The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-02-15
C~onspiring With Cupid
BY EpHs ". SARGENT.

proper mate Tor MdDel howard, tnat
independent young woman properly
decided to transfer her somewhat I'M
settled affections to Frank Caswell.
Branscome ok pointed out that
Schermerhorn had been her girlhood's
sweetheart, was now well to do, n
their union would crow a very pref
ty little
On the other hand. Caswell was
practically a newcomer in the village. !
having made his advent two wears he
fore. when Branscome arrived at the
d'enitv of supporting a national bank.
The directors had brought him up
from the city to act as receiving tel
Ter and to teach the Branscome hovs
how to conduct a bank. He had pro-
ceeded to make himself generallv FIX
cd. and the only thing that could be
urged against him was that his very
evident fondness for Mabel Howard
threatened to destroy a Branscome ro-
n,snce,
Oddly enough Caswell and Scher-
merhorn were the closet of friends.
Despite dire predictions OF personal
encounters nothing marred the course
of their friendship. and Schermerhorn
seemed to find very satisfying consola-
ton in the company Of Grace Payne.
CasweIPs half sister. who kept house
for him.
So matters stood when Anabel Nc
Pherson decided to give a Halloween
party. Miss Mcpherson. known as
-.lt A. a. 1nf{ro x,iIlaoa ,.,ou old
Captain McPherson's daughter. and,
inheriting her fathers estate. she had
become the richest woman in the vii
1age. Much given to novel reading,
Miss Anabel had never married. fear
full hat each sutton was seeking her
fortune rather than her hand. AT
AZ she was still single and by no means
an unattractive woman. with a kindly
heart and a head filed with romantic
~fancies. 1t was her delight to make
the affairs of others her own and this
Halloween party was given for the
express purpose of setting matters
straight between Schermerhorn and
Mabel Howard Well versed in the
superstitious lore of love. she decided
thai with a little assistance Cupid
might yet achieve a victory n bring
the pair together.
Among the tests for the evening
Miss Howard had decided upon that
OF naming candles. Different names
would be given several wax tapers;
the last one left burning would indi-
cate the name of ones future hus-
band. She used tiny wax tapers.
homemade, N by giving one twice
as thick a wick as the other she argu-
ed that one. would burn twice as rapid
ly. and. thus prepared. in a fever of
anticipation she awaited the coming
of her guests.
There were the usual tests of sus-
pended apples, floating apples. pop-
ping chestnuts and mirrors. Finally.
with great glee, Miss Anabel brought
out the two tapers.
Here's a test for Mabel Howard"
she ingenuously. for, AZ
mistress of ceremony. h had seen
to it that Mabel had taken no promi-
nent part in the earlier tests. This"
she said. as she placed the candle on
the table, II shall name Charles and
this" producing the n with the
quicker wick-"well, p we name
1t Frank"
Mabel blushed redly at this very
pointed allusion. and half started up
as though she would leave the room.
Caswell laid a OBTAINING hand gently
upon her arm.
Don't" he whispered. "She means
well and to leave now would only serve
to make a bad matter very much
worse" Mabel sank back in her seat.
but presently all were crowded around
the table where the two candles were
burning brightly. Caswel was not
superstitious. but the spirit of the
some concern that his candle was
burning away much faster than the
other. Miss Anabel noted with pride
the approaching success of her expedi-
ent, and, her gentle heart t%hrobbing.
she lowered over the candles.
Caswel's candle was now within
half an inch of the candlestick, while
fully two inches of Schermerhorn's
remained. Suddenly a gust of old air
blew in from a window that had just
been raised and a later some
one opened the door in the hall to adj
NIT a gust of dry Icy air, and the
flames fiickered p~erilously. With a
Shrek Miss Anabel rushed to close the
window. but, as the heavy sash drop
ped with a bang, ar excited clamor
arose at the table and she heard with
sudden contraction OF the heart some
n laughingly announce. "Caswell
wins!'
She made her way to the table. and
there, still burning brightly. but al
most consumed. was the candle she
had named for Frank. while a smok-
ing wick crowned a full inch of a