The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-22
FATE AND MRS. RAyARD.
HY Lula Johnston,

You may come In" called Ethel
cycling approvingly the tall, well-prc
portioned figure in the doorway. I'm
hiding" she explained, as Chisholm
came forward I'm hiding from
man."
REMARKABLE" was Chrisholm's
quiet comment as he dropped into a
chair opposite the settee on which
Miss Sprague sat. II have come here
to hide from woman-a woman
never met
Ethel clapped her hands. Wouldn't
1t be funny If 1t happened that you
were running away from me and !
was 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.lntention.
ed Efforts assented Chisholm "Tt is
odd that after lodging Mrs. Bayard
we should find ourselves in the same
retreat with the common aim Of avoid.
ing each other"
If you should tell me your name"
suggested Ethel, I'VE could find out
if we really are the only two victims
of Mrs. Bayard's matchmaking
craze
And rob the situation of Its pi-
| quancy!' objected Chisholm. g No
/ s-Miss-er-Miss Dimples. l
think we will enjoy chat far more
because we are not absolutely Ger.
tain that presently we will emerge
from our retreat only to be pounced
| upon by the energetic Mrs Bayard
thereupon to be introduced to each
other while the world-our little
world-looks on and smiles it's com.
miseration"
Mrs. Bayard means we'll" declar.
ed Ethel, but it is dreadful the way
she goes around introducing people
with look that says: Now I have
introduced you young people shall
expect you to be married immediate.
ly, because you are perfectly suited
to each other Every one finds such
amusement in Mrs. Bayard's match.
making. 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" con
tinued Chisholm comfortably, "but
she had me over here this mornine
to tell me that tonight l should meet
my fate.'
And she wrote me-" explained Eth
Ell. 1T seems that she has three sets
of victims here tonight, so as soon as
came l made straight for this fir
taticn nook. Mrs. Bayard believes il
filtration booths to further her ami
able ends, and it seemed clever BIZ
OF satire to take refuge in one of hel
matrimonial traps
I felt much the same way" assent
ed Chisholm. "Of course, some tim.
In the course of the evening | shall
r have to undergo the ordeal, but
t am trying to defer her introduction
J until the last moment
, This is the first time that / eve
t have been warned that / must MARI,
, whether Or no-and, we'll, don't sur
pose that it would sound right to sa
that am bashful-but / don't seen
. to fancy the idea
(Which is ungrateful when Mrs
Bayard goes to such trouble on GU
account" reminded Ethel. "She give
teree or four balls year lust I
bring people together as she es
presses it."
n Just as though the people woul
y not find each other if let alone!" con
y mented Chisholm, with a laugh mo,
= l can imagine that in happier circun
4 stances / might"
s 'What?" demanded Ethel, as Chi.
e holm paused
= 81 was going to say" he concluded
"that left to myself | might, perhap
have carried out Mrs. Bayard's wisl
It es through natural impulse, and nc
through sense of duty"
g Ethel colored softly at the remarl
n for the meaning was not to be mi
% taken; moreover, she suddenly r
IS GREETED the matchmaking propensitie
u of her hostess. which had resulted
. prejudicing the mind of this ney
- found acquaintance against her.
. II remember when | was a youn
. stef in short trousers" reminisce
;r Chisholm, that one day my faith,
n. mixed a pail of whitewash, placed
h brush beside it and gave NE strict {
10 ders not to whitewash the chicke
lie coops, because | did not have the r
le quisite skill Then he went downtow
In and took chances On thrashing
prove that could do it,
IN I'VE always want to do the forbi
III den things" assented Ethel ~ su
:. pose we inherit the trait from o.
- first parents"
IT'S human naturer aoraed Chi