Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-17
DAILY SHORT STORY
A MISTAKE ALL AROUND.
fOriginai.1

IOriginsi.1
confess 1 am fond OF matchmaking
what woman is motor, rather. |
was fond OF matchmaking. but Ill new
er try TO bring about another match
since placing myself in the most un-
comfortable position of my life. How
I'm going to get out of il / don't know.
Raymond Booth began TO visit me just
after Bertha Gilbert lost her father
poor thing-and it was a question with
her whether she should go To work or
marry. Raymond being comfortably
OFF, bachelor and constantly bemoan-
ing his lack of interest in the world.
il occurred 10 me that he would be just
the husband for her. l invited them
to dine and after dinner left them TO
themselves for two hours in the libra
ry. 1 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 we'll 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, l suppose she
had Il 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 he 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 a party 10 go out
TO my farm. The country is lovely
when the foliage is changing. and
there's Il melancholy in the autumn TO
make 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 wild
ow thirty-three years old TO have a
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 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 l would
decline Il dozen to make one of such
delightful party. Besides. l knew it
would leave you with an odd number
if ] didn't"
The impudent scamp, But what
could l do? l said. Its very fOrtu
nate" which was true enough as to
the even number though il 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 Il seat
by me in my auto.
Well. when we reached the farm and
had had our luncheon the party scat
tered. some TO the ghen and some to
the orchard and elsewhere, that mis-
cradle Nose taking Bertha no one
knows where / was mad enough to
bite off nail. Every one had gone or
was paired to go. leaving Raymond
Booth standing by me, looking very
much embarrassed.
Mr.. Booth l said. Twill you please
find Miss Gilbert and tell her want to
speak to herr
Certainly" he said then added po-
litely, May l have the pleasure of
your company"
There was nothing for it but should