Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-05-14
sse.c.c.c.E.cC.to.G.G.[>'CS-
: ONE Of CUPID'S
; w A S
? By Sarah Lindsay Coleman
Copyright, 1907,
bu McClure's Newspaper Syndicate

valley far below them ana at lne
mountains-mountains piled on top Of
mountains-he sat motionless.
AS the Country club was passed he
showed some interest.
1t was Miss Hilderbrand's afternoon
to pour tea there Six months before,
when Miss Hilderbrand had poured
tea. Brooks sat on the clubhouse steps.
The laughter of gay voices had drifted
through the open windows to him. The
club members seemed very gay. Brooks
was club member, but he was not
gay.
An illness had sent him to the resort
town to recuperate. Most of the hotel
people belonged to the club, and he had
Joined. 1t seemed to him a good way
to get rid of the time that hung SO
heavily on his hands.
But he didn't care for golf, he
couldn't dance, he knew SO little Of the
new books and the old pictures, the
thousand and one things they talked
about He was an alien. Looking up,
he saw Miss Hilderbrand on the step
above him.
the fashionables that ran the Country
club. Her clothes were initiated, her
speeches repeated.
Brooks had wondered that so re-
served a woman could be as popular.
He had noticed that the charm of dis
tinction was in her high bred face,
and then thought no more about her.
Women were not much in his line
either
Miss Hilderbrand had smiled down
on him and said that she wanted him
to come in and drink tea with her.
And when she smiled the question of
her popularity was settled.
After that day Brooks became a real
member of the club. The women left
younger men to talk to him; the men
slapped him on the back, invited him
to drinks and voted him n fine old
chap.
He began to enjoy the life and the
new spirit of friendliness that per-
vaded the atmosphere. There was no
more talk of leaving this circle Of
bright, pretty women and jolly fellows.
Brooks realized that he owed the
change to Miss Hilderbrand. Once he
asked her why she had taken him up,
and she replied that she was sorry for
lonely things.
Six months had made a new man of
Brooks, and still he fingered
People had come and gone, as they
do at resort hotels, but Miss Hilder-
brand had not gone.
The afternoon had again come for
her to pour tea for the club members,
but she had sent her excuses.
Johnston, q friend and fellow citizen
Of hers, said that she had gone on the
mountain to be alone and get grip
on herself; that telegram had brought
her bad news.
The car climbed slowly.
Brooks hadn't the slightest idea what
the trouble was nor what assistance he
could render. There was but one de-
sire in his honest heart, and that was
to help her. How he would do 1t hadn't
been revealed, but, with his usual d.
rectness, he had followed her to find
out
On the mountain top the band play
ed, and gay groups of people moved in
every direction.
Brooks came upon Miss Hilderbrand,
solitary in the midst OF the crowd.
The glow of the sunset was ON her,
and as he came up she smiled un-
steadily.
'T'm sorry you've heard it. 1 leave
tomorrow. / hoped it would not be
found out, but of course everybody
will know"
'I'm not everybody" said Brooks
stoutly. II came because l want to
comfort lonely things. What can I
doY'
Miss Hilderbrand's glance went over
Brooks stout figure and came back to
his clear eyes. The two faces were in
sharp contrast in his the rugged
strength of more simple civilization;
in the girls the suggestion Of extreme
culture.
I'm glad you came" she said quite
simply. 'I'll like to remember 1t when
I've become dressmaker. That's what
I've been up here deciding-what to do
with myself now that the moneys
swept away. Dressmahng is my only
real talent, and" with another attempt
at smile, 'Pm thought to be such an
accomplished young woman"
"But there's McAdoo." Brooks spoke
that name with difficulty. Among the
men there was one he detested, and
1t was Miss Hilderbrand's fance.
Haven't you taken him into your ar
rangementsr
"He hasn't taken me into his ar
rangements," she said.
Brooks stared at her as though he
had lost his senses.
"Pve been Tilted" She looked across
the valleys filling with mist and not at
Brooks
Habits are hard to break" She
spoke to herself as much as to him.
at had gone on SO long 1t was habit.
II we had cared for each other, we
would have been married long ago"
She turned to Brooks. "But 1t hurts
Dne's pride to be thrown overheard on
the day one loses the money" she said.
"Pm depressed at the dressmaking,
too" she apologized.
How'd a companion doT asked
Brooks cautiously.
'Not at all" said the girl. 1--WE o
mean temper"
''The old person has the disposition
OF cherub."
II can't read and sing abominably."
'hTwouldn't be required"
''What wouldY'
whatever pleased you"
But" half petulantly, II don't like
old ladies'"
This is an old gentleman"
""Twouldn't do; highly improper"
"Oh, yes 1t would! It's emlnently re-
spectacle" Brooks got to his feet and
began speaking rapidly.
Look here" he said, 81 know you
don't care for me, but you are the fin
est girl 1 ever saw. I'm too old to
learn all loves little tricks, but you
won't expect much foolishness. 1 new
or had time Tor 1t when ! was
youngster, and | can't promise much
as lover, but / can make your life
easier and leave you respectable pile
of money at my DEATH"
"And what would you gainT Miss
Hilderbrand asked the question whc..
the silence had become audible. She
had paled perceptibly.
"The right to make you happy" said
Brooks.