The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-30
Fate and Mrs.
Bayard.
~ lulu JOHNSON.

hiding she explained as Chisholm
came forward, "Im hiding from
man"
eRemarkahlew was Chlsholm's quiet
comment rs he dropped into . chair
opposite the settee on which Miss
Sprague sat. Il have come here g
hide from a w0man-a woman never
met"
Ethel elapped her hands, wouldn't
II be funny n Il happened chat Sou
were running away from me aud
were running away from yoa Sat We
both should be hlding here together
from each othcrr
"Morc than likely we are the ylc,
tins Of Mrs. Rayards wen mentioned
elforts.n asserted Chisholm, Ut IL odd
that after dodglng Mrs. Rayard We
should ind ourselves In the same re- /
treat with the common aim Of avoid
Ing each other"
sIl you should tell inc ycur narne"
suggested Ethel, Eve could hnd out 4
We really are the only two victims 81
Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking craze
aAnd rob the situation Of i,s piuuan'
cyy' objected Chisholm. no. Miss
Miss -er- AIsss nimples, | think we
win enjoy chat far more, because we
are not absolutely certain that pres
entity we win emerge from cur retreat
only to be pounced upon by the ener-
getic Mrs. Bayard. thereupon to be In
troduced 20 each other while the world
-our little world looks on and smlles
It's commiseratlOn." aea
"Mrs. Bayard means we'll" declared
Ethel, ''but II Is dreadful the way shc
goes around introducing people with Q
\ look that says. Now have introduced
| you young people shall expect You 70
| be married immediately, because you
are perfectly suited to each other.
Every one flnds such amusement In
\ Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking that her
victims are marked persons, 50 they
come to hate each other.'
"If she were content with mere hints
Il would not be so bnd.H continued
Chisholm comfortably, .'hut she had
me over here this morning to tell me
that tonight should meet my fate"
"And she wrote me-" explained
Ethel. ~It seems that she has three
sets Of victims here tonight 20 as
soon as I came | made straight for
this firtatlon nook. Mrs. Bayard be-
lleves in tlirtatlon booths 10 further
her amiable ends, and Il seemed Q
clever Bit Of satire to take refuge In
one OF her matrimonial traps"
II felt much the same way" assent
"a Chisholm. "Of course some time
In the course Of the evening ! shall
have to undergo the ordeal. but am
trying to defer her introduction until
the last moment.
'aThis Is the first time that ! ever
have been warned that ! must marry
whether OF no, and-wen, j don't sup
pose that il would sound right to say
that am bashful, but ! don't seen
to fancy the idea"
! (which Is ungrateful when Mrs
|. Bayard goes TO such trouble on ou
|, account" reminded Ethel "she give
J. three or four balls year just to 'brini
people together as she expresses Il.
"Just as though the people would no
= ind each other II let aloneF' comment
ed Chisholm, with a laugh Now,
/ can imagine that In happier circum
stances | might
"WhatT demanded Ethel as Chii
holm paused
n 81 was going to say" be concluded
''that left to myself ] might perhap
% have carried out Mrs Bayard's wIshe
!, through natural impulse and ne
. through a sense Of duty"
Ethel colored softly at the remarl
for the meaning was not to be mi
y taken. Moreover, she suddenly r.
d GREETED the matchmaking propensiht
II Of her hostess, which had resulted
: prejudlcing the mind Of this me-
10 found acquaintance against her.
II remember when | was a younI
:" ster in short trousers" Feminisce
Chisholm, that one day my fath'
le mixed a pail Of whitewash, placed
IN brush beside II and gave me strict o
re ders not to whltewash the chlcke
coops because | did not have 4
Il requisite skill. Then he went dow
town, and took chances on a thras
= ing to prove that could do It,"
e 'We always want to do the forbi
X den things" assented Ethel II 81
h. pose we inherit the trait from our FIR
- parents"
"It's human nature" agreed Chi
Il holm. snow, If Mrs. Bayard had sal
Above all things, keep away fro
. Miss--er-D -Dimples.' should ha'
IS hunted up the introduction the vel
ne first thing instead Of running of
d, hide"
a "And then you make my acquair
w. ance the very first thing, Just d
same"
" "But we are not certain, you know
ds pleaded Chisholm eagerly. "You so
Of yourself that there were four 9th
.a victims"
o. "But of course we are one Of I
m pairs" insisted Ethel
"Perhaps not of the same pair.
may be that through some hap
=, chance fate has been permitted
y" take hand and do things right"
- III you would tell me who you ar
suggested Ethel, 1--WE could settle I
matter"