The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-11-17
~ MISTAKE
Al from d
[Original.1

i confess L am TOnd or matchmaking
what woman is not?-or, rather, [
was fond of matchmaking, but I'll new
er try to bring about another match
since placing myself in the most III
comfortable position Of my life + How
I'm going to get out Of it don't know.
| Raymond Booth began to visit me just
after Bertha Gilbert lost her father
poor thing it was question with
her whether she should go to work or
marry Raymond being comfortably
off, bachelor and constantly bem0an-
| inc his lack of interest in the world,
! 1t occurred to me that he would be just
! the husband for her. | invited them
! to dine and after dinner left them to
themselves for two hours in the libra
ry. l don't think they were much
pleased with each other at this first
meeting, for when l joined them Ber
tina looked embarrassed and Raymond
was gaping | can understand about
Bertha, for l know very well if she
had her choice she'd marry that young
artist, Stanley Vose. But as he hasn't
a cent in the world he's not available.
AS to Raymond-well | suppose she
had hard time trying to appear inter-
ested in him when she was thinking Of
! Vose. Girls are so impractical.
But after that they seemed to get
on better, and l felt quite encouraged.
I thought it would be nice for Ray
mond to propose somewhere in the
country, which is very conducive to
matches among city people, don't
know why unless there's more oppor-
tunity-so l got up party to go out
to my farm. The country is lovely
when the foliage is changing, and
there's a melancholy in the autumn to
make a man feel lonely. Besides Ray
mond and Bertha, | invited two other
young couples, making an odd number,
it's true but l was hostess and chap
eron, and no one would expect a wild
ow thirty-three years old to have
cavalier. But what do you think? The
number was made even by the most
singular piece of assurance you ever
heard Of OF course | didn't invite the
artist, but when the automobiles were
drawn up, waiting for us to start, who
should appear but Stanley Vose him
/ self
Mrs. Brewer" he said, bowling so
low that he nearly tumbled over, I've
been obliged to cut two engagements
to accept your invitation, but | would
decline a dozen to make one of such a
delightful party Besides, l knew it
would leave you with an odd number
if didn't
The impudent scamp! But what
could 1 do? / said, Its very fortu-
nate" which was true enough as to
the even number, though it was disap
pointing in every other respect. Then,
when we got into the autos, there was
another mishap. When there was but
one seat in the carriage Bertha had
entered, Vose jumped in, leaving Ray
mond no alternative but to take seat
by me in my auto.
Well, when we reached the farm and
had had our luncheon the party scat
tered, some to the glen and some to
the orchard and elsewhere, that mis-
cradle Vose taking Bertha no one
knows where. l was mad enough to
bite off a nail Every one had gone or
was paired to go, leaving Raymond
Booth standing by me, looking very
much embarrassed.
"Mr. Booth" l said, will you please
find Miss Gilbert and tell her | want to
! speak to her,"
Certainly" he said, then added po-
litely, May l have the pleasure Of
your companyW
There was nothing for it but l should
go with him. Of course he couldn't go
alone, you know, so we started. Now,
I was quite sure l had seen the couple
go toward the pasture, but Raymond
said he knew they had gone in the op-
posite direction so we went, as he sug-
gested. We walked and walked and
walked till we came to the brook, and
Raymond asked if | wouldn't sit down
On the rustic seat | had provided espe
cially as a proposing seat for my
friends
what beautiful spot.' he remark
ed.
Yes" l replied. cit is the very spot
I hoped you would come to today"
ut seems to have been purposely ar
ranged for lovers
cit was"
ct is the spot you spoke Of yester-
day, think, and told me how to find"
eyes, l told you about it on purpose"
"And / came here with a purpose. I
brought you here to learn my fate.
Here l am to know if l shall be made
happy Or miserable for life. If you
love me and will be my wife, shall be
happy; if not, / shall be miserable"
You could, have knocked me down
with a feather.
What did do? Jumped up and ran
as fast as | could to the farmhouse.
You may be sure there were two pe0-
pie on the trip home who looked like
acknowledgement and myself.
What am l to do? l am in a dreadful
position toward Bertha and in a hor-
rible position toward Raymond.
! Bertha has lust been here and saws