Coronado Eagle and Journal, Volume I, Number 30, 27 December 1912 — Matchmaking During the Christmas Holidays [ARTICLE]

Matchmaking During the Christmas Holidays

By F. TOWNSEND SMITH

“I desire, my son,’* said my father lot long before his death, “that our estate should be kept together. If Helen would only marry some man who has che means to enable her to live as she has lived thus far 1 would leave her, say, $20,000 and you the business. You will need all the capital in it to operate it and can make a handsome Income out of it Unless Helen is otherwise provided for it would be unjust to her to leave yon the lion’s share.” I made no reply, to father’s statement but at once commenced to do a job of thinking In the matter. Could I not bring about a match between Helen and some good fellow who had a fortune? One of my classmates In college. Ned Culberton, would fill the bill very nicely. I hadn’t seen him since we were graduated, but I had heard that his father had died and left him some $30,000 a year. The more I thought about the matter the more in dined I was to try my hand at a bit of love’s diplomacy or, as the women put it. matchmaking. I wrote Culberton asking him what had become of him; if he preferred the real world to that preliminary world, college: whether he remembered our trying one night to get a calf up into the belfry; if he was married or expected to be. He replied to my note, saying that he remembered the episode I had mentioned very well: that he wasn’t married and didn’t propose to be-at least till he was too old to have any fun—and ended his letter by saying that he would like mighty well tp meet me and talk over old times This drew from me an invitation for him to join us at our cottage In the country, which we proposed to open to a few guests for the Christmas holidays. The Invitation was accepted, and I had made a beginning. But what more could I do than throw the two together? It occurred to me to tell Helen just what my father had said to me and suggest that she capture Culberton, but on second thought I saw that it would be'the worst thing 1 could do. It would make trouble in the family, between Nell and father and me. for a woman doesn’t understand the requirements of business ns a man does, and Nell wouldn’t have appreciated father’s motives in not trammeling me with a sister for a partner. Then, again, any matchmaker who shows his hand to either* of the parties he is bent on bringing together—especially the woman—is a fool. No; 1 must work out my own scheme without letting any one know what I was about. Ned joined us a few days before Christmas. He was awfully nieasod v*

the reunion with his old college chum and I could see was expecting to spend most of his time during his visit talking over our larks while we were undergraduates. I told him that there would he some very pretty girls in our Christmas party and I hoped they would succeed in interesting and amusing him. He replied that he wasn’t much on girls: he’d noticed since his father’s death that every girl he m?t was trying to get him for his money This didn’t look very hopeful for my purpose, hut I’d laid down my scheme and begun to act upon-it before his arrival, ap(J if it worked at all it would pro finely work in spite of Ned’s having been hunted by women who desired a feathered nest. What 1 had done in the matter was this: The day before Ned’s arrival I sat down with Nell, took hei bund In mine affectionately and, look lug her in the eyes impressively, said to her: •‘Before onr party convenes there’s something 1 wish to say to you about one of the expected guests. There’s hardly any of us In this world who isn’t afflicted with some -weakness. My friend Ned Culberton is as tine-a fel low as ever lived. He was an honor man In college. He and I were In timate friends for four years, and during all that period I never knew him to do a mean, thing. To go further hack”“Yes. yes: 1 understand that. What’s his weak spot?” • I’ll get to It directly. As 1 was saying, to go further back, he was considered so fine a fellow at school that all the college fraternities were after him. and he was pledged a year before he entered. He hadn’t been in colleges month”— “But what’s his foible? Are you never going to get to It?" "Don’t be In a hurry. I prefer to show you that In other respects he’s a splendid man; then when 1 give you his weakness you will be Inclined to took leniently upon it and not condemn him fur one blemish when most of us have a lot of them. He hadn’t been in college a month before he was picked out for head of his class and would have taken the valedictory, only he wasn’t a grind and preferred to be captain of the university football team, stroke oar of the university crew and pitcher of the baseball nine.” “Oh, dear! What a wonder! His blemish must be something awful to condemn one who is In other respects an Admirable Crichton.” This warned me that 1 might be putting in too many imaginary accomplishments. and T paused In what I was explaining to say that Ned was the most modest man in the world and would never admit that he was either a scholar or an athlete. He might have granted the latter accusation truthfully. To have granted the former would have been a frightful lie. for be had only scraped through college. Well, I put Nell off as to his foible for a while longer, then sadly and sympathetically tapped my forehead with my finger. “You don’t mean.”— she said and stopped. “Only in one particular.** “What is It?” “He has a mania for proposing marrtage.” , <' •‘W®lh I declare! What a singular

weakness! Proposes to any girl he happens to meet?” ‘‘Not on your life! 1 have known the girls he has proposed to, and they’re all belles.” ‘‘But how does he get out of his proposals? He can’t marry all the girls he asks.” **Ob. Ned’s a diplomat at that He does It very skillfully. They never blame him. They can’t” ‘‘H’m! I’d blame him.” ‘‘You might not have a chance.” “Thank you very much.” “What for?” “Intimating- that he wouldn’t be like ly to practice his foible on me. But I’m glad you warned me. If he should I’ll give him a piece of my mind, yon can Just depend upon that” “He won’t bother you. You see, there’s to be a lot of girls with us, and you being the hostess”— “Oh. don't talk any more about it 1 understand why you have told me. If be should yield to his mania while here”— , thing I wish you to promise me. Don't breathe a word of it to any of the other girl guests.” She gave me the promise, and I left her, satisfied thatjl had done all I could do in the matter. If she didn’t make Ned Culberton propose to her then 1 didn’t know anything about feminine human haturc. And if be did I knew he would stand by bis proposal. We had a merry time of It with our sleighing parties—that was before automobiles put an end to sleighing—our coasting and skating parties, besides meeting at dinner every evening and dancing or playing games afterward. We had the bouse nicely decorated with evergreens and a big Christmas tree on which was a gift for every guest During the festivities 1 kept my eye on Nell, and it wasn’t long before I saw that she was goipg for Culberton like a yacht with all its sails set. 1 argued that if he didn’t propose to her of his own accord and because he really wanted her she would get him into a position wherein his mania would be sure to show itself—in other words, she would set a trap for him. Doubt less, if she succeeded In drawing him into it, she would refuse his offer, but then I had wits, and it would be tiupe enough to exercise them when advised of the situation. The holidays were not more than half over when one morning I noticed at breakfast a terrible constraint between Ned and Nell. The meal was scarcely finished when Ned came to me and said be bad been suddenly called away; must leave on the first train; awfully sorry, but the matter was imperative. Fortunately the last train till noon bad gone, and that gave me time to get hold of Nell and find out what had happened. She told me that Ned had been overcome by his. mania and added: *T was surprised, because you told me It only affected him in the case of belles.” “Surprised be hanged!” I exclaimed “You forced It upon him. However there’s no harm done. You know it’s his failing. You have no reason to feel complimented.” “Do you suppose,” she replied, toss Ing her head, “that because he has a weakness of that kind be is never going to fall In love?” “Not in this case.”

“How db you know 7” “Because he Is going to leave at noon. If he had done the thing rationally he wouldn’t act as he does. From his manner and all that I’m sure this is one of his ordinary lapses. It’s a pity. He’s a fine fellow in other respects.” The dialogue ended by my betting Nell five pounds of candy that she couldn’t keep Ned till Christmas day. Noon came, and he didn’t go. Another day passed, and still he remained. Meanwhile he was in a constant state of Inquietude, apparently not knowing whether he was on his head or bis heels. Nell. too. seemed to be getting nervished up, and It was evident something was brewing. Christmas morning came, and we were all wishing each other a merry day of It, except Ned and Nell. Whom I couldn’t see and couldn’t find. Presently Annie, the maid, came to me and told me father wished to see me in his sitting room upstairs. I went up there, and who should be with him but the missing parties. “My son,” said father,' “Nellie has given us a Christmas gift” “Where is it?” I asked, assuming stupidity. “It’s not an it; it’s a he,” said Neil. “I should like to know what you told me that cock and bull story for?” . “What cock and bull story?” “Mr. Culberton and Nellie are engaged,” said father. “He has just asked my consent, and I have given it cheerfully. I know you will join me In welcoming your college friend into the family.” “So he should.” said Ned, “after the setting up he gave me to his sister. I say, old man. what were you driving at anyway?” “Trying to keep you two apart”