Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-03-25
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| DAN CUPID.
; |CHAUFFEUR
By Lillian c. Paschal
By Lillian c. Paschal
Copyright, 1901. by Lillian G. Paschal

1
greatest of these is charity"
Anice covered rosebud mouth, halt
blown into yawn, with gloved hand
as she stood in argumentative attitude
before the Pickering gas log.
"I'm sick Of the first two, lady moth.
er. Therefore will practice charity"
"Well," said her mother plaintively,
taking up novel, do be careful with
that automobile. Don't let it run away
with you. You'll get smallpox or some
thing down in that awful ghetto, as
you call it. And be sure to change
your clothes before
But her tall, willful daughter was al
ready half way down stairs. Pausing
in the hall and thrusting her hands in
to the sleeves of her long raglan, she
said:
go back to my room, Celeste, and
bring me the violets to wear"
"Oui, mamselle, but re violets have
faded since yesterday. Ze pink roses
60 better wiz miladi's gown"
Miss Anice repeated her order more
imperatively. She would have told
you that she detested dictation and
pink teas.
DR.. Harvey had been guilty Of the
first in an eminent degree. In con-
sequence he was carrying round re-
turned diamond ring irrclose proximity
to a very heavy heart, which had also
been declined with thanks, as though
it were an unavailable manuscript.
Charity covers a multitude of heart
aches. Therefore was Miss Anice
speeding OH errands of mercy this clear
December day.
And the fateful Juggernaut car
which had ridden ruthlessly over two
| fond hearts and brought about this
| state of affairs was no other than the
| little white electric runabout which
was now carrying her ghettoward.
Harvey was always so superorE
she thought scornfully as she pressed
down Oh the accelerator and shot
around Deadman's curve, narrowly
grazing policeman and scattering his
convoy of pedestrians. 81 can run the
| White Arrow as well as he can" For
their quarrel had been brought about
by difference of opinion as to her
| qualifications as chauffeur.
To be sure. the little Jewish newsboy
TO whom she was playing Lady BOun-
tiful was laid up with a pair of smash
I'd toes as result Of contested right
| uf way. In the encounter her auto
mobile had come out on top in every
sense of the word and had been since
gallantly carrying supplies to de.
| feated foe whose wounds the farsee-
Ing parents did not allow to heal too
rapidly.
"But of course everybody has to
learn to be anything" she comforted
herself, not choosing to remember that
Harvey had counseled her to wait till
she did learn before venturing out of
the park. land papa gave me the
| White Arrow only in October. think
I've done pretty well in that time"
She sighed when she thought how
| long it had been, because it was only
the week after that Harvey oh,
dear! And he had limited about a
pearl necklace for her birthday. Now,
among her tiresome gifts. not one from
him. not even a bunch of flowers
he who had sent her violets every day!
But she blushed as she glanced down at
those tucked under her coat lapel.
She was winking so fast to keep the
tears back that she did not see the nu-
merous warning symptoms of the great
lower east side, the hundreds Of chill.
dren. abundant riches of the poor. Be.
coming mistily conscious of gurgling
squall stopped half way down Il baby
throat. she looked back and saw
sprawling infant in her wake.
The White Arrow had gone complete
ly over the child. "straddling" it neat
ly. so she picked him up more frighten-
ed than hurt. After comforting him
with some of keys confectionery sup
plies she rode Oh, leaving him with
round eyes still staring tearfully and
rounder mouth peacefully stuffed with
raisins.
Arrived at last in Hester street. she
checked brake and lever In front OF the
tenement wuere Ikey abode. She was
at once swarmed upon like a queen bee
by hordes of children to whom the dali
ly visit of the white, horseless buggy
was great event.
1t Is sad to relate that with all her
vaunted capabilty as an autorist Mis-
tress Anice forgot small but very i'm
portant matter. She went up stairs
loaded with good things to gladden. the
heart of Ikey and his numerous rel
atives and forgot to take from Its
socket the little running plug of the
White Arrow. With that tiny key safe
in her chatelaine bag the capacity for
mischief in the combination of small
boy and automobile was reduced to a
minimum. Her electric horse would
be hitched fast. But with that brass
plug lurking impishly In its hiding
place behind the leather apron of the
seat and with little Nose Rudinsky's
bump of curiosity much inflated the
| inevitable occurred.
"Ye're afraid"
What juvenile bosom ever failed to
respond to that battlecry?
Nose scrambled up the big, fat cush-
ioned wheel.
der loidy zed fer us not ter tech
ut! warned another stolidly. while
third cautiously fingered the shining.
unlit eye Of the fore light.
Nose stood up and grasped the
bright steering lever. 1t moved and
the front wheels with 1t. humping VI
ciously into the shins Of the boy who
had questioned the courage Of Nose,
whereupon that young gentleman
laughed trirmphantly and sat down
comfortably on the soft leather seat,
his grimy face. tousled black hair and
greasy garments ludicrously out or
place among the luxurious cushions.
His elbow struck the controller han
die. There was new food for investiga-
tiors. Nose investigated. The White
Arrow started Obediently down the
street.
Miss Anlcc was descending the rick
ety stairs amid a shower Of blessings
when she heard q shout below.
"What's wrongY she demanded OF a
L II. Il