Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-01-16
Fate and Mrs.
Bayard.
BY LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted. 1893. by Associated
Literary Press.


"You may come In" called Ethel.
eying approvingly the tall, well pro-
portloned figure In the doorway. I'm
hiding" she explained as Chisholm
came forward. "Tm hiding from a
man"
"Remarkablew was Chisholm's quiet
comment as he dropped into chair
opposite the settee on which Miss
Sprague sat. II have come here to
hide from woman-a woman l never
met"
Ethel clapped her hands. Wouldn't
II be funny II 1t happened that you
were running away from me and
were running away from you and we
both should be hiding here together
from each other?"
more than likely we are the vic
Tins OF Mrs. Bayard's well intentioned
efforts" asserted Chisholm. 1T 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. I'VE could find out IL
we really are the only two victims Of
Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking craze"
"And rob the situation OF its piquan-
CYL objected Chisholm. mo, Miss
Aliss-er-MIiss Dimples. think we
will enjoy chat far more, because we
are not absolutely certain that pres
emily we will emerge from our retreat
only to be pounced upon by the ener-
getic Mrs. Bayard, thereupon to be in
troduced to each other while the world
Our little world-l0oks on and smiles
its commiseration."
Mrs. Bayard means WELL" declared
Ethel, but It Is dreadful the way she
goes around introducing people with "a
look that says, Now have introduced
you young people 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 l should meet my fate"
''And she wrote me-" explained
Ethel. 1T seems that she has three
10 nf x.t. hasa
soon as l came l made straight for
this Irritation nook. Mrs. Bayard be-
lieves In Irritation booths to further
her amiable ends, and II seemed n
clever bit Of satire to take refuge In
one of her matrimonial traps"
II 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 l am
trying to defer her Introduction until
the last moment.
This is the first time that l ever
have been warned that must marry,
whether or no, and-well, / don't sup
pose that II would sound right to say
that ! am bashful. but ! don't seem
to 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 II let alonew comment
ed Chisholm. with laugh. "Now. !
can imagine that In happier circum-
stances / might
what" demanded Ethel as CHS
holm paused.
II was going to say" he concluded,
that left to myself / might perhaps
have carried out Mrs. Bayard's wishes
through natural impulse and not
through sense Of duty"
Ethel colored softly at the remark,
for the meaning was not to be mis-
taken. Moreover. she suddenly re-
GREETED the matchmaking propensities
OF her hostess. which had resulted In
prcjudicing the mind OF this new
found acquaintance against her.
81 remember when was a young
ster In short trousers" reminisced
Chisholm. that one day my father
mixed 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 ! took chances on n thrash
Ing to prove that could do It,"
I'VE always want TO do the forbid
den things" assented Ethel. ~ sup
pose we inherit the trait from our first
parents"