The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-05-11

single state. l had been sitting back OF a
boulder near the beach, watching the gulls
and enjoying the fresh sea breeze, when
one else near where was sitting. was on
the point of making my presence known,
when l heared voice that l recognized as
belonging to Mrs. Jackson. She seemed to
be carrying on a very warm argument with
her lesser half, for Jackson was heard to
say: "you had better let Frank alone, if
with US, let her come; bur do not try to
make match between her and Frank. -
To which Mrs. Jackson replied: ri am
going to ask Dorothea to come, and when
she arrives will tell her that we all want
to see Mr.. Gordon married Dorothea is
quite pretty, and if she only wants to, can
catch Mr.. Gordon. Furthermore, l will
not be real happy until he is married.
There was great deal more talk on the
same subject, and to all appearances Mrs.
Jackson won her point. To my mind
eavesdropping was excusable in that partic-
| ular case. After short time Mrs. Jackson
| returned to her house which was but a
short distance away, and Jackson started
towards the beach. Knowing that he W ould
have to pass where was sitting, and lot
caring to let him know that l had overheard
his conversation, l rolled over and pre-
tended to be asleep. Jackson came up and
stopped, no doubt he was surprised to find
me there. For a fellow who want ed to Eelp
me remain a bachelor, he acted rather
queer; for after having awakened me, he
talked of everything else but the scheme his
wife was Matching to ensnare me. This
somewhat surprised me, for | had expected
him to tell me what was in the wind and to
hell me make plans to Illustrate Mrs. Jack
sons designs. 1t SO happened that on the
evening of the day on which | became
aware OF Mrs. Jackson's designs that all the
members of our little colony were to take
supper at the home of Mrs. Smith. We
all assembled at the appointed hour and
after meal that was thoroughly enjoyed
by all, the ladies formed little circle on
one end of the veranda, while we men sat
at the other end and smoked our pipes and
talked shop.
There was considerable smothered laugh
ter and whispering going on among the la
dies and Wallace who had been watching
them for sometime, turned to me and said
in low voice, THAT bodies i'll for you
Frank
ooh you know it then do youi'' was my
query.
eyes, Annie told me about il, and /
have been thinking of way to run their
game up blind ally
"Iust how do you expect to do that
''Well,' said Wallace, "when this girl
comes, she is going to GO 10 Auckland,
and we will have to go down and get her,
all of the girls want to 60 with you to see
the city. You stay at home and catch all
the rats you can. When you have dozen
or SO, move enough food and stuff up into
the hills to last you for at least a month;
then the day we return, take that wire cage
of mine and put the rats in it and put them
inside your door with string fastened
from the house door to the door of the
cage, SO that when the door is opened the
rats can get out, will see that the "maid-
en- fair is on hand to get a good scare
when they 60 to look for you,''
The plan seemed a good one, but l
could not understand why l was to move
into the hills, and said as much to Wallace.
"Well," says he, " this Miss Dorothea
finds that the rats were put in your house
to scare her away, and sees that you have
gone to live in the hills in order to avoid
her, she will let you alone.
Three days after the house party,
steamer arrived with supplies and mail.
among which was letter for Mrs. Jackson.
Wallace came over to see me after every
thing was taken ashore aud slowed away,
and impaired the cheerful news; saying:
Crank, your Nemsis will reach Auck-
| land on the tenth of the month, and it is
the fourth, SO ] guess we will have to start
down in few days.
"Allright' was my reply" let her come,
just so she does not bring along mother
| in-law for me- Wallace was the only
person besides myself who knew that was
aware of the plot that was on foot. The
reason given by the ladies for going TO
Auckland, was that they wanted to see the
city and purchase some wearing apparel.
The yacht was warped out and supplies put
aboard, and with many wishes of good luck
l was left behind to amuse myself as best
could until the others returned. The la
dies had all promised 10 bring me some
thing nice on their return. 1t was some
thing nice that they intended to bring back
for me no doubt, but it was something l