The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-25
DAN CUPID.
By THE DUCHESS.
rCopyripht, 1906, by tho Author.J

Sometimes too hot the eyo OF heaven
shines. Today proves it. TerriDlo IS tne
strongth of tho rays that Ola Sol Is
flinging broadcast upon the Slmmerlng
earth. The tennis players havo given i'll
to il, and confossing themselves van
uuishcd havo flung their raCkets to
tho winds and themselves into garden
chairs or elso prone upon the shaven
lawn under tho aoacias according to
thoir sGX.
Two Of them, however, have wander
ed rather far from tho acacias and the
tea tables and the tont, where botter
things than tea can be had for tho ask
ing. They havo wandered into little
green space, shut out from Il noisy world
by rows and rows Of hedges all beech,
on the north and south, and heavy
rhododcntlrons on tho two other sides.
1t is little dream Of n place, entered
by ono opening only, and that through
tho bccchcs.
"a sort Of Arcadia, isn't it," says
Mr. Brooke, glancing up at his compan-
ion from his lounging position upon tho
grass ut her feet
NO. says she, with Il little frown.
She makes a charming picture. sitting
here in the sunshine next tho old sun
dial, with her hat lying on the ground
beside her and the glinting rays from
the glowing heavens throwing goldcn
lights into her fine brown hair. Her
eyes arc blue and just at this mOmont
little angry. The mouth. too, SO promo
to laughter IA a rule, has grown mu-
tinous. Half child, half woman, she
has not yot learned tho more delicate
shades Of sooiety's colors and lets her
thoughts lie openly upon her lovely face.
"You are hard to please" says he,
his eyes on hers. Az rule, his eyes arc
seldom anywhere else.
"Well, you are notn' returns sho
promptly.
From afar tho thrum, thrum, thrum,
Of banjo comes to them, breaking Il
stiffness that is almost oppressive.
"That'S the unkindrst cut of all, y
says Mr.. Brooke placidly. cts rather
cut ut Miss Morland, too, isn't it? /
presume you alludo to my engagement
to her. -
"You presume very wrongly, then. l
was not thinking of Miss Morland Sho
ought to please. Sho is rich, young,
handsome.
erich, ycs.'
"And handsome" pcrsistcntly.
''lS che? Oh, yes, Of course she is. A
perfect Juno! Too perfect Il Juno, per-
haps.
'You shouldn't snccr at her. says
tho girl gravcly.
81 know that, and that's why | do
it," says no. 1T is SO difficult to resist
temptation, and to do the wrong thing
is always 50 pleasant" He is talking
idly, scarcely knowing what he says,
his mind full of her, full of tho knowl-
edge that he loves her, her only, and
with all tho passion of his nature, and
that he is engaged to be married to an
other woman, II handsome woman, the
daughter and hoircss of il cotton mcr-
chant, what her own class would call a
fine girl, tall. with light eyes and
lighter hair and distinctly undcrbrcd.
She had met George Brooke some
months ago at the house of "A mutual
friend, and being filled with strong
desire to rise out of her cotton surround.
lngs had given him very clearly to un-
dcrstand that she was willing to accept
nm should he choose to accent her for
tune, which was enormous, in exchange
Tor the Old title that must come to him
On the death Of his uncle, Lord Farm
ham, bcggarly title, no penny of money
coming with it, as the uncle let the
nephew know as often as opportunity
occurred.
There had been bad blood between
Lord Farnham and his second brother,
George Brooko's father, and Farnham
WAS not man to forget. lie sworo no
would visit the sin of tho father upon
the son, and sooner than let his money
90 to the young George ho would leave
it to Il hospital. As for tho old name
and the keeping up of it, let it go to
tho devil. Young George would inherit
that i'll spite of him, but it should prove
Il barren honor to him.
George took no steps to assuagc his
unclc's wrath, but he thought IL good
deal Of the time when he should be
Lord Farnham, with only $500 IL yeal
to back his title He had shirkcd the
idea of marrying for money, but whcl
Miss Morland, with her undcniably
golden charms, flung herself at his head
ho permitted himself to argue the ques