Connecticut western news., 1909-05-13
1he Matchmaking of Bobby. By LULU JOHNSON.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated |
 Literary Press.

With q smile of glorious anticipation
 Illuminating his chubby face, Bobby
 trotted up the street as fast as pair
 of very fat and very little legs would
 carry him. He was going tu see Dick
 Brant. Next to visiting Alive May ! ling this was his greatest treat,
 Richard Brant could not make amaz- ! ing cookies and preserves like Miss ] Mayling. but he could tell stories of
 Indians and grizzlies and other crea-
 lures dear to the small boys heart. 1 Miss Mayling'S stories carried morals
 and were about little boys who were so very good that Bobby found them
 extraordinarily uninteresting. Had it not been that the Mayling cakes were as good as her young heroes Bobby 1 would not have been a frequent caller on Alice Mayling.
 This afternoon as he was warming his dimplcd hands before the open fire l he regarded with secret awe the deft 1 fashion ill which Brant rolled himself a cigarette with one hand. Brant had l been a plainsman until he had run 1 across mine while he was looking ! ! rope and talk real Indian talk.
 'I looked for you yesterday" said 1 Dick Brant gravely as he sank into a l chair on the opposite side of the fire place.
 l II was seeing Miss Mayling." ex- plained Bobby. She makes cake on Thursdays"
 l And you deserted me because Miss ] Mayling was making cake"' cried Die; solemnly. In reality. though he used i mock pathOs. he was a little jealous of Miss Mayling's popularity with his lit l tie chum. Somehow Bobby seemed to Brant the most sincere friend he had | made in the big eastern city.
 Cake is nice just out of the oven," explained Bobby. She always bakes q little cake for me. and of course l have to go and eat it. 1 'I suppose so," assented Dick, hut was very lonesome yesterday" I'm sorry" said Bobby, with prompt penitence and a troubled face. "Wouldn't it be nice,'' he added, If could go to see you and Miss Mayling at the same time? You could tell me ! stories and she could bake cake" i He stared into the fire lost in rap 1 ture at the thought of this most valua- l ble combination. Dick looked scared and blushed. He was little used to feminine society. and a suggestion like that. even from Bobby, startled him. Besides, he had been secretly studying Miss Mayling from afar.
 '''ThpD' VOu yvOuldO't ba lOnaSCDra oy-- mOre," resumed Bobby, the vast at fractions of his good idea growing or him, not even if I didn't come and see you, cause then you and she would have each other. But of course would come to see you" he added quickly. Tt would be awful nice.' Il guess it would" assented Dick little absently.
 Then why don't you?' demanded Bobby, with engaging directness. 'To begin with, I don't know her" explained Dick. You see, a man has to know lady before he can call on her, and I've never met Miss May l ling
 When Bobby finally trotted away he was thinking deeply. It was absurd that his best man should not know Miss Mayling.
 At the next baking day at Miss May lingS the thought was revived, and with a denial that meant immense de termination to him he obtained per mission to take his small spice cake home. AS soon as he was out of her sight he carried it to Brant. his fa1 legs speeding wonderfully.
 'Ain't it tine? he demanded eagerly when he had watched Era2t devou- the last spicy morsel, not without envy that almost assumed a poignant de- gree.
 Simply great" admitted Brant, with unfOrced enthusiasm. "I tell you, Bob by, the woman who made that cake is a wonder of a cook"
 Bobby beamed his professional satis- faction. II thought you'd like It." he said confidently. She makes nicer cakes than that sometimes. I'll bring you another when she makes fruit cake"
 Don't do it." advised Brant smii- ingly. If the fruit cake is as good as l this I'm liable to abduct her and force ! hNA hN DtthS Ndh6 lOT He TOT Ine rest or 1 her life"
 What's abduct?' demanded Bobby. | When the word had been explained to 1 him he wrinkled his pudGy brows. But if another deep idea had come to him. as that contortiOn would seem to de- note, it remained a secret in his f:.c breast Give us an Indian story" he | demanded.
 All right. son." said Dick as he stretched himself out in his easy chair and prepared to entertain his small guest with the story of how Chief ] Spotted Panther carried off his Indian bride from the camp of hostile tribe.
 He was unusually graphic in his story telling for as he went on he be- gan to imagine that he was Spotted Panther and Miss Mayling was the
 Indian maid. Thus sadly had the un-
 principled suggestions of the scheming Bobby contaminated Dick Brant's good