Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-23
Fate and Mrs.
 Bayard.
 By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
 Literary Press

man"
 Remarkable" was Chisholm's quiet comment as he dropped into chair opposite the Settee on which Miss Sprague sat ''l have come here to hide from wom8n--a woman l never met"
 Ethel clapped her hands. Wouldn't IL he funny if it happened that you were running away from mo and were running away from you and we both should be hiding here together from each other:"
 More than likely we are the vic. tims of Mrs Bayard's well intentioned efforts" asserted Chisholm. Tt is odd that after lodging Mrs. Bayard we should find ourselves in the same re- treat with the common aim of avoid { ing each other"
 If you should tell me your name" suggested Ethel. we could find out If we really are the only two victims of Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking craze"
 And rob the situation of its piquan- cy,' objected Chisholm. No, Miss Miss-er-Miss Dimples. l think we will enjoy a chat far more, because we are not absolutely certain that pres ently we will emerge from our retreat only to be bounced upon by the ener- gctic Mrs Rayard, thereupon to be in- troduced to each other while the world our little world-looks on and smiles its commiseration."
 Mrs. Baynrd means we'll" declared Ethel, but it is dreadful the way she goes around introducing people with a look that says, Now have introduced you young people l shall expect you to be married immediately, because you are perfectly suited to each other Every one finds such amusement in Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking that her victims are marked persons, so they come to hate each other"
 "If she were content with mere hints 1t would not be so bad continued Chisholm comfortably, but she had me over here this morning to tell me that tonight should meet my fate"
 And she wrote me-" explained Ethel. Tt seems that she has three sets of victims here tonight, so as soon as I came I made. straight for this Irritation nook. Mrs. Bayard be lieves in filtration booths to further her amiable ends. and it seemed a clever bit of satire to take refuge in one of her matrimonial traps"
 Il felt much the same way assent cd Chisholm. "Of course some time in the course of the evening l shall have to undergo the ordeal, but 1 am trying to defer her introduction until the last moment
 This is the first time that I ever have been warned that I must marry, whether or no. and-well, I don't SUD- pose that it would sound right to say that I am bashful, but l don't seem 10 fancy the idea"
 (Which is ungrateful when Mrs. Bayard goes to such trouble on our account" reminded Ethel She gives three or four balls year just to bring people together as she expresses it'
 Just as though the people would not find each other if let alone"' comment ed Chisholm, with laugh Now, l can imagine that In happier circum- stances l night
 "What?' demanded Ethel as Chis- holm paused.
 Il was going to say" he concluded, that left to myself I might perhaps have carried out Mrs. Bayard's wishes through natural impulse and not through a sense of duty
 Ethel colored softly at the remark, for the meaning was not to be mis- taken. Moreover, she suddenly re- gretted the matchmaking propensities of her hostess, which had resulted in prejudicing the mind of this new found acquaintance against her
 ''I remember when I was a young Chisholm, that one day my father mixed a pail of whitewash, placed a brush beside it and gave me strict or ders not to whitewash the chicken Coops because l did not have the requisite skill Then he went down. town. and I took chances on thrash ing 10 prove that I could do it''
 We always want to do the forbid den things" assented Ethel. "I SUD- pose we inherit the trait from our first parents"
 Its human nature agreed Chis- holm. -Now. If Mrs. Bayard had said. Above all things, keep away from Miss s-er-Dimples,' ] should have hunted up the introduction the very first thing instead of running off to hide"
 And then you make my acquaint- ance the very first thing, just the same"
 But we are not certain. you know" pleaded Chisholm eagerly. You said yourself that there were four other victims"
 But of course vc are one of the pairs" insisted Ethel
 Perhaps not of the same pair. It may be that through some happy chance fate has been permitted to take a hand and do things right"
 "If you would tell me who you are" suggested Ethel. we could settle the matter"
 And spoil 1t all." reminded Chis- holm.
 "Then I shall tell you my name," de- rIarpd Ethel firmly .TI ann