Wanted--A Match Maker | Page 9

him my dislike of it," was her thought.
Obviously Dr. Armstrong was not disturbed by Miss Durant's
programme, for the whole distance was walked in silence; and even
when they halted on the corner, he said nothing, though the girl was
conscious that his eyes still studied her face.
"I will not be the first to speak," she vowed to herself; but minute after
minute passed without the slightest attempt or apparent wish on his part,
and finally she asked, "Are you sure this line is running?"
Her attendant pointed up the street. "That yellow light is your car. I
don't know why the intervals are so long this evening. Usually--"
He was interrupted by the girl suddenly clutching at her dress, and then
giving an exclamation of real consternation.
"What is it?" he questioned.
"Why, I--nothing--that is, I think--I prefer to walk home, after all," she
stammered.
"You mustn't do that. It's over two miles, and through a really rough

district."
"I choose to, none the less," answered Constance, starting across the
street.
"Then you will have to submit to my safeguard for some time longer,
Miss Durant," asserted the doctor, as he overtook her.
Constance stopped. "Dr. Armstrong," she said, "I trust you will not
insist on accompanying me farther, when I tell you I haven't the
slightest fear of anything."
"You have no fear, Miss Durant," he answered, "because you are too
young and inexperienced to even know the possibilities. This is no part
of the city for you to walk alone in after dark. Your wisest course is to
take a car, but if you prefer not, you had best let me go with you."
"I choose not to take a car," replied the girl, warmly, "and you have no
right to accompany me against my wish."
Dr. Armstrong raised his hat. "I beg your pardon. I did not realize that
my presence was not desired," he said.
Angry at both herself and him, Constance merely bowed, and walked
on. "I don't see why men have to torment me so," she thought, as she
hurried along. "His face was really interesting, and if he only wouldn't
begin like--He never would have behaved so if--if I weren't--" Miss
Durant checked even her thoughts from the word "beautiful," and
allowed the words "well dressed" to explain her magnetism to the other
sex. Then, as if to salve her conscience of her own hypocrisy, she
added, "It really is an advantage to a girl, if she doesn't want to be
bothered by men, to be born plain."
The truth of her thought was brought home to her with unexpected
suddenness, for as she passed a strip of sidewalk made light by the
glare from a saloon brilliant with gas, a man just coming out of its door
stared boldly, and then joined her.

"Ahem!" he said.
The girl quickened her pace, but the intruder only lengthened his.
"Cold night, isn't it, darling?" he remarked, and tried to take her arm.
Constance shrank away from the familiarity with a loathing and fear
which, as her persecutor followed, drove her to the curb.
"How dare you?" she burst out, finding he was not to be avoided.
"Now don't be silly, and--"
There the sentence ended, for the man was jerked backwards by the
collar, and then shot forward, with a shove, full length into the gutter.
"I feared you would need assistance, Miss Durant, and so took the
liberty of following you at a distance," explained Dr. Armstrong, as the
cur picked himself up and slunk away.
"You are very--Thank you deeply for your kindness, Dr. Armstrong,"
gasped the girl, her voice trembling. "I ought to have been guided by
your advice and taken the car, but the truth is, I suddenly
remembered--that is, I happened to be without any money, and was
ashamed to ask you for a loan. Now, if you'll lend me five cents, I shall
be most grateful."
"It is said to be a feminine trait never to think of contingencies,"
remarked the doctor, "and I think, Miss Durant, that your suggested
five cents has a tendency in that direction. I will walk with you to
Lexington Avenue, which is now your nearest line, and if you still
persist then in refusing my escort, I shall insist that you become my
debtor for at least a dollar."
"I really need not take you any further than the car, thank you, Dr.
Armstrong, for I can get a cab at Twenty-third Street."
It was a short walk to the car line,--too short, indeed, for Miss Durant
to express her sense of obligation as she wished,--and she tried, even as

she was mounting the steps, to say a last word, but the car swept her
away with the sentence half spoken; and