The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-05-03
135e Fifth
1nterrnarriage
(Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

By JANE OSBORN

per Syndicate.)
Mrs. Stewards house parties were
always admiringly planned, and 1t was
because everyone was always sure Of
hnding a congenial companion at her
house that the younger members Of
her kindred and acquaintance always
accepted her invitations. For If truth
were to be told there was nothing lux
urious in her hospitality, and there
was little amusement or entertain
ment save what the guests and the
hostess could provide by their own
wits, for the fine old Stewart mansion
contained none of those short cuts to
hospitality and amusement. If one
wished to dance there was no phono-
graph to provide music-and the dane
Ing could not progress unless one of
the guests happened to know some
dance tunes to be played on the old
piano. There was no nearby country
club and there were no automobiles in
the Stewart stables. But despite these
shortcomings Mrs. Stewart never wea-
ried of getting up little parties and
thought nothing of filling her eight
guest rooms at time, and the guests
always came with enthusiasm. Uhe
secret of her success was that she was
at heart a matchmaker, and though
she did not think Of every girl at her
parties as possible wife for one of
the other guests, she always did think
of them as partners for q country
walk. She never invited girl unless
she was sure she could provide some
nice young man who would find her
society delightful, and never invited
even the least prepOssessing of young
men without making sure that there
was one young woman in the. number
gifted enough to appreciate the fine
points Of his personality.
Mrs. Stewart even went so far as to
make little lists Of her guests on the
backs Of discarded envelopes-for she
was instilled with the spirit of old
time thrift as well as with the lavish
ness Of Old-time hospitality. And In
these lists she would pair her guests
off, making sure, Of course, that they
would pair, and that there would be no
three-handed affairs-no two men
at the feet of one young belle
while one Of the young girls went
partnerless.
For the first party of the season
she had planned to have all the guest
rooms filled, and as four Of them con-
tanned large double beds, this meant
that she would have IL guests. Most
Of them were young people who had
already met at similar parties-some
Of them already engaged as the result
Of her careful planning. The only
names on her lists that she had not
been able to link up with any other
names were those Of Miss Nancy Mar 1
bury and Mr.. Nathaniel Stobridge.
"There really isn't anything they can
have in common" sighed Mrs. Stewart.
Miss Nancy Is college girl, keen
about suffrage and tennis shark,
and perfect dance fan-and poor Ma
an anti at heart and the most indolent
old dear that ever drew breath. He
could lie all day In a hammock under
a shady tree with a dusty book of
family records in his hands and an
occasional renewal Of cooling bever-
age at his side and think himself de-
lightfully entertained-while to keep
up with Nancy a man would have to
take cross-country tramps, play tennis
madly and know all the new dance
steps,"
: Mrs. Stewart tried to revise her list
so as to pair some one off with Mr..
and have some one left over
that would be congenial with Nancy.
But the arrangement for the other
guests was perfect. The affinity be-
tween each Of the other two couples
was Inevitable. So Mrs. Stewart took
the most recent letter she had re-
ceived from Nancy and the letter she
had from Mr.. Stobridge accepting her
invitation from her desk and read
them through In search of some SYM
pathy In common.
II shall be mighty glad Of little
rest" said Nancy In her letter, "fOr 1
have been working night and day for a
mOnI0 OF I1OTe Ou Tie uluTDuTy uiuily
Record. Our family association COM
missioned me to get the data together
and put it In shape for publication.
You'd be surprised how interesting 1t
has been and Of course my work In
college fitted me for that sort Of re-
search. What we were most anxious
10 show was that the Marbury family
Is one Of the Stobridge- Claridge /con-
nection. You have heard of them, /
am sure. 1t Is an alliance Of group
of the most distinguished colonial fam
lies In the state and to prove our con-
nection we have to show at least five
with either Of the two
since they came to this coun-
try. Well, I have at last been able to
find the fifth intermarriage, though
Il was not easy, as the Marbury
records are fragmentary. Now that
the Record is practically complete 1
shall be delighted to come to your
house party and take little relaxa-
ton before sending the copy to the
rvinfarv