The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-06-02
Matchmaking
By LUCY M. ROE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

after you have come nome all ureu
out, but some one to come in and chat
with us or play cards."
"Well. my dear. all have to say is
that I'm content as 1t is, but If you
care to invite any person or persons In
here so that won't have to go out
and see them don't object"
81 have a plan all laid out. There's
Ralph Eldridge. He's thirty-five, and
1t is time he was married. Now, my
old school friend Margaret Shaw
would be Just the woman for Ralph.
She's twenty-six. What do you say to
getting them in occasionally to dinner
with a game of bridge or five hundred
In the evening. 1t may be great IA
vor to them to bring them together
They may make match"
"Do anything you like, my dear,
provided you don't put me to any
trouble"
So Mr. Eldridge and Miss Shaw
were invited to dinner, with cards in
the evening. Mr.. Eldridge of course
played with Mrs. Vandeveer, Mr.. Van
deveer playing with Miss Shaw. 1t is
singular what little thing will start
persons on a different track. 1t was
all in the cards. Mr.. Vandeveer and
Miss Shaw held all the court cards In
the pack from o'clock, when they
sat down, till II, when they arose.
This made Mrs. Vandeveer trife ir-
ritable 1t produced a corresponding
exhilaration in Miss Shaw. Further
more, seeing that Mrs. Vandeveer was
irritated, Miss Shaw, moved by per-
yersity, became very enthusiastic In
her expressions to her partner, giving
him glances that his wife, being in an
I'll humor, construed unfavorably. This
led the hostess to say a number or
nice things to Mr.. Eldridge.
When the evening was over and the
guests had departed Mr.. and Mrs.
Vandeveer went to bed without
word Mrs. Vandeveer suspected that
In introducing Miss Shaw into her
house she had warmed a serpent in
her bosom. Mr. Vandeveer, for the
first time in his married life, felt a
spark Of jealousy of Mr.. Eldridge, who
was an extremely good looking and
attractive man.
The next week when Mr.. Vande'
yeer came home one afternoon from
business his wife told him that Miss
Shaw had invited the party to dinner
and for cards in the evening. Mr.
Vandeveer, fearing that If he declined
to accept his wife would think he
wished to keep her from again meet
ing Mr.. Eldridge, consented. His wife
was much surprised and set down his
willingness to a desire to again NEE
Miss Shaw.
At this meeting the cards ran mor'
evenly, but Miss Shaw seemed to b.
even more en- rapport with Mr.. Vande
veer than before, while Mr.. Eldridg'
treated Mrs. VandeVeer with a defer
ence that was, to say the least, ex
tremely noticeable. Not for the worl'
would Mr. Vandeveer show that m
noticed certain glances with whicl
Mr.. Eldridge favored his wife, Blu
within him he was burning with
smothered fury, and part of his irri
tation was for his wife that she di'
not resent such treatment instead
seeming to be pleased with 1t.
The four continued to meet once
week at the house Of one or the othel
Mr. Vandeveer would have been gla'
to give up the meetings, and his VIII
made no objections to doing So bu
Mr.. Eldridge and Miss Shaw were S
urgent when 1t came their turn to d
the entertaining that the Vandeveer
felt obliged to yield. Mrs. Vandevee
attributed Miss Shaw's persistence
desire to meet her husband, an
Mr.. Vandeveer attributed Mr.. E
bridges persistence to a desire to NEE
his wife.
"Your plan, my DEAR" said Mr.. Val
deveer one evening before one OF theS
meetings "for making a match b
tween Eldridge and Miss Shaw doesn
seem to work"
"Hmp was the retort. Miss Sha
seems to be predisposed in another d
rection."
81 don't know anything about that
snarled the husband, "but it's vel
plain that Eldridge is preoccupied."
"The next time I attempt to make
match" rejolned the wife, I'll 81
that there is no one about to lead Il
lady in the case from her sutton"
Half an hour later the party WI
at Mr.. Eldridge's bachelor quarter
where. the meeting was to take plac
When the game commenced for Il
first time Mr.. Eldridge and Miss Sha
refrained from any jealousy inspiriI
glances at the Vandeveers. Mrs. Va
deveer, who was more obserVant tht
her husband, detected a tender LOO
passing between the unmarried co
ple. When the cards were put ASH
Mr.. Eldridge got out a light lunche'
and a bottle of iced champagne WI
brought into the room. There was
cork salute, and the host filed Il
glasses and said to his guests:
MANY thanks for giving me the low
Hest woman in the world. Miss Sha
has consented to be my wife"
When the Vandeveers returned
their home the husband embraced B
wife and said:
my dear, l think you and can g
along without any more couples
come in and spend our evenings wi
u.s. And I'm not interested in mate
making. These two have been makil
catspaws of u.s."
81 expect you're right, dear. tn
were playing US for the purpose
piQuing each other"
REWARD FOR LYNCHERS
Bill Introduced In Senate to App