The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1911-11-03

Married In:
Haste
But There Is No Record
of Reporting at
Leisure
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
BY F. A. Mitchell

81 wish you to be my bridesmaid"
wrote my friend Clara Wightman.
land you are to be matched with
Georges best man. Of all men John
Bucklin is the best, except George
who, you know. is the best in the
world to me just now. And l have a
feeling down in my heart. dear, that
you and John will make match. He
is everything you could wish for. ex-
cept means. But he is self reliant.
ambitious. full Of energy and hope,
and, after all. a marriage with that
kind of man brings more happiness
than wealth. At any rate, it brings
more zest to life"
l don't know anything that will
more interest girl than to have some
one say, II have man picked out for
you to marry" A pleasing curiosity
is aroused at once. True. these part
ners picked out by third person are
usually just what the girl doesn't
want, or be doesn't want her, or they
are repellent to each other. Never
theless till they meet they-at least
the girl-lives in world of romance.
| She wonders what he Is like in ap-
pearance, in intellect. in disposition.
| forming an ideal picture of him which
when she sees him brings a great dis
| appointment. Perhaps this is the rea-
son such intended matches seldom ma
| terialiZe.
Instead of being disappointed in
John Bucklin | was greatly pleased
with him. His serious looks indicated
that the world was to him an impor-
| tant problem | had feared he would
turn out one of those so called fasci-
mating society men that | did not ad-
mire. He was very deferential to me,
but if he had been told that I had
consciousness of the fact. Altogether
our meeting was satisfactory in all
respects but one. Mr.. Bucklin showed
no sign whatever that he took more
| interest in me than was warranted by
the fact that | was matched with him
at a wedding ceremony.
However. the acquaintance made on
that occasion was continued, and Mr..
Bucklin became q regular caller at
our house. He was usually very busy,
but found time to show me some at
tention. Yet 1t seemed to me that he
was doing 1t to please Clara, with
whom he was on very friendly terms.
Occasionally would twit her with the
failure Of her plan for me. whereupOn
she would say: 81 don't think John
now Besides. it seems to me that
you treat him with marked indiffer-
ence." AS to her excuses for Mr. Buck
lin, did not consider them of any mo-
ment whatever / was surprised at
her saying that treated him with in
difference. for | was not conscious of
doing so. And yet Clara was doubt
less right. If a match is designed by
mutual friend and the man in the
case does not make a move in q matri-
monial direction the girl is very likely
to treat him with either indifference or
something more pronounced.
There was good reason why should
marry. The family purse was not pie
thoric. and father was growing too old
to remain much longer in business har-
ness. About that time we discharged
our housemaid. giving out that we
couldn't get servant. but really be-
cause we couldn't afford to keep one.
l did the work that the hOusemaid had
i done. When l swept and busted pin
ned my dress back and wore a towel
over my head. Father encouraged me
by saying that looked prettier in that
costume than when dressed for a ball.
One morning was sweeping the par
lor. 1t was separated from the dining
room by folding doors as well as por-
there. At this particular time the fold
ing doors and the portieres were both
closed. / heard the doorbell ring. |
couldn't go to the door in sweeping
costume, but fail had not yet gone
out. and l knew lie would do so.
was about to run upstairs when
heard fathers step in the hall and
knew l was too late. Fearing he
might bring some one into the parlor.
l stepped between the folding doors
and the portiere
| / had scarcely got into cOncealment
when father entered the room and
with him another person. l couldn't
see who this person was, but all doubt
on the subject was soon removed by
hearing the deep sounding voice of
John Bucklin. Naturally i was very
much astonished.
81 must go into an explanation" he
! said to father. for making q call at
| this unusual hour before state the OBJ
ject Of my visit l sail this afternoon
for South America. and so far as can
judge l see no prospect of my getting
back here possibly for years"
/ surely thought / should faint.
81 shall enter into some particulars"
continued the man who had been pick
ed out for me. 1.-The reason for which
will appear as proceed have been
admitted to a partnership with the
firm by whom | have been employed
and am going to South America to
open branch house there. l confess
that dislike going from home. break
Ing ties that have been forming ever
rince was born, to dwell among
strangers"