The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-04
TIE EVENING S7ORY
Fate and Mrs. Barard
by Lulu Johnson.1


ing" she explained as Chisholm came
forward Pm hiding from a man."
Remarkabie! was Chisholm's Quiet
comment as he dropped into a chair or
posite the settee on which Miss Sprague
sat. Il have come here to hide from a
Woman-a woman never met"
Ethel clapped her hands. wouldn't
it be funny if it happened that you were
running away from me and I was run
ming away from you, and we both
should be. hiding here together-from
each other?''
More than likely we are the victims
OF Mrs. Bayard's welI-intentioned ef-
forts,' assented Chisholm. ct is odd
that after lodging Mrs Bayard we
should find ourselves in the same re-
treat with the common aim of avoiding
each other"
IF you should tell me your name"
suggested Ethel, I'VE could find out if
We really are the only two victims of
Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking craze"
And rob the situation of It's piquan-
cyl" objected Chisholm. mo. Miss
Mlss-er-Miss Dimples- I think we Will
enjoy a chat far more because we are
not absolutely certain that presently we
Will emerge from our retreat only to
be bounced upon by the energetic Mrs.
Bayard, thereupon to, be introduced to
each other while the world-our little
world-looks on and smiles its COM
miseration."
Mrs. Bayard means WE'LL declared
GbuSls OuL II Is Qr6dQIul the way she
goes around Introducing people with
look that says: Now have introduced
you young people shall expect you to
be married Immediately, because you
are perfectly suited to each other Ev-
cry one finds such amusement in Mrs.
Bayard's matchmaking that her VIC
TINS are marked persons, so they come
to hate each other
If she were content with. mere hints
It would not be so bad" continued CHS
holm comfortably, ''but she had me over
here this morning to tell me that to-
night should meet my fate"
And she wrote me-" explained Ethel
1T seems that she has three sets of vic
Tins here tonight, 50 as soon as I came,
I made straight for this Irritation nook.
Mrs Bayard believes in Irritation booths
to further her aniabIe- ends, and 1t
seemed a clever bit of satire to take
refuge in one of her matrimonial
traps
Il felt much the same way" assented
Chisholm. "Of course, some time in the
course Of the evening 1 shall have to
undergo the ordeal, but am trying to
defer her introduction until the last
moment. -.
This is the first time that 1 ever
have been warned that 1 must marry
whether or no-and well, don't sup
pose that it would sound right to say
that am bashful-but don't seem to
fancy the idea"
(which is ungrateful when Mrs. Bay
ard goes to such trouble on our &C !
reminded Ethel. ''She gives I
three or four balls a year just to bring |
people together as she expresses it,"
Just though the people would not |
find each other if let alonei" comment |
ed Chisholm with a laugh. Now can
imagine that in happier circumstances
.sWhat?'' demanded Ethel, as CHS
holm paused. /
II was going to say" he concluded.
that left to myself 1 might. perhaps,
have carried out Mrs. Bayard's wishes
through natural impulse, and not
through assense of duty 4
Ethel colored softly at the remark,
sor the meaning was not to be mis-
aiken: moreover, she suddenly regret
ed the matchmaking propensitfes OF
Ter hostess. which had resulted in pre-
Iudicing the mind of this new-found1
acquaintance against her.
81 remember when was youngster
n short trousers reminisced CHS
lolm that one day my father mixed
pail of whitewash, placed brush be-
;ide it and gave me strict orders not IT,
the chicken coops, because
iidn't have the requisite skill. Then he
vent downtown and took chances on
| thrashing to prove that 1 could do IT,
1--WE always want to do the forbid
len things assented Ethel. Il sup
rose we inherit the trait from our first
PARENTS"
lolm. Now, if Mrs. Bayard had
aid above all things keep away from
ss-er-Dimples, L should have
lunted up the introduction the very
Irst thing instead of running off to
Iide.''
land then you make my acquain-
ance the very first thing, just the
anne"
but we are not certain, you know"
loaded Chisholm eagerly. You said
41ak
ictims."
'fBut of course we are one of the
airs insisted Ethel.
perhaps not of the same pair. 1t
nay be that through some happy
nance Fate has been permitted to
AXE a hand and do things right
eff you would tell me who you are"
1ggested Ethel, Eve could settle the {
latter" t
"And spoil it ALL reminded CHS
ohm. r
"Then I shall tell you my name" :
eclared Ethel firmly. I am
'sYou are Miss Dimp1es-for just
little while,' pleaded the man. All =
20 soon the awakening will come. Let
3 enjoy these few minutes without :
le thought that fate and Mrs. Bay
rd are contriving to make US hateful !,
each other"
80 I am hateful" suggested '
Don't CO. pleaded Chisholm. 'I 1
dn't mean it that way. You are notsI
atefu1. You are a most adorable and
FARMING young women. 1t is only b
an inevitable thing that you could
hateful, but" h
Irritating" suggested Ethel, re
inning her seat. "I suppose that
hen we are introduced 1 shall feel
e same way about you"
s'Then you do not feel that way
1w?" he pressed. n
sfYou are not hateful-yet." she
ct think that should like h
VI if 1 were not certain that Mrs.
award is looking everywhere for US n
give the detested introduction.
ssI,hen don't let us be introduced" ..