St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-12-08
MyAgent
By F. A. Mitchell

l took my vacation in October in my
runabout
4 One evening | was keeping an eye
out for a place to stay over when
came to a neat looking house-not a
farmhouse-that looked as if it was or
But what attracted my attention was
a sign fastened to the gate bearing the
words Matrimonial Agency" 1t seem
ed rather to me that they should be
/ Counting Quarters" The place was
certainly very cozy.
1t is needless to add that / put mp
at the house. was received by an
elderly lady whose manner seemed
quite too refined and cOurtly for an
occupant of such modest establish
ment l asked her if she were the
matrimonial agent, and she said she
was not Her daughter was trying to
make something in that way. She new
er appeared to strangers unless they
called professionally. Being curious,
told the mother that l was ready for
wife whenever fate should throw one
into my hands and, handing her fee
in advance, asked to see her daughter.
l expected to meet an angular old
maid or widow. What was my surprise
when the plumpest, roSiest little crea-
ture came into the room, smiling from
her eyebrows to the tip of her dim
pied chin. She appeared to be about
seventeen years old, though she was
| twenty. Coming at once to business,
she asked:
do you prefer a blond or a bru-
netteY'
Looking into her blue eyes, told her
that preferred blends. But" 1 add
ed before coming to particulars l
should like to talk with you about mat
rimony. Do you recommend itY'
1T would be absurd for me to rec
ommend what is so important a part,
if not the most important part. of ma
ture."
1t struck me that this was evading
responsibility. 1 wondered at one so
young being so diplomatic.
do you vOuch for the persons you
introduce?' 1 asked.
"Only for their responsibility"
'Then you do not guarantee happi-
nessY"
81 do not. The happiness of married
persons depends only on themselves"
'Have you made many matches"
"A number of persons have brought
together have married"
"Have the unions usually turned out
happilyY'
Il have not been in the business long
enough to find out"
"You surely don't sail under false
pretenses.''
l described the appearance of the
girl l should like to marry, and she
might have been the twin sister of the
matrimonial agent She declined to
notice the fact that / had given her as
a model, and nothing 1 could do to
persuade her to drop her professional
attitude had any effect upon her. Her
method was to give her business card
to the man of the couple she proposed
to bring together, with the name and
address of the lady on it. But she
never introduced a couple unless she |
had thoroughly Investigated both par
ties and was satisfied that each was
in earnest in seeking a matrimonial |
mate.
Before leaving l gave her my name I
and address. with references to GER
tain cronies of mine whom 1 could |
trust. l had no idea of having her in
trOduce me to a possible wife. My OBJ |
ject was to visit her again, and / Il
knew she would not receive me unless
1 satisfied her that my application was
bona in
was bona fide. | was willing to con-
slider the agent herself as a possible
wife-nOt that had made up my mind
to any such result. but it was pleasant
to contemplate.
The matrimonial agency was not far II
distant from my home, and fortnight
after my return / ran out in my car to
see the agent again. She informed me
which l already knew-that the re-
ports of me were satisfactory and she
was ready to give me a card to a
young lady who was looking for hus-
band l took the card, but informed
he agent that. being very busy, l
night not soon deliver it. Not wish
ng that she should be delayed in re-
sewing her fee, / handed her another
OLS1H0F sue TOOK IL III DuS1ueSS-
ike manner and told me 1 was well
,Ome to take my own time in the
natter.
When / called again told the agent
hat / should like several introductions.
Eating at the same time that would
hoose a wife from among those in
whom she was interested. She con-
ented to this and l left her During
he winter went to see her number
# times. always apologizing for not
laving called on any of the young Ia
lies whose addresses she had given me.
Toward spring, after having called
n the agent many times and upon
zone of those she had recommended. l
vent to see her for the last time as
lient l told her that l had decided
n wife and it only remained for the
ady to decide on me- She herself was
be girl wanted.
Without any oxprocSiou oF cT7YnY-ico III