The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-21
CUPID'S SERVITOR.

Like batch OF bread made with
stale yeaSt-sodden and sour-was the
face of Clymer Ames. He was the very
last man YOU would have supposed to
be the salaried servitor of Cupid Yet,
so fond of paradoxes is Fate. that this
man. WHO had eschcwcd Love. made
his bread aud butter by serving him.
But. like NIL vino wait on Love with in-
terested motives. he received nothing
but dross for his pains.
Yet one day it happened that his
fickle master had placed before his
eyes those illuminating glasses which
turn the common sky into Eeaven.
which convert life into lyric and
woman into Il creature of perfume and
melody and light.
But the next day. ms one may see.
these glasses were taken off again. and
Ciymcr Ames had never looked through
them since.
Yet every day from in the MORN
ing till 5 in the afternoon this man.
VINO could have killed Eros for his
perhdious conduct, was obliged TO toll
in his behalf. He was. in short, the
clerk who issued the marriage licenses.
" Hth Ht iiiSl "tuL Illtt tue stIA iCt bI
the greatest of cosmopolitans. Cupid.
he Dedicated TO him n very bad
chirography. IA totally uneducated per-
ceptIon and an indefatigable industry.
In the course of few weeks spent
behind the little window in the county
Courts spacious apartments, the
chirography of this young man began
to improve. So did his perceptions.
He could tell, when man ap-
preached him. whether he had family
pride or not; whether or not he was
sentimental and inpatient; whether ne
was inclined for hymeneal display;
whether he was happy or fearful;
whether he was going TO marry a
woman of whom he was proud or only
one with whom he was in love.
Clymer Ames, who at lirst saw only
the stage-carpentering and scene-shift-
ing in this drama of the emotions. be-
gan to wonder how it would look from
the front. He found himself getting
very curious AS to what a man did and
said before armed with the age,
name. maternal aud paternal parents
namcs of his bride came TO ask
for legal permission To be forever hap
py.
1t would be very easy, of course. for
Ciymer Ames To get that legal right.
In his capacity of lover he could APP
proach himself in his capacity as clerk
and without unnecessary embarraSs-
ment or hesitation ask for "A license
aud get il. To bc sure. he could not
well he on both sides Of the window at
.,ttl I.aJ Jt.,I lnttI.f- .1s,n,,f
the complete regularity OF "A license
granted under circumstances in Which
the applicant associated with such un-
seemly familiarity with his superior
the clerk.
This, however was n difficulty which
he f"li could bc overcome. Bat that
was the fifth act. What led up To III?
What did "A lover do through the -four
preceding acts?
Clymer Ames determined To find out.
Fate. which is sometimes kind only
to be cruel. aided him. 1t went
further. and abettcd.
Lydia Eastwater lived in the next
block but one to where Clymer Ames
boarded. and she came down to see
the daughter of the landlady and play
tennis with her on the lawn. Clvmer.
who had hitherto deteSted tennis. felt
convinced rs soon as he saw Lydia
Eastwater on the green that exercise
was the only thing for him after his
long Office hours.
The rest of the summer he put on
white flannel as soon rs he got home.
and he all but slept with II tennis bat
in his hand.
Il guess it must be pretty dull stay
ing in the office all day this hot
weather." said Lydia Eastwater one
nigh, when they stood together on the
same side of the white tennis net.
Its dull enough. But nothing to
what it used to be. you know. | have
something To look forward To now"
Have you?" said Lydia Eastwater
innocently. picking bug OFF her red
and white skirt. I'm sure I'm glad
of it,"
ITS the tennis at night look for
ward 10. 1t brightens up my whole
day. Don't you care for il. too?"
"Me?' calculated Lydia with un-
grammatical nouchalance. 'Oh. yes.
| like tennis well enough. / wish
though. that these people would come
back and 70 to playing. Standing
around on Il tennis ground till you
are rcar!g to drop isn't any pleasanter
than Standing around anywhere else.
She ilirted out one foot as she talked
and revealed marvellous stock ing.
C.ymcr wondered il the twenty-five
fellow who had that day applied To
him lpr the sanction of the law 10 their
bliss hah experienced such difficulties
In the first act-he felt himself To be
nearing the end of that part of the
drama.
II Lydia Eastwater would only show
by some sign. however slight. that her
heart lhrobbed US his did Inc would be
willing to have the curtain rung down
for the entire act and let the orchestra
niav a while