The Democratic advocate., 1905-09-09
is there anyone with you p she asked,

'Then won you sit with me- asked
the lady. 1--WE can keep each other com
pany.
Beatrix could not refuse. 1t would
have been rude and it would have suggest
ed that she was awaiting some one She
lifted her suit case across the aisle, and
took the profered seat The car was al
ready filling
II M a peculiar old woman, said the
lady, with pleasant smile. | hate to be
silent 1t bores me- I'd rather talk and
bore some one else. \ woman of my age
has a right to bore people
Beatrix smiled There was nothing of
the bore in Mrs Burton appearance,
She WAS brusque, perhaps, but her brusque-
ness was the tang of full vitality. and she
was quite social lion in her own set If
she had fault, it was that she liked to
arrange things for the best for all concern
ed, and in inviting Beatrix to share her
seat she had quite as much interest in
making the trip pleasant for her compan-
ion as for herself
Il love girls, she said, aud she did
She was relentless match maker, but that
was only another manifestation of her de-
sire to do the best for everyone. She
prided herself that her matches had all
turned out we'll II love them 80 much
that | can bear to keep them to myself
You wouldn't believe how many | have
loved and lost she said They all
marry SO when | see a new one. like
you, fresh and young and unmarried, |
annex her.
Beatrix was thankful her wedding ring
was hidden BY her glove
As the train began to move. Beatrix
glanced out Of the car window She was
little nervous Bob need not have waited
quite - long
Il Ike America .siI Mn Barton
II ve just re,arned from Europ. aud
like America ike our car and cur p,-,,-
pie There are no girls Ike American
girls was one once. Ages ago.
Beatrix vas wild t., turn her head and
see II Robert vas in the ear. aud vet she
did nos dare She answered quite At ran
dom.
Is it p,,sSible p she said. ,wee,ly,
What exclaimed Mn Burton. hat
if her feeling, had bceu touched she forgo,
in Instantly.
Well she exclaimed If there
isn that dear. swee, boy. Bob Traver-'
Bob held ca, his hand He ~as grin.
ming in the bruAies, siyle
Mn Burton he cTici li de,
the good to $50 you
She turned to BcAtrix.
Bob she sid let me - Bas
Bob had already leaned forward 10 take
Ree hand
Reairix he eNelaiuaed. joyfally
'You On this train Who wnald have
,haughs | should meet ,au and Mrs Bur.
ton both here This i Inck What
Lack r said Bee '.I,s cuinei
denoc. at leas, How hong l. it since |
aw yoa
Bob leane,l against the arm of the seat.
s'I.st me .te. he said Five. tx
''Oh, surely no, - loas A. that. said
BratriH. and they both laughed
Well said Mr. Barton, As long
as | can't introduce you two, you might
us. Bob
Bob. glsncing down. saw the telltale
Initials painted upon his wife, sui, ease
Certainly, be said Mr. Burton.
Beatrix Trayers Both jolly good friends
# mine
Cousins o. asked Mrs Burton, suspi-
-iously. As onnscisuiiou, match maker,
,he delested 6rst cousins,
No. said Bob, bravely, not quite
that. I don't believe, Bee, that your
father Is related To mine at all. Is heg
NO, said Beatri1, honestly. no
blood relationship Travers i rather
common name, isn't nI Tn Chics-
soan
Nlrs. Burton beAmed upon her She
oeamei upon Rob The interest tha,
Bob took in Beatrix was evident, and Mrs
Burton felt tha, only few deft touches
& her careful hand were necessary to bring
hese two delightful people together for
ife. She opened her purse and took from
4 her ticket As her head ben. over the
purse, Bob caught Beatrix eve and
Finked There was good sport ahead
Dutwitting even the kindest Of match
makers IS legitimate sport.
Mrs. Burton exhibited her ticket with
.vident intentions, and Bealrix aided her
Whyr she exclaimed, in mock sur
rise, II am going there, too Isn't it
oyely ?
Where is that? p asked Bob.
Mrs. Burton handed him her ticket.
Me too be laughed.
Really Beatrix asked How nice,
sha' nj be quite alone now, shall II
Mrs. Burton looked at her in surprise
'.Alonel'" she said. But Of course
/ Is all right Young America does such
hings, doesn' it? Now, in my day
She waved her hand to suggest that it was
IL very different Where are you to
top? she asked
Bob interposed quickly, and named the
lOtel they had decided upon.
Beatix, it seemed, was going to the
anne hotel Mrs. Burton shook her head.
''You couldn't do better, she said.
4 have often stopped there; but | have
cottage, and wish you would both stop
gith me. Oceans of room, you know.
The fire Of the match maker cleaned in
Ter eye.
Couldn't possibly, said Bob, de-
.idedly "Awfully thankful, aud so on,
,ut can't Really, | have imperative
easons for stopping at the hotel. I'm
,oing to meet some one there. In fact,
le added we have taken room together,
MD
II sha int urge, said Mrs. Burton.
But you, she said, turning to Beatrix
-'you can't have that excuse. You
aid you were going to be alone
Beatrix looked dismayed
''Did p she gasped She glanced at
Bob for help. He nodded his head.
"Oh, yes" she laughed uneasily.
of course | did forget what | say
ometimes I'm such a talker that ! cant t
all | say | mean, she said,
weakly, 81 say things can remember
She laughed nervously
Mrs Burton looked at her severely.
You need ehaperon, she said, de