Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-10-06
MISREPRESENTATION
! THE THURSTONS AS s
! MATCHMAKERS J;
BY I. e. CHITTENDEN
Copyright, 1908, By r. c. Mcclure

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In the hay loft six Thurstons
sprawled at ease and wished some
thing would happen.
Say said Don exeitedly, sitting up,
Il know something. You know Mrs.
Wilson's nephew, Jim Wilson, who
coaches us at footballf''
Eyes"
"Well, l 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 u.s." continued Don, looking around,
with 4 Disguised air.
Amy Smithers," said Ted, with the
air of connoisseur, lis the prettiest
girl in the town. She's brick, too and
the best Sunday school teacher ever
had. l intended to marry her myself.
''Well, you can't" continued Don,
snor Mr.. Wilson either for daddy says
Mrs. Wilson is awful mad about it on
account of Mrs. Smitllers being farm
err and talking bass and having whis-
kers, and Amy's her niece, you see"
'Well, the idear' said Polly indig-
nantly. "Why, Mrs. Smithers is an aw-
full good woman, and you don't think a
bit about her whiskers when you know
her.
"Alrs. Smithers is mad, too, and says
Mrs Wilson is a stuck up thing and
Amys 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 thing
about it, 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 this?'
HAD the toothache the other night
the floor beside. that drum thing that
comes up from the sitting room, and
| daddy was talking so | couldn't help
| but hear" said Don.
s'You ought to have coughed or some
| thing said Molly severely.
Never mind" said Polly; 'I'm glad
/ he didn't; it's so interesting. Let's
| think what to do"
Lets have 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'll have it all dark and Miss Amy
| and Mr.. Jim in the library concealed,
| and we'll spring the lights ON, and no
body'll dare get mad with the bishop
there and they'll all say, Heaven bless
you, my children"
How can we with mother gomez"
asked Polly.
"We'll get Mrs. Flanagan to help,
and we'll have it the evening father
and mother come home"
"Where'll we get the money!" asked
Ted, suddenly developing practical
side
We've got dollar apiece saved for
missions; we can use that and save
some more for missions" suggested
Don.
'.This is a kind of mission. ! think, =
said Polly, trying not to wonder what
her father would think about it.
With the Thurstons TO plan was to
act; so Polly and Molly flew to the
house for paper to write out their
menu. Dummy Dee was to get on his
wheel and go over to the bishops.
The bright spots III the busy, over
worked bishops life were usually sup
piled by the Thurstons.
So as 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 balI-like figure Of
Dummy Dee dismounting in haste
from his wheel.
sOh, bishop, I'm so glad you aren't
gone away" began Dummy Dee after
they had shaken hands. because we
want to fix something with you. Can
you come to kind Of supper or din
ner party at our house next week
Thursday?
That's the evening / get home from
the synod said the bishop Il think
can, thank YOU"
Father and mother are going too. 4
will be a surprise. Be sure not to tel
them about it at the synod, won't you
bishop"
And the bishop, seeming mysterious
delights from afar, promised faithfully
not to divulge the secret nor to forge
his own engagement
So Dummy Dee rode happily away t
where the five were struggling witt
the menu, which seemed never to pro
gress beyond ice cream and fried chick
en-. with candy interludes.
Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Smithers &C
cepted with the same delight the bish
Cd had shown They were entirely sur
that whatever the Thurstons figures
in could be counted on to be wildly es
citing as well as original.
Then Mr.. Wilson and Miss Am
Smithers were sworn TO secrecy an
invited.
4 Mrs. Flanagan was engaged to bel
about the dinner She made up In goo
I nature what she lacked In skill, whic
was considerable.
The day of the feast was a busy on
and proyidentialIy. they considered,
= half holiday from school. Mrs Wilso
sent flowers and after eonsultato
with the open minded Dummy Dee a
7 ranged some matters with her ow
<~ootr ~ SUNNY soyne If Mrs F1aun
gan's deficiencies.
The guests. assembling on the evel
4 ing. we're met By Dummy Dee, who le