The Match Maker

THE MATCH-MAKER

LITTLE Mrs. Blondie has been married one month. She thinks the whole world is heaven. One fine morning she calls on Miss Bachelorgirl, her friend, and finds the latter limp and disheveled over the composition of a magazine article. Miss Bachelorgirl is out of sorts. She has seen a love of a gown, but she can't afford it; the bill for the fitting of her Turkish corner has just come in, and she has discovered that morning the existence of four wrinkles.

"What's the matter, dear?" queries Mrs. Blondie sweetly.

"Oh, nothing," groans Miss Bachelor girl, "only I have a headache, and I'm sick of this studio anyway!"

Little Mrs. Blondie looks at her sympathetically. "Bertha," she cooes insinuatingly, "why don't you get married? It's the only way for a nice girl like you to live. If you only knew how happy Jack and I are! What you need is some nice fellow with lots of money, who'Il buy you pretty things and" -

I'd like to know where I am to find him!" remarks Miss Bachelorgirl bitterly, thinking of that velvet gown she cannot have.

Little Mrs. Blondie blushes. "You never met Dick Bobbington, did you?"

she remarks hurriedly. "Awfully stunning chap Dick- six feet, broad shoulders, plays polo and all that- and my husband says he's bound to become head of the firm before long. I've told him about you, anti he's just crazy to meet you. Oh, you'd like him! He's a regular Gibson man and has the most stunning eyes. Can't you come up to dinner Monday evening? And, my dear, wear that lavender gown with the big bunch of violets."

As the studio door closes Miss Bachelorgirl leaves her article sprawling on her desk and, humming a coon song, goes to look up the lavender dress, while little Mrs. Blondie murmurs to herself as she descends the narrow stairs: "The idea of Bertha living in such a beastly way! The poor girl isn't a bit happy. Any one can see that." And so she telephones sweetly to Dick Bobbington's office and asks him to drop in that afternoon on his way up from the office.

"I know your taste in girls is remarkably good," purs little Mrs. Blondie, blushing as she meets his eyes over a cup of tea; "but, honestly, I have a most stunning girl I want you to meet. None of the other men has been able to do a thing with her, but I was hoping that you, with your vast experience and that perfectly' irresistible, crooked smile of yours" -

"Oh, here, here! Really, Mrs. Blondie!" remarks Dick Bobbington, with the light of conquest dawning in his eye. "But bring on your snow maiden, and I will see what my poor powers are capable of."

Monday evening Bertha Bachelorgirl is in such a state of nervous excitement that her knees are fairly knocking together. She feels the importance of the occasion.

On the other hand, Dick Bobbington gnaws his mustache nervously as he watches her cold profile.

After dinner Jack goes into his den, and Mrs. Blondie, under pretext of speaking to him, goes out and leaves her victims pointedly alone. As she rises she gives Bertha a glance which means, "Hang back and go slow!" There is freemasonry among women. Miss Bachelorgirl gives her friend a nod of perfect understanding. A moment later she and Dick are left alone gazing at each other in an embarrassed manner.

Such are the plottings of matchmakers! In case you should have any curiosity I will add that three months later Miss Bachelorgirl became Mrs. Bobbington, and the question of velvet gowns is no longer an impossible problem with her.