The Huttig news., 1911-02-11
ADVISING NATALIE

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 It was not that they had anything definite against Tom The objection was more against what he wasn't than what he was. He just wasn't much of anything. He was twenty-four and had elerkship in an office where by industry he might achieve $150 a ! month in ten years or so and then might stick there for the rest of his life. Not that the measure of man is his income, but it is the measure of his position in the world, and Ma talie was the kind of girl who would be wasted in obscurity
 Natalie was so extraordinarily and commandingly pretty and so generally fascinating that it was irritating to the community at large that she was not to be carried away in a golden chariot, or rather in limousine with the requisite bank account behind it.
 "Of course" said Mrs Fleeker, who had been friend of Natalies mother and who watched rather exasperated- ly her fathers indulgent method Of bringing up his daughter, ''it isn't that one is mercenary-or that I don't believe in falling in love or anything like that-but why under creation Natalie couldn't have picked out some one else to fasten her affections on is a mystery If her mother had lived I'll warrant she'd have broken up the Tom Arnold affair. Men are so stu pid!"
 Natalie and Tom had been chums always. And Tom had always been just an ordinary boy. unnoticeably or dinary looking, and with no flashes of brilliance to compensate for his looks His devotion to Natalie was his chief charm But he did not get excited about it.
 Moreover, he did not appear con scious that it was extraordinary that Natalie seemed completely satisfied with him. He didn't know any reason why she shouldn't like him. They had grown up together, Tom having the run of the house, her father being so used to seeing hi1o about and having him under foot that he had not real ized Tom was no longer boy. Of course, being her father he never would realize that Natalie also had grown up.
 Mrs. Fieeker and other women did what they could to give Natalie a chance, as they called it. They in- yited her to dinner and artfully asked eligible young men at the same time. They called her my dear" and lee tured her on making the best of ones opportunities and the awfulness of matrimonial mistakes.
 With his salary--or lack of 1t, rath- er-Tom could not spend much money in entertaining Natalie. Mrs. Flecker almost wept when she considered Ma talie in the glory of her willow plumed hat and $150 velvet suit going to a mere vaudeville show.
 She's just wasting herself and she'll regret it some day!" prophesied Mrs. Flecker. If she'd only take an interest in some one else But she doesn't seem to be amused by another man on earth! I don't wonder Tom Is crazy about her. but what she can see in him is beyond mel"
 Therefore when one day Natalie con fided to Mrs Flecker that she and Tom were at outs that good woman's heart leaped for gladness.
 Hes far too particular" Natalie said T wouldn't stand it the other was law and"
 'Im glad you have so much spirit" said Mrs. Flecker. while she inwardly thanked her stars that Irving Law renee was coming to dinner that night. Telephone your house that you are going to stay with us this evening for dinner"
 Irving Lawrence was exactly the sort of young man Mrs. Flecker would have picked out for Natalie. He was handsome and clever and prosperous and nobody knew where he would stop now that he had begun to climb in business. Natalie found him de- cidedly agreeable.
 Three months later Natalie's be- wildered father was issuing wedding invitations for the marriage of his daughter and Irving Lawrence. That young man had fallen a victim to Ma talie at first sight and his wooing had been tempestuous. Tom Arnold sim ply had been swept off the boards.
 '1 am glad. Natalie." Mrs. Flecker told her, that your childish infatua- ton for Tom died a natural death. You would have been crazy to marry him. You see it now, don't you?"
 Natalie turned her big solitaire around on her finger. "l suppose so, she said IT haven't seen Tom for weeks"
 Well. you don't want to see him. said Mrs Fletcher sharply. I'm so glad you're going to Europe on your wedding trip."
 It was just four days before her wedding day that Natalie and Tom Arnold eloped and were married. She had met him on the street and dis covered in five minutes talk that she hadn't really fallen in love with Irving Lawrence at all. Of course, she was very sorry to treat Irving so and apologized prettily in the letter she