The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-08-25
THE THURSTONS AS
MATCHMAKERS
D L. Z. cnIrrENDEN

In the hay loft six Thurstons
sprawled at ease ard wished some
thing would happen.
Say" said Don excitedly, sitting up,
81 know something. You know Mrs.
Wilson's nephew, Jim Wilson, who
coaches US at footballT'
Yes"
swell. 1 heard daddy tell mother that
he's fallen in love with Amy Smithers.
Did you ever hear of such a ,silly-a
great big fellow like him in love? But
he IT," continued Don, looking around,
with disgusted air.
Amy Smithers," said Ted, with the
air Of q connoisseur, ''is the prettiest
girl in the town. She's a brick, too, and
the best Sunday school teacher l ever
had. 7 intended to marry her myself"
"Well, you can't" continued Don,
nor Mr.. Wilson either. for daddy says
Mrs. Wilson Is awful mad about 1t ON
account Of Mrs. Smithers being a farm
er and talking bass and having whis-
kers, and Amy's her niece, you see."
well, the ideav' said Polly indig-
nantly. "Why, Mrs. smithers ia an aw-
ful good woman, and you don't think
bit about her whiskers when you know
her"
Mrs. Smithers is mad, too, and says
Mrs. Wilson is a stuck up thing and
Amy's not allowed to have anything to
do with that nice Mr.. Jim Wilson.
Daddy's about crazy with hearing both
sides and not being able to do q thing
about II, and he says he's glad he and
mother are going to the synod next
week, and he hopes something will
happen while he's gone to fix things up.
So let's u.s."
Five Thurstons with renewed interest
in life sat up.
"How?" they queried simultaneously.
Then Molly, struck with an idea,
said, Don Thurston. how'd you ever
hear all thisY'
Had the toothache the other night
and couldn't sleep; SO 1 laid down on
the floor beside that drum thing that
comes up from the sitting room, and
daddy was talking % couldn't help
but hear" said Don.
"You ought to have coughed or Some
thing" said Molly severely.
"Never mind" said Polly; I'm glad
he didn't; it,s % interesting. Lets
think what to do"
Lets have a dinner party" said
Molly, "and ask the bishop to come
and Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Smithers
and Miss Amy and Mr. Jim, and ask
'em all separate and tell them not to
tell any one. but to come and meet the
bishop. Then when they're all here
we'n have 1t all dark and Miss Amy
e. Ytvv. In. xha rna
and well spring the lights on, and no
body'l dare get mad with the bishop
there. and they'll all say. Heaven bless
you. my children"
How can we with mother goneT
asked Polly.
"we'll get Mrs.. Flanagan to help,
and well have 1t the evening father
and mother come home"
"Where'l we get the money! asked
Ted. suddenly developing q practical
side.
We've got dollar apiece saved for
missions; we can use that and save
some more for missions." suggested
Don.
This is q kind Of mission, think, !"
said Polly, trying not to wonder what
II WOoio lnAIA aDOok A.
With the Thurstons to plan was to
act; 80 Polly and Molly dew to the
house for paper to write out their
menu. Dummy Dee was to get on his
wheel and 60 over to the bishops.
The bright spots In the busy. over
worked bishops life were usually sup
piled by the Thurstons.
So a. he was coming out Of his door
with a pile Of letters In his hand his
heart cheered within him at the sight
Of the somewhat ball-like figure OF
Dummy Dee dismounting In haste
| from his wheel.
"Oh. bishop. I'm 30 glad You aren't
gone away" began Dummy Dee after
they had shaken hands, because we
want to fx something with you. Can
you come to kind Of supper or din
ner party at our house next week
Thursdayr
That's the evening get home from
the synod" said the bishop. Il think
can. thank you"
Father and mother are going too. II
D win be q surprise. Be sure not to tel
them about 1t At the synod. won't you
bishopr
And the bishop, scenting mysterious
delights from afar. promised faithfully
D not to divulge the secret nor to forget
: his own engagement
So Dummy Dee rode happily away te
I where the five were struggling with
8 the menu, which seemed never to pro
;. gress beyond ice cream and fried chick
en-, with candy interludeA
Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Smithers ac
cepted with the same delight the bish
/ op had shown. They were entirely SUR
Q that whatever the Thurstons hguret
+ in could be counted on to be wildly ex
( citing as well as original.
d Then Mr.. Wilson ana Miss Am.
d Smithers were sworn to secrecy and
q invited.
y Mrs. Flanagan was engaged to hell
v about the dinner. She made up in goot
. nature what she lacked in skill. whicl
n was considerable.
8 The day OF the feast was q busy on
l. and providentially. they considered.
h half holiday from school. Mrs. Wilson
y sent flowers and after a consultation
e with the open minded Dummy Dee ar
e ranged some matters with her owl
% cook to supply some Of Mrs. Flame
. gan's deficiencies.
- The guests, assembling on the even
ing. were met by Dummy Dee. who 10,