Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-30
"Jim," said my friend Mrs. Now

Jim" said my friend Mrs. NOW
bry, why don't you get married?'
Nonsense, Helen! You know as
well as 1 that we men don't marry the
women; they marry US"
But" Helen persisted, "if no WON
an chooses to take the trouble to bring
you down and you don't care to re
main single, deprived Of wife, chill
! dren and the comforts Of a home, it
seems to me that you had better bestir
yourself"
Helen was a matchmaker. I knew
she had some scheme on hand and
waited for her to declare 1t.
Il can make it easy for you," she
continued II know a girl who, like
you, has put off matrimony too long
and has begun to realize that she is
drifting toward a lonely old spinster-
hood. I have offered to help her out
1 have invited her to spend July and
August with me at Fernwood. I shall
have other guests during the summer,
both men and women. I shall tell her
that I have man In view for her.
How would you like to be that MANI
| Helen" l exclaimed admiringly,
you are the queen Of matchmakers!
Had you told me you had girl for
me and introduced me to her, she and
I, knowing Of your plan, would doubt
less have spurned each other. Your
proposal is delightful. l enter into 1t
with all my heart. But why do you
assume that there will be natural Sc
lection between us?'
Il don't I simply assume that you
are persons Of opposite sex who seek
a mate. The mate being at hand, per-
haps you will recognize it If you are
left to yourselves to do So"
I spent a number Of week ends al
Helen's country seat besides two
weeks in August.
fancied she had got up the scheme
to make a match between me and
some dear friend Of hers, and I be
lieved that might find out the young
lady by the fact that she was some
one Helen adored. But I knew that
Helen would conceal this alteration
from me.
l settled upon Miss Jewett, one OF
her guests during the summer whom
I had heard her speak Of quite often
before as the lady between whom and
me there was to be a natural selec
ton. Miss Jewett was evidently g
young woman not especially of beau
ty or endowed with such lightweight
frivolities as are usually attractive tc
men. In other words, there was a lot
to her, though I admit the words are
a very poor description. l met her al
a week end visit early In the summer
and, having settled upon her as the
lady intended for me, showed her con
siderable attention. To tell the truth
she interested me in conversation and
l preferred her company.
l met her at Helen's again In July
and was counting on further pleasant
moments with her. but this time she
was principally taken up with a Mr.
Judkins, whom she seemed never t
tire Of. If were talking with her ant
Judkins came up she would dismiss
me with a nod, accompanied by g
smile. and | was thus commanded t
give place to him. After three days
at Fernwood | went back to town dis
gruntled.
During the longer period spent al
i Fernwood Miss Jewett was again 6
visitor there. She seemed delighted &
meet me again. and we We're getting
on nicely when that fellow Judkins re
appeared, and again my association
with Miss Jewett was broken up.
Il suppose" | grumbled TO my host
ess. that you've got another couple
besides me and my unknown to bring