The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-02
n MiSfaks
All Hround
[Original.1

was fond Of matchmaking, but I'll new
since placing myself in the most un-
comfortable position of my life. How
I'm going to get out Of it l 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
OF, a bachelor and constantly bemoan.
ing his lack Of interest In the world.
1t occurred to 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
~. 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. I 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
q cent in the world he's not available.
As to kaymond-well, l suppose she
had a hard time trying to appear inter-
ested in him when she was thinking of
Vose. Girls are sc impractical.
But after that they seemed to get
l 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 a 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, l 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 a
cavalier. But what do you think7 The
number was made even by the most
singular piece Of assurance you ever
heard Of. OF course I 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, 1--WE
been obliged to cut two engagements
to accept your invitation, but I would
decline a dozen to make one Of such q
delightful party. Besides, l knew it
would leave you with an odd number
IL I didn't"
The impudent scamp! But what
could 1 do? 1 said, "It's very fortu-
nate" which was true enough as to
the ven number, though itGkas 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 a 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 vas mad enough to
bite off a nail. Every one had gone or
was paired to 60, leaving Raymon
Booth standing by me, looking very
much embarrassed.
"Mr. Booth" l said, twill you please
find Miss Gilbert and tell her I want to
speak to herr"
Certainly" he said, then added pc.
litely, MAY l have the pleasure Of
your company?"
There was nothing for it but I should
20 with him. OF ourse he couldn't &c
alone, you know, so we started. Now,
I was quite sure I had seen the couple
60 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 l wouldn't sit down
on the rustic seat I had provided espe'
cially as a proposing seat for my
friends.
"What a beautiful spot!" he remark
Cd.
eyes," I replied. ut is the very spot
I hoped you would come to today"
ut seems to have been %purposely ar
ranged for lovers"
"It was"
st is the spot you spoke Of yester
day. I think, and told me how to- 6nd.'
Eyes. I told you about it on purpose
And l came here with a purpose.
brought you here to learn my fate
Here I am to know II I shall be made
happy or miserable for life. II 70,
love me and will be my wife. l shall b.
happy; II not, l shall be miserable"
You could have knocked me dow1
with a feather.
What did I do? Jumped up and raj
~ fast as I could to the farmhouse.
You may be sure there were two PEG
pie on the trip home who looked lik'
Observation-Disclosures and myself
What am l to dot am In a dreadful
position toward Bertha and in a hor
rible position toward Raymond.