St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-04-09
CUPID VERSUS ART.

| farther. II you WANT W carry ouI Iue
rest of your programme for today, you
will have to do it by yourself. 1 am
tired out. And here are these home
papers have been carrying around all
morning without even a chance to
glance in them"
Mrs. Curwin emphasized her remarks
by sinking down on one of the benches
in front of the Pavilion DIES Arts In
dustrieux. Soon she was buried in her
papers, quite forgetful of foreign sur
roundings.
One glance at the daughter showed
that she was the general of the little
exploring party. Filled with de-
termination to see everything at the
exposition, she had been personally
inducting" her meek minded mother
for a week. Mrs. Curwin was banker
ing for the allurements of the French
shops, but Connie had been resolute.
The exposition first and Paris after
ward was her motto.
But today she was wise enough to
overlook this sudden INSTRUMENTATION.
Besides, she was tired herself. So
there she sat, idly watching the stream
of passing people. What contrasts in
figure and costume met her eye-Eng-
lish, Turks, Hindoos, japanese and,
more numerous than all, Americans!
Connie saw her cOmpatriOts with a
thrill of pride the girls so much more
beautiful than their foreign sisters, the
men so tall and broad shouldered. Oh,
the American men! She would choose
them every time. A tender smile part
ed her lips Her mothers voice broke
her reyerie:
"Why, l can't believe my eyes
Well, wellr And she paused as if
overcome.
Connie leaned over and read the ex-
citing paragraph:
"Mr. and Mrs. Van Ingen announce
the engagement of their daughter
Maud to James Workman Pennington
of this city"
Connie started in spite of herself.
Jim! And he never told me!'
THAT'S just what I'd like to know.
How did he ever work it up in such a
hurry? Why, we have been gone only
two months, and before that he was
always hanging round after you"
She fairly sputtered in her excite
ment, but a glance at her daughters
face Gained her. 1t wore the look of
one stunned by the shock of sudden
blow.
"Of course" she went on more quiet
ly, 'it may have been going on for
long time. Maud is not pretty" with
an admiring gaze at her own daughter,
"but she is kind and pleasant. He
might have done worse"
Connie had started to her feet.
Eyes. he might have done worse"
she echoed. But shall write him
note tonight and scold him for not hay
ing told me befOre-me, whom he call
ed his best friend. Now. mother, if
you are determined not to see anything
more today you can easily find your
way home | will follow out the pro-
gramme alone" Aud picking up her
guidebooks, she hurried off.
Mrs. Curwin gazed after her with
growing anxiety. Did Connie really
care?
Meanwhile the trim little figure was
hurrying down long aisle. Her eyes
passed over a kaleidoscope succession
of objects that somehow failed to
make any impression on her brain.
The exposition roared and flashed
around her, and in her mind one train
of thoughts kept repeating with hOr-
rible persistency.
Jim engaged-her Jim! Yes, he had
been her Jim. she said almost savage
ly; had been her best friend for ever so
long. She had been coquettish and
flirted with the other boys but he had
known all along she felt sure. Had
he only been flirting with her? No,
no! But here he was, engaged to
another girl! And then the whole
miserable circuit began once more.
She came home to the pension so
white and weary that her mother was
alarmed, but she pleaded fatigue and
went off to bed like a tired child.
Poor Mrs. Curwin was much per-
picked in the days that followed. Con-
ME seemed the usual Connie but what
had inspired the girl with this insane
notion of staying in Paris to study art?
She argued and scolded, but all in vain.
Connie was young person of deter
mined mind, and on this subject she
was more than usually determined.
Her mother finally resigned herself to
the prospect of being an exile from her
beloved native land, for of course
where Connie stayed she had to stay,
too, until Connie wearied of this latest
within. Mrs. Curwin devoutly hoped
that it would be soon.
However. there was one alienation
for her misery. Connie seemed to have
lost her enthusiasm over doing the ex.
position. She spent her time inves,
tigating art schools and studios, leav,
ing her mother to plunge into all the
delights of shopping, of which the good
woman did not soon tire. To be sure
Connie might have shown a little more
interest in her purchases. 1t was all
very well to say that as an art student
she would need few clothes. Mrs. Cur
win knew better. Connie had always
| 81, H.,