The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-03
EVENING STORY
Managers of Matrimony.
BY R. RAY BAKER.

Thru their mothers efforts, three
of the Chesterton "hopefuls" had their
hopes realized. Husbands with COM
fortatSe piles of coin to their re-
spectiye credits had been found, lured
and trapped. They had to be lured
and trapped because of the daugh-
ters' vivid unattractiveness. AS visions
of beauty, the three Chesterton girls
would have made good cement mixers.
But Mrs. Chesterton's troubles were
not over There remained one more
daughter. Lucia by name, to Lbe mar
ried off before the mother would be
content. And Lucia was the greatest
problem of them all.
Not because of her looks Far from
it. In some way Lucia had escaped
the blight of homeliness that had
smitten the rest of the family. In
fact, those who knew SAID she made
up for the rest of them.
According to these authorities. the
other Chesterton girls had hair that
Iresembled rope, while Lucia's was
raven black, with tints of FURNISHED
gold. Her sisters eyes were the color
of mud puddles. Lucia's We're brown.
deep, mysterious pools. Their chins
I were like hatchets; Lucia's was grace
fully rounded; their lips thick and
pink, Lucia's thin and red; their necks
like buffaloes,, hers like a swans;
thier bodies thin as rails, Lucia's silk
hike a bird.
d
ber of husbands had been selected for
/ her-and willing ones, too-but she
spurned them all.
| Don't want to get married." she
affirmed. Wont get married. that's
ALL"
Mrs Chesterton was ingenious. but
all her ingenuity. was wasted on Lucia.
The latter saw thru her tricks.
| When prospective husband called
| and Mamma Chesterton graciously re-
=; z 1,a laax T4A
young couple alone, Lucia would pro-
| pose q stroll or ride. When a horse
| back party contrived by Mrs. Chester
tons suggestion to leave Lucia and
young man by themselves, the girl
would whip up her steed and appre-
| hend the rest of the riders She would
never sit out a dance or walk in the
| woods.
For three years Mrs. Chesterton had
! veritably wooed her own daughter,
thinking the latter finally would capit-
ulate and become the bride of some
nice rich young man. But Lucia was
now twenty-five and more adamant
| than ever
won't get married. I enjoy myself too
much being single No man is going
TO boss me around
| About this time young Adam Forth
river, who went away in Quest of
| health, sreturned from a three years
sotourn in the west, where he became
| robust and made money raising cattle.
This change for. the better in his
| ihealth-and also in the matter of his
weaIth--caused Mrs. Chesterton to de-
| eide oifs Adam for a son-in-law, She
had a conference with Mrs Fortfgiv-
1 er, and the latter acquiesced. 1t was
to their mutual social advantage.
/ But its no use" said Mrs. Forth
marriage to Adam. In fact. 1 might
say / had your daughter in view; you
/ know they used to be such good
friends.ss But he nearly ate me up.
and told me he was not ready. and
| would not be for good many years. to
take wife, aud when he was ready
he'd select one without any help
They had frequent confabs on the
subject and one day Mrs. Forthgiver,
after serving notice by telephone, bus
tied intos Mrs. Chestertons home with
the announcement that she had an
Idea.
Mrs. Chesterton, having visited Eng
land, had the afternoon habit, and she
at onces ordered tea served. over the
table they hatched the plot.
The plot was simple. In fact. young
Adam Forthgiver was a party to it.
was really its author-altho he was
unaware of it. Adam had decided to
go hunting in the Michigan north
woods i've always wanted to tramp
thru those forests in the winter" he
had said TITS ideal in the summer
and 1 know I'd like it when there $
snow"
Mrs. Forthgivers plan was for Mrs.
Chesterton to send Lucia to the same
territory, without, of course, appris-
! ing her of the fact that Adam would
be there,
Just the thing!'' she exclaimed, as
|. she drained her second cup. Lucia
has often expressed desire for some
winter frolic in the woods. I'll get
Mrs. Alberts to go with her. ~
Adam had selected Brutus. town
south of Mackinaw City, for his head
quarters. There's a hotel there
called thei Purple House which. serves
1.-THE best dinners in the world" he had
7 explained, "and when get tired OF
camp cooking 1 can hike to town and
FL get real feed-s
Adams real purpose is to get the
outdoor life" his mother asserted
Ever since he's been west he says he
cans stand having anything but the
sky for a roof SO there won't be
much hunting, He'll take his gun
along just as a blind. What he really
wants is to eat and sleep in a hotel
and spend the rest of his time in the
woods. 1 know him. There's young
man living in Brutps who worked or
Adams ranch, and he's very fond OF
him. This yeung man will act as his
/, guide.
Now, I've had correspondence or
my own account before broaching the
plan to you, and learn that tnere Is y
4 family at Brutus by the name of Line
man. The family is just a lady and
; hor daughter, poor-b honest, ano
= sometimes they take boarders and
roomers. It would be good idea fol
Lucia and Mrs. lAlberts to make reser-
vations there
i Fer once Lucia was deluded, and
learly December found her roornins
with the Linemans and enjoying her
self immensely. She roamed tbs
woods every day with either Miss
Linenan or Mrs. Alberts as COM
panion, and her rosy cheeks were be-
feoming more rosy.
..It's the life.n She cried. Nothing
lis lacking
But one day while wandering aim
liessly thru strip of pine forest she
n fbeca me separated from Miss Lineman
!. She called repeatedly. but could get NJ