The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-11-12
Invincible Cupid
Copyright, 1908, by Daily story Pub. Goa
NJ. F. RITTENHOUSE


NO" agreed Joan meellly, 81 am not
but it 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. l don't believe you would have
the courage to make a stand against
Aunt Amanda
7Marion's eyes flashed. "Fcrty Aunt
Amanda's couldn't make me give up
the man I loved" she declared, land
marry old Jay Spencer"
He is horrid. l don't want to marry
him." quavered Joan, but what can I
do?"
Have you written to Neil about it?"
demanded Marion.
Joan shook her head Aunt Amanda
said not, and l just didn't dare" she
answered
"Oh. why didn't you tell me this be-
fore?" cried Marion, impatiently "The
wedding day only a week away, and
it will be at least eight days before
Neil can get 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
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 Joan's
red eyes. You girls have been talk
ing nonsense about that young Graves,
and want it stopped" she said Sc
verely. Marion Fleming, hired you
to do plain sewing, not to gable love-
sick nonsense to this silly girl"
"Now, I want you to understand
Joan will marry Mr.. Spencer this day
week. She'll never have another
chance like him. Steady, well-to-do,
reliable men don't grow on every bush
There's not a girl in the whole set
Element that wouldn't jump at him."
and Miss Amanda eyed Marion mean
ingly.
She'll marry him because | wish
her to. Isn't that sufficient reason?
Isn't she my niece? Haven't fed and
clothed and shaved for her ever since
she was a little red, ugly baby, that
nobody else wanted, and now why
shouldn't she marry the man I've cho-
sen for her?
And where would you be If Jay
Spencer hadn't given you the Ford
school last winter?" she demanded,
fercely of Marion. Where's your
gratitude? Pah! You idle young fools
make me sick &c back to your work,
md don't let me know of your talking
nonsense again, do you hear"
Eyes, NAM" said Joan, meekly, and
they went back to their sewing with
tingling ears.
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.
True to her promise to Joan that
afternoon, she had written him the
true state of affairs. you must come
prepared to take Joan away with YOU"
she told him, "for nothing else will
prevent her aunt marrying her to Mr..
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 Snen-
GER, if he were kind to her,
while she-nere 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
separable
When Neil neared manhood he began
to lavish the affections hitherto equal
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 a smil-
ing face.
At the time, Miss Amanda made no
objections to the engagement; for Neil
was quite a promising young man, but
when six months later, Jay Spencer a
bald, uncomely gentleman of fifty, sued
for Joar's hand, Miss Amanda prompt
ly 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 Mr.. Spen-
GER"
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
whole, miserable truth, and tearfully
appealed to Joan for aid.
And now, Marion tossed restlessly on
her pillow, scheming desperately to
save Joan for the man she herself
loved.