The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-06-01
PALtAS AVID CUPIG

Minerva lie Roy was gazing abb
s.raclediy AZ a tiny winged figure of
Cupid perched upon the handle of a
silver urn.
One hand toyed with the pen, the
other held an open letter On the
table before her heaps of papers and
notes lay scattered.
80 Richard Ashcombe has come
home again." a slight pause; ARE we
glad, my wise, beautiful Pallas?"
For a moment her blush gray eyes
rested upon the marble features of
Athena, then she tossed aside the pen
and muttered halfaudibly, Shall l
allow Cupid to enter your realm, my
guardian?"
There was silence. a passing
breeze rustled the scattered sheets of
manuscript; the little Dutch clock
licked on nnheeded. Athena, i'm
perial, majestic, gazed mutely down
from her resting place, top of the
bookcase at that tail fair woman who
bore her name
How time flies" unused Minerva;
1T seems only yesterday that | was
simply a child dreaming OF the days
which We're to come. All! some of
those dream days have come-and
gone: careless, romantic girlhoOd has
passed me by; | am twenty eight, a
woman Of the world and, softly a
woman known to the world, thanks to
your inspirations, noble Pallas. Rich
ard has grown older, too; he is col
lege professor, and thirty. All! we
are no longer children"
She crumpled the edges of the let
ter with her slender fingers and smil-
ed-half sadly.
How well she remembered her first
meeting with Richard - everybody
called him Dick then.
What a stormy day it was, and how
those miscGieyOus boys did surprise
her as they bounded from their hid
ing place behind a frozen bank, and
as she passed, fairly bombarded her
with numerous white missiles, several
of which crashed through her new
Christmas umbrella, leaving it in a
state of miserable dilapidation. " hat
a rueful little countenance was hers
as she closed the shattered thing
INC ollON idAto n ti4Ea III l1ti lCCC, INC
tears filling her eyes as she beheld
the ruins of that once pretty and use
full article. Then there was every
prospect of getting soaked before she
reached home. Who could refrain
from weeping under such deplorable
circumstances.
But such was not to be her fate.
Just as that moment somebody-and
such a gentlemanly little fellow he
was-stepped up and offered her his
umbrella. Unwilling to deprive him
of his only protection from the storm,
she refused it. He insisted, she stout
ly defied him, and then they COM
promised; both huddled under the
umbrella and started homeward, the
merry shouts of the snow-ballers
bringing crimson bushes to her
cheeks How pleased she was when
she found that the Ashcombes were
to occupy the vacant house across the
street from her own home
All, what happy hours followed that
stormy afternoon; then Richard went
to college aud she to boarding school.
Four years before they met again
Minerva eighteen, Dick twenty-both
at the age when young folks find
hearts troublesome.
Well did she recollect Richards
establishment as he beheld her in the
first stages of her glorious woman
hood, and his exclamation of why,
Minerva, how you have grown! You're
almost as tall as the Goddess of
Liberty!" She felt very much COM
plimented at his honest, unconcealed
admiration, and more so than she
cared to admit.
1t is not difficult to guess what fol-
lowed; but marriage and housekeep-
ing were not for Minerva career
was before her. Already there were
several crisp checks in her desk
drawer, most acceptable acknowledge
ments of her labor. So she refused
him. He returned to college to ac-
cept a professorship. and she went to
her literary work with nervous, trem-
ulous enthusiasm, questioning in her
heart the wisdom Of her decision. It
was Pallas VS.. Cupid which would
finally win.
Minerva moved restlessly in her
chair, then read the note through
once more. Ten years ago she had
sent Richard away. Was she strong
enough to see him again, perhaps re-
new the old struggle, and come out
victorious? She looked up at Athena,
an inward brightness leaped into her
glorious eyes; she crushed his letter
in her hands and dropped 1t into the
waste basket. Cupid might enter
other hearts and homes, but not hers.
Pallas alone should direct her life on
ward, upward toward the goals of
knowledge, fame, and success.
At that moment the little Dutch
clock chimed the hour of eleven, and
down stairs the bell rang. Minerva
sank further into her chair her hands
nervously clasped the chair arms; a
strange sensation passed over her.
Was she so sure Of herself after all?
There were steps in the hall; she
rose quickly and looked up at Athena.
"Ah. Pallas, you WILL not forsake me
now" she entreated leaning heavily
against the desk
The STEPS came nearer, the door
opened and closed, and she knew that
he was looking at her. Athena's face
grew blurred; Minerals eyes were
filing with tears. half of joy, half of
embarrassment; her hands trembled,
and she felt her face flushing scarlet.
Miss LIE Roy, believer"
Minerva turned slowly, her ewes
met his and blindly lmpulsively she
extended both Of her hands to him.
Its great pleasure assure you
to renew our old acquaintance, Miss
LIE Roy" He '-eld those '',nder fiut-
tering hand
90 please please don She was
ashamed of her own WEAKNESS. Her
eyes dropped and she flushed deeper.
He looked at her stessiiiy Z mo-