The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-06
THE EVENING STORY
The Matchmakers.
(By Constance Darcy Macka

tdDle looked up Win soup SpooAS
suspended. The dingy background or
the dining room wall heightened |
rather than diminished Helena's
beauty. Against it's dull tan and
| brown pattern her supple young fig |
ure stool like a brilliant bas-relief.
So Prof. Macklyn thought as he |
looked at her quizzically from be- |
hind his steel-rimmed eyeglasses. She
was youth personified, and youth was
at a premium at Mrs. Pennington 8, |
where elderly bachelors and maiden |
ladies and middle-aged married cou-
Piles supped nightly on the vfands /
Mrs. Pennington sparingly set forth. |
| Helena Brent was different from
| all these, and Prof. Macklyn's own
middle-aged heart was going out to |
her in furtive sympathy when he
caught the stealthy glance that little
Miss Eustis sent to the other end OF |
| the table, where sat Ramsay Sturgis, |
the only young man in the house, |
pleasant, frank-eyed, broad-shoulder-I
ed fellow for whom Prof Macklyn |
| had always felt an instructive liking. |
The professors glance followed
Miss Eustis's and rested there. while
Ramsay Sturgis imperturbably went
on with his dinner, unaware OF any
| hoverings of romance; for, as the
professor looked quickly away again
his eyes for second time encounter
ed those of Miss Eustis. and In their
depths he saw the light of born
matchmaker before her lids droop-
ed and hid the tiny spark.
She had a tender heart. this little
Miss Eustis, in spite of her prim.
spinsterial ways, and when the pro-
fessor let himself into the chilly
boarding house hall few evenings
later he found her there on guard.
From the parlor came sounds of
clear soprano voice, and presently
another voice. undentably masculine,
joined in. Miss Brent and Mr.. Stur-
gis were singing college glee! Miss
Eustis held up warning finger.
| Don't disturb them,'' she begged.
TITS SO difficult to become really ac-
quainted in a house like this, and
they're getting On famously. She told
me last night that they had discover
ed quite number Of mutual friends.
They're both from the west. you
know. and strangers in New York
The professor disavowed any in
tention Of entering the parlor, and
| leaning back against the wall. with
his books balanced on one arm, lis
tened contentedly to the music.
Miss Eustis listened too. Into the
daily routine of her life had come
| something bright and vital, and her
faded face glowed under the new i'm
petus.
The professor, likewise, felt a sud-
den quickening impulse. There was
a certain relish and novelty in play
ing the role of matchmaker. 1t oc-
CURED to him that he had kept too
| steadily to his books, and now a new
voice within him that he had long
believed silent, cried out for life and
companionship. He turned to Miss
Eustis.
what do you think they'd say to
a little theater party-and oysters?"
he demanded. whisperingly.
| Miss Eustis's eyes widened. She
caught her breath.
"Why. professor!" she gasped. ct
didn't suppose that you"
| KNEW what the taste of a good
time was? Well, did once. But I've
| been a bookworn these many long
years. and it's time I learned the flaw
or of festiv1ty again"
| 1t was a flavor for which Helena
Brent and Ramsay Sturgis were both
equally keen, and SO a radiant party
| Of four clambered down the slippery,
sand-strewn steps of Mrs. Pennng-
toms boarding house into the crisp,
wintry, starlit night
Through the hardening process of
| uneventful years Miss Eustts had
reached dreary apathy concerning
| clothes; but as it dawned on her that
the theater party was only the first
| of a long series of occasions when she
would be forced to play the chaperon,
! her wardrobe began to receive parti-
cular and minute attention.
Her hair was loosened from its Sc
we're little knob at the back of her
temples as it had not done since she
was a girl. A stiff, uncompromising
walking hat was replaced by
toque mysteriously composed of
violets and tul1e.
Nor was the professor to be left be-
hind in this sudden orgy of fashion.
His rusty overcoat gave way to a
| handsomely tailored garment of
black; his loose. uncertain co1ored
neckties were removed and succeeded
by the crispest, most up-to-date
adornments the haberdasher's win
| dow displayed.
1--WE owe 1t to our young people," he
| declared, as he and Miss Eustis strolled
| through the park one February after
noon. A little way ahead Of them walk
ed Helena Brent and Ramsay Sturgis.
Every now and then He1ena's laugh
ter drifted back to them. mingling with
| Ramsay's happy tones. The young
mans salary had been doubled within
| the month and Helena had begun to
| embroider initials on certain filmy
muslin with furious zeal
| The professor looked Questionfng1y at
Miss Eustis. What do you Think" he
| querfed.
IT don't think! I known she answer
| ed. and then added. in evident trepida-
ton. But perhaps I oughtn't to have
told you. fancy the dear young things
| want to keep their secret a little while
longer and Helena hasn't spoken to me
about it. But last night couldn't help
seeing 1t-there was diamond ring on
| her bureau in a little white satin case"
| The professor beamed
| "And of course they'll go to house
| keeping. Ramsey has always said that
if he were married he'd have an apart
| ment."
| There will be furniture to see to and
| china and kitchenware, but the dear
| children are so engrossed with their
| love affair that they haven't time for
| anything practical"
I'VE might look up the things before
hand, and then when the young people
1 are ready, give them the benefit of our
superior wisdom" the professor sug-