The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-12-30
CUPID'S TILLER

man at the tiller of the Cupid were not
on speaking terms. For fully ten min
utes the frigid silence had been broken
only by the swish of the boats prov
through the water and by the splash
of the waves on her cheeks.
And for fully ten minutes the wind
had been rising, with Cupid in full sail
Why" the girl asked mentally
doesn't he take a reef:''
why the man wondered. doesn't
she become frightened:'
Savagely he showed the tiller down
and ran up into the wind He would
bring the Cupid about with whirl
that would 1T least transform the pref
ty pout on the face in the bow into an
expression of amazement.
But the little yacht, unaccustomed to
such strenuous handling, baked at the
turning and, tapping her white sail
pitifully for a minute, dipped over into
the stormy waters.
Two "OhS!' sounded simultaneously
as the man and the girl felt the cold
water close over them; then, as they
bobbed up, the right arm of the man
firmly encircled the girls waist. while
he held the boat with the other With
out a word he raised her to the side of
the overturned yacht and climbed up
himself.
The girl laughed. It's pretty wet"
she said, trying hard to keep her bal
ance on the wave rocked boat.
"Ah yes!' Plainly the man was
relieved. For minute he had cursed
his own recklessness, but if she were
only wet need he worry?
A lapse of Il minute ensued while
they adjusted themselves to their I'M
usual positions.
Aren't you sorry?" asked the girl,
surveying her bedraggled duck frock.
Aren't your the man retorted. The
plunging had not cleared the atmOs-
phcre; remnants of the frigidity re-
manned.
For what?' the girl asked innocent
ly. The sun was beating down on her
and restoring her wet curls to their
natural glimmering golden hue.
For this indicating the position of
the Cupid.
II didn't do it."
"But you drove me to it," the man
persisted.
II hadn't said word for hours
when you deliberately ran into the
wind and-and upset u.s." she declared
empbatically.
They were drifting to shore, but not
to their own side Of the sound. Neither
of them noticed where their boat was
heading.
II didn't think she'd go over, but I'm
glad now that she did" The mans face
had taken on an expression of deter
mination.
OH with utter establishment. "And
| might have been drowned"
mot while I was with YOU" the man
assured her
After a minute the girl looked at
him. How are we to get homer" she
asked. II have an engagement this
evening"
II am aware Of that" the man re-
turned. "And with me-"
II believe / explained to you before
before the boat went over that was
not going with you to that dance"
And | am explaining to you now
that until you promise to go with me
instead of that Thompkins fellow to-
night you will not go at ALL" His tone
was firm.
A wave nearly threw them off their
balance and the sail tapped back and
forth jOyously in the water. The Cupid
was laughing.
The man went on: 1T is mean adj
vantage, but think. haven't you played
with me long enough? Aren't you 60
ing to tell me what I've wanted to
her and in so doing rocked the boat
dangerously.
"N-no,'' the girl answered between
breaths
"Then Wen stay here We will re
main ON this overturned boat until
you promise to marry me-and soon
too"
But tiff l don't love you,'' argued
the girl, avoiding his eyes.
You do, though" he said confident
~.
The girl, elevated her eyebrows
Things had taken new turn
''I'll drown Tiff we stay here much
longer" she said after a minute, try
ing to assume pleading tone.
The man drew still nearer-almost
close. Don't you love me, dear?" he
asked.
"You-yOu know" she said, grabbing
the side of the boat as big wave
swept them several feet on it's crest.
The man put his arm slowly, firmly,
about her waist. And yeu will marry
me?'
He heard only the tapping of the
Cupid's sail in the water. The girl
did not answer.
Won't your he repeated
The girl slid slowly from his en-
brace. looking him full in the eyes.
Her feet touched the water.
CHI I'D H.