Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 298, Decatur, Adams County, 15 December 1908 — Page 7

I Making a Match. | [Copyright, 1908, by American Preu Association.] Mrs. Hunniman’s hobby was matchmaking. When Mr. Charles Edwin Lupton took up his residence in the city of Mrs. Hunniman’s home and presented a letter of introduction to her, her first thought was how to present him to society, the second how to present him with a wife. She determined to invite the social leaders to meet him at dinner and to give him for a table companion a lady, also a newcomer, in whose social preferment she took a deep interest. Mr. Lupton was a man of forty, intellectual, good looking, well to do and of aristocratic mein. He had been abroad for some time, and Mrs. Hunniman knew nothing of his antecedents except that he was vouched for in the highest terms in his letter of introduction. But no one would mistake him for anything else than a gentleman. Miss Overlander, whom Mrs. Hunnlman designed for Mr. Lupton’s wife, was thirty-two years old aqd still a beautiful woman. But a friend of Mrs. Hunniman told some one. who told others, that Miss Overlander was not Miss Overlander at all. When the dinner guests were assembled in the drawing room, Mrs. Hunniman took Mr. Lupton’s arm and led him to the lady beside whom be was to sit at table. There was something so distinguished in both Mr. Lupton’s and Miss Overlander’s person and manner that the hum of conversation ceased, and all eyes were fixed upon the couple. Both bowed low, the man made some casual observation, the woman replied by an assenting nod, the guests resumed their chat, and not long afterward all passed into the dining room. There is one thing that matchmakers who are real matchmakers never do. They carefully abstain from any word or act that will intimate their intentions to the objects of their designs. Mrs. Hunniman had thus abstained in the present case, though it had been whispered among the dinner guests that she had Intentions concerning Mr. Lupton and Miss Overlander, and during the dinner the couple were the recipients of curious glances. The conversation between the two seemed at first a trifle constrained, and Mrs. Hunniman was not especially encouraged as to the matter she had in view. The lady seemed not especially attracted to her dinner companion, who showed a trifle of embarrassment consequent upon her coldness, and when shortly after the soup she entered into conversation with the gentleman sitting on her other side Mr. Lupton turned to the lady on his other side and became animated. But at a dinner party one cannot Ignore his or her dinner companion very long without being considered rude, and Mr. Lupton and Miss Overlander <bon found themselves forced to entertain each other or sit in silence. The lady by this time seemed to have made up her mind to make the best ot a bad bargain and ventured several remarks to the gentleman, who sat very stiffly beside her restlessly fingering the stem of his wineglass and only replied in a perfunctory manner. It became evident to several of the comi pany who were in the secret of the hostess’ matchmaking that Mr. Lupton at least was showing a sure sign of I entanglement—pique. Then he made I some remark in a tone too low to be heard except by Miss Overlander, whereupon she haughtily turned her back on him. This was near the close of the dinner. When the guests were departing. Mrs. Hunniman asked Mr. Lupton how he was pleased with the lady she had assigned him for the evening. His reply was a snort and an angry turning away. As Miss Overlander came down from the ladies' cloakroom she received the same question with regard to Mr. Lupton. “Delighted,” was her reply In a tone calculated to freeze the marrow in the bones of the questioner. When the last guests were departing. Mr. Hunniman, who had gone out to put a lady in her carriage, returned, with a blank look on his face and whispered to his wife: ‘‘My dear, what do you think?” “What?” “Mr. Lupton and Miss Overlander have gone in the same carriage.” “For heaven’s sake! What does It mean?” Now, the departure of the newly introduced couple was seen by two men of the party who were starting for their club. Moved by curiosity, they followed in their carriage. Two hours later they returned to the Hunniman mansion and called for the head of the house. He came down from his bedroom in pajamas. “Hunniman,” said one of the visitors, “it is our duty as your friend to warn you that you and your wife are being deceived. There's something wrong—very wrong—about Miss Overlander.” “Oh, heavens!” exclaimed Mrs. Huntsman from the landing above. “We saw her leave your house in a carriage with Lupton. We considered It our duty to you to follow them. I They drove through the park for an I hour and a half, then to a hotel, where I they registered as Mr. and Mrs. C. E. I Lupton." I “We’re ruined,” cried Mrs. HunnlI man from above. “I’ll never hold up I my head in society again.” I At that moment there was a ring at l th « bell. Mr. Hunniman opened the ■ door and was handed a telegram. He I fead aloud: ■ Tha n ks for reuniting an estranged •marI rl *d couple. _ ABIGAIL TREAT.

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