Der Nordstern. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1874-1931, 1920-02-05

The MATCHMAKER:
BY ADELAIDE r. KEMP.


"a. 1890. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.o
Margaret leaned forward in the seat
Of the buggy. "Come, Ned" she said
In a pleading voice, "Do go ahead,
there's a dear. Don't you know you
are making an exhibition Of YOURSELF"
This was followed by a clucking
sound and two sslaps from the drivers
reins. But Ned had succumbed TO
stubbornness and proved obdurate to
even her pleasant voice. Margaret
sighed.
aWhyy didn't I listen to Aunt Mary
and take Dick when I knew perfectly
well what might happen with Ned?
Now / am probably doomed to stay
here for several hours" It was at this
moment that she was startled by the
voice OF a young man who had come
along the road unnoticed.
.'Can I be Of any assistance" ne
asked.
Il don't know said Margaret
frankly. "Do you know anything
about balky h~orsesY
Before he could answer there was q
sudden move on the part of the stub
born one.
But to Margaret's admiration the
rescuer carried the war into the enc
my's country. With a quick jerk ne
| forced that obdurate animal to philo-
sophically accept defeat and amble
along.
Margaret was delighted and
thanked her knight Grant warmly.
IT don't dare stop" she said, "but
IL you are going my way perhaps you
could jump in and ride too"
He quickly accepted the invitation
and they were soon chatting like old
friends. In the interchange Of conf
dences Margaret learned that his
name was Robert Mason, that he had
Just returned from overseas hospital,
and was here in the little town of his
fathers boyhood for a month to re-
c%uperate.
'.This is my aunt's' said Margaret
as they stopped before a fine old
fashioned house sheltered from the
ocean breezes by a row Of tall pine
trees. eff you ever want to win Aunt
Mary's favor" she continued. "just
mention those trees"
"sThank you for the valuable tip"
| answered Robert, laughing, as he
stepped down from the buggy. He
mustered all his courage. DO you
think your aunt knew my father,
enough when he was a boy to warrant
my calling and talking about him."
They were close to the porch now,
and a stately white-haired lady was
In the doorway.
aAunt Mary" called Margaret,
there is a young man who says he
would like to meet you for old-time's
sake"
Robert stood hat in hand, on the
lower step, as Margaret's aunt came
nearer and looked at him intently.
"Come closer, young man." she said.
"You look like a boy I once knew.
What IS your name?
aRobert Mason" answered the
young fellow, flushing.
"That's it. You are James Mason's
son. You are very like him. We have
heard some wonderful things about
his success. Is he wel1?"
eyes, thank you" answered Robert.
'He wished me to spend a vacation
in his boyhood's home. He said South
- - - -, al &Por,. S&c, & hoo y1fSocZ-nf
all kinds" He wa quite astonished
at his temerity, but Margaret only.
laughed softly.
The days passed very pleasantly aft
ter this. Robert was a welcome Wis.
! flor at the old house with its beauti-
full row Of trees. Many dutiful let
tiers passed between father and son,
and at last, after one happy evening
on the old porch Robert wrote Of his
great happiness. Margaret had prom
Used to become his wife.
you'll be sure to like her, Dad.
She Is a real country girl. She lives
with her aunt, Mrs. Mary Winslow,
in such a quaint old house. Her name
is Margaret Dunton."
BY return mail came an answer ia
Roberts letter.
Robert could almost hear his faith.
er's chuckle between the lines.
.fYour little country girl is an aris-
tocrat on the very top social shelf,
the niece OF the very finest family in
Southport"
81 don't care.'' said Robert to him
self, hurrying on toward the house in
the pines. 1She's the dearest in the
world. I can never be grateful enough
to old Ned for his obstinate introduce
tion."
Historical Tree Felled by Wind.
"A huge and venerable tree closely