The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-07

ONE Of CUPID'S
} w AY s
By Sarah Lindsay Coleman
Copyright. 1909,
By McClure's Newspaper Syndicate
Copyright, 1909,

The car that went to Overlook park
was crowded: 1t usually was when
there was a promise of a fine sunset
Brooks gazed steadily from the win
dow on the unpicturesque side of the
car. Even when the passengers crowd
ed to the other sid. TO look into the
valley far below them and at the
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 a 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 I'D,
he saw Miss Hilderbrand on the step
above him.
Miss Hilderbrand was the leader of
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 We're 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 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 fol
her to pour tea for the club members
but she had sent her excuses.
Johnston, friend and fellow citizer
| of hers, said that she had gone on the
mountain to be alone and get a griI
on herself; that a telegram had brough
her bad news.
The car climbed slowly.
Brooks hadn't the slightest idea wha
the trouble was nor what assistance b
could render. There was but one de
sire in his honest heart, and that wa
to help her. How he would do it hadn'
been revealed, but, with his usual d
| rectness, he had followed her to I'm
out.
On the mountain top the band play
| ed, and gay groups of people moved Il
, every direction.
Brooks came upon Miss Hilderbrant
, | solitary in the midst Of the crowd
| The glow of the sunset was on hel
and as he came up she smiled VI
steadily.
I'm sorry you've heard it. / leav
, tomorrow. I hoped il would not b
found out, but of course everybod
| will know"
/, I'm not everybody" said Brook
: stoutly. Il came because l want
comfort lonely things. What can
dor'
Miss Hilderbrand's glance went owe
Brooks stout figure and came back
his clear eyes. The two faces were
sharp contrast in his the rugge
!, strength of a more simple civilization
!, in the girls the suggestion of extren
culture.
!. I'm glad you came" she said quit
!, simply. III like TO remember it whe
I've become n dressmaker. That's VIII:
I've been up here deciding-what TO
= with myself now that the money
swept away. Dressmaking is my on
real talent. and" with another atteml
= at a smile. I'm thought to be such q
j accomplished young woman"
u But there's McAdoo." Brooks spol
u that name with difficulty. Among Il
y men there was one he detested, al
1t was Miss Hilderbrand's fianc
Haven't you taken him into your q
rangements"
HE hasn't taken me into his q
le rangements." she said.
: Brooks stared at her as though
had lost his senses.
p 1--WE been Tilted" She looked aero
10 the valleys filling with mist and not
IL Brooks.
N Habits are hard TO break" s
D. spoke to herself as much as to hi
"It had gone on so long il was hab
III II we had cared for each other. '
would have been married long ago"
IN She turned TO Brooks. But it hun
We ones pride to be thrown overheard
the day one loses the money" she sa
I'm depressed at the dressmakiI
Up too" she apologized.
FL How'd companion DOR ask
Brooks cautiously.