Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-23
Invincible Cupid
iopyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Col
M. F. RXTTEeSEIOUSE

6"No," agreed Joan meekly, "I am not, but 1t isn't altogether my fault. I've had to obey my aunt ever since can re- member. It's not so easy to assert your self when you've been ruled all your life. don't believe you would have the courage to make a stand against Aunt Amanda
 Marion's eyes flashed. "F'crty Aunt Amandas couldn't make me give up the man loved" she declared, and marry old Jay Spencer"
 He is horrid don't want to marry him." quavered Joan. but what can do?"
 Have you written to Neil about 1t" demanded Marion.
 Joan shook her head. Aunt Amanda said not, and I just didn't dare" she answered.
 "Oh, why didn't you tell me this be- fore?" cried Marion, inpatiently. The wedding day only a week away, and 1t will be at least eight days before Neil can get a letter and then come on here"
 But I don't dare write. to him." cried Joan Aunt Amanda said not You needn't scold or look at me like that, Marion, for I can't help it.
 Girls called the harsh rasping I voice of Miss Amanda Weathers, and the girls sprang to their feet and pre- sented themselves to that worthy lady, with surprising promptness. Miss Amanda, spare of form and stern of feature, at once noted loans red eyes. You girls have been talk l ing nonsense about that young Graves. and want 1t stopped" she said se- verely Marion Fleming, hired you 1 to do plain sewing. not to gabble love- sick nonsense to this silly girl"
 '.Now, I want you to understand Joan will marry MT. Spencer this day week. She'll never have another chance like him. Steady, well-to-do, reliable men don't grow on every bush. 1 There's not a girl in the whole set- l tlement that wouldn't jump at him. 2 and Miss Amanda eyed Marion mean ingly.
 She'll marry him because wish her ro Isn't that sufficient reason? 1 Isn't she my niece? Haven't fed and 1 clothed and slaved for her ever since | she was little red, ugly baby, that I nobody else wanted, and now why shouldn't she marry the man I've cho- 4 sen for her?
 And where would you be if Jay Spencer hadn't given you the Ford school lest winter?" she demanded, fiercely of Marion Where's your l gratitude? Pah! You idle young fools make me sick. Go back to your work. and don't let me know of your talking nonsense again, do you hear"
 "Yes, man." said Joan. meekly, and they went back to their sewing with tingling cars.
 That night, with Joan slumbering peacefully by. her side. Marion pom dered over the problem of preventing the marriage until the arrival of Neil Graves. l True to her promise to Joan that afternoon, she had written him the true state of affairs. tsYou must come I prepared to take Joan away with you, '' I she told him, flor nothing else will prevent her aunt marrying her to MT. Spencer"
 "He will marry her and take her away. I'll never see either of them again thought Marion, bitterly. Yes, Neil would marry Joan-Joan, who would love anyone who petted and made much of her; who would even be happy with Jay spen- cer, if he were kind to her, while she--here poor Marion choked back the rising sob; for had she not loved Neil ever since child. hood? Those happy days when the three. Neil, Joan and Marion, were in- eeparable.
 When Neil neared manhood he began i ly divided between the two girls, upon | Joan.
 Perhaps he had always cared more for Joan. At any rate, when he came home from college, prepared to leave for the Middle West, ;" where he was to engage in business with an uncle he and Joan told Marion of their en- gagement, and she, bravely hiding her love and wounded pride, listened to their plans for the future, with g, smiI- ing face.
 At the time, Miss Amanda made nc objections to the engagement; for Neil
 
 when six months later, Jay Spencer, a bald, uncomely gentleman of fifty, sued for Joan's hand, Miss Amanda prompt- 1y ordered her to accept him.
 Miss Amanda at once began prepara- ' tions for the wedding. She command ed Joan to stop writing to that young Graves and not to chatter nonsense about not wanting to marry MT. Spen- cer."
 Poor, timid Joan told no one of her distaste for her elderly lover, until Marion. employed by Miss Amanda to sew on the trousseau, taxed her with unfaithfulness. Then Joan told <. the ,I whole, miserable truth, and tearfully appealed to Joan for aid.
 And now. Marion tossed restlessly or her pillow, schenfing desperately tc save Joan for the man she herself