Connecticut western news., 1909-12-23
II WORKED WELL.
By ANrREw c. EWING.
ICopyright, 1909, by American Press As
 ciafioo I

am bachelor. am forty. am a theorist. These few words are abun- dance of preface to my story.
 l have two friends who offered to put themselves in my hands for an experiment. i'll the line of my matrimo- nial theory. John Auchincloss frankly ayerred that he believed ill marriage. but had always considered it matter of fate. My idea of taking it out of the hands of fate struck him forcibly. Besides, the plan if properly worked by third person afforded the best possible chance to at least avoid any bad matrimonial blunder. Helen Eng lander pretended to make her proposi- ton in spirit of banter, but admitted that to spend week continuously with any man would cause her to hate him, and if she married at all it must be as a plunge into cold bath. Fol lowing these two lines of reasoning, both agreed to marry any person 1 might select, the pair not to meet un- til one minute before the wedding. l had long considered Auchincloss and Miss Englander as eminently fitted for each other and selected them for a matrimonial venture. One stipulation was made by the bride. After the cer- emony she was to have a month be- fore living with her husbH1d. He must leave her immediately after the benediction. This, she said, was nec- essary to permit her to gather her forces for what she considered "the great sacrifice on the altar of family ties and affection"
 There are people who do not impress us at once. but grow on us slowly. The principals ill this case both impressed those who met them on sight. Every one said on meeting John Auchincloss, What splendid man!' And Helen Englander called forth like encomi- ums. Would the strong individuality in both harmonize? This must be left to fate, but it is better to take one chance than a dozen, and in this case there was no chance whatever that either would get an unworthy life partner.
 The wedding was in every respect worthy of the practical couple con- cerned in it. 1t occurred at II in the morning. and the only persons pres ent except the bride and groom were the brides mother and myself. At Il o'clock John and l stepped up to the Englander front door, rang the bell and were ushered into the drawing room, where Mrs and Miss Englander were awaiting us. Of course 1 watch ed anxiously for the first look that should come over the face of each at beholding the other. Johns counte- nance was perfectly serene. If there was disappointment in it I failed to discover it. Helen's lit up with a quick pleasure, and she drew a long breath as if she had been freed from a great dread. But for these scarcely to be detected features one might have supposed the two had met for the pur- pose of transferring q piece of prop erty.
 As we entered drew out my watch : and noted the time, then went across the hall, where a clergyman was in waiting, brought him ill, and the cere- mony began exactly forty-eight sec onds after the principals had met. John answered the responses as me medically as if he were making an affidavit before a notary, but Helen bungled everything. 1t was plain that there was no small commotion beneath her rapidly rising and falling bosom. As soon as she had been pronounced a wife she turned to salute her moth CT, her chief object being to hide the turmoil within her. Then, suddenly turning about, she looked her husband full in the face. For the first time in my life l wished such woman would give me such look.
 John had ordered a carriage to call for him at five minutes past II. and the first glance between husband and wife was cut short by the butler an nouncing that it had arrived. John bid adieu to his mother-in-law, then to his wife, TBe latter kept her eyes on the carpet till the last moment, then looked up, with soft reproach in her eyes.
 May I beg a few minutes indul- gence?' said John. T assumed that our contract made it obligatory on me to depart at once.''
 q don't remember that the exact time was stated,' said the bride, with a blush
 This was a positive untruth. She had used the word immediately"
 Mrs. Englander asked me if I would .partake of some refreshment, and, ac- companied by the clergyman, we went out to another room, leaving the newly married pair alone together.
 Up to this point I have told that in which I was an important actor. The rest of the story can only tell by in- ference. John had agreed to lunch with me at 1 o'clock. He did not ap- pear at the appointed time, nor did I see or hear anything of him during the afternoon. In the evening l went to his rooms, but he had not been there. A messenger had called with a written permit to enter the rooms and remove any articles he chose. A trunk was necessary to take what he select ed. did not see John for thirty days after leaving him with his bride. Then he walked into my office one morning.
 Where have you beenY' I asked,