laughed again. Really, this scalawag
Of youngster wasn't to be trusted
with anything. Still, If Miss Garman
had any sense of humor she must find
him amusing. Then he looked up sud
denly at Miss Garman's portrait, and
it seemed as II smile was lowering
about the pretty mouth.