The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-05
Invincible Cupid
NJ. r. RITTENHOUSE


marked Marion Fleming, survey
ing her friend with mingled contempt
and pity.
NO" agreed Joan mcekly Il am not.
but 1t isn't altogether my fault. I've had
10 obey my aunt ever since ] can re-
member It's not so easy 20 assert your
self when you've been ruled all Your
life. don't believe you would have
the courage to make II stand against
Aunt Amanda
MarIons eyes flashed. Forty Aunt
Amardas couldn't make me give ur
the man | loved" she declared. and
marry old Jay Spencer"
He Is horrid | don't want to marry
him" quayered Joan but what can |
do"
Have you written to Neil about it?'
demanded Marion.
loan shook her head Aunt Amanda
said not. and just didn't dare she
answered
"Oh. Why didn't you tell mo this be-
fore" cried Marion. impalion'ly, The
wedding day only q week away ana
T. viii I've at least eight days before
Ncll can get a letter and then come
on here"
"Hut don't dare write TO him."
cried Joan Aunt Amanda said not
You needn't scold or loDt at me Ike
that, Marion for cant help It,"
Girls" called the harsh, rasping
voice of Miss Amanda Wc1thcrs. and
the girls spranr to their fee, and pre-
scented themselves to that worthy lady
with surprising prompinrss.
Miss Amanda, spare Of form and
stern Of feature. At once noted Jolns
red owes you girls have been talk
Ing nonsense about that young Graves.
and want Il stopped" she said Sc
vcrcly Marion Fleming ! hired YOU
to do plain sewing. not to gabhle love
sick nonsense to this silly girl"
Nov want You 10 understand
Joan will marry Mr. Spencer this day
week. Shc1l 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
Shell marry him because I wish
her TO Isn't that sufficient reason?
Isn't she my niece? Haven't | fed and
clothed and shaved for her over since
she was little red, ugly baby, that
nobody else wanted and now why
shouldn't she marry The man I've cho-
sen for her?
And wh"rr would YOU he II Jay
Spencer ha'ht aiv"n you tho Ford
school last winter She demanded.
ficrccly Of Marion. where's your
gratitude? Pah, You idle young fools
make me sick. &c back 10 your work,
and don't let me know Of your talking
nonsense again. do yon hear"
Eyes, NAM" said Joan. mcekly. and
thcy went back to their sewing with
tingling ears.
That night. with Joan smmhernr
peacefully by her side. Marion pom
dercd over the problem of preventing
the marriage until the arrival Of Nell
Graves
True TO her promise to Joan that
afternoon. she had written him the
true state Of affairs. you must come
prepared 10 take Joan away with YOU. "
she told him, for nothing else will
prevent her aunt marrying her to MIR
Spencer"
"lIc will marry her and take her
away I'll never see either Of them
again" thought Marion. bitterly Yes
Neil would marry Joan loan
who would love anyone who rcttcl and
made much OF her; who would
even be happy with Jay Srcn-
Ger. II he were kind 10 her
while she-hCre poor Marion
chokcd back tho rising Cob, for had
she not loved Nell over since child
hood? Those happy days when the
three, Neil, Joan and Marion. were in
separablr
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. hravely hiding her
love and wounded pride. listened to
their plans for the future, with n smil-
ing face.
At the time, Miss Amanda made ne
objections to the engagement; for Nil
was quite a promising young man, but
when six months later. Jay Spencer q
bald. uncomely gentleman of fifty. sued
for Joans hand, Miss Amanda prompt.
~ ordered her to accept him
Miss Amanda at once began prepare
tions for the wedding She command,
ed Joan to stop writing to that ycnng
Graves" and not to chatter nonsense
about not wanting to marry Mr. Spcn.
GER"
Poor. tlmid Joan told no one Of her
distaste for her elderly lover. until
Marion, employed by Miss Amanda
to sow on the trousseau. taxed her with
uufai,hfuneSs. Then Joan told the
whole. miserable truth. and tearfully
appealed to Joan for aid.
And now, Marion tossed restlessly on
her pillow, scheminG desperately 10
save Joan for the man she herself
loved.
LET the marriage 20 on" whis-
pered jealousy. why do you inter
fero? Neil used to love you best II
Joan was only out of the way, who
knows what might happen"
Neil shall marry Joan" cried Ma
rion's better self. She is more fl 10
be his wife than |, He would always
be ashamed of my people Oh Nell
Neil! love you too well to bc a drag
upon you, dear"
All week Marion raclted her brain
for some means Of postponing the mar
rage until Neil's arrival but all In
vain. The Graves family we're away
Tor the summer, and the rest of the