Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-01-28
Invincible Cupid

NJ. r. RITTENHoUsE

mo" agreed Joan meeAy, Il am not.
but il isn't altogether my fault I've had
10 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 | don't believe you would have
the courage to make stand against
Aunt Amanda"
Marions eyes flashed. "Fcrty Aunt
Amanda's couldn't make me give up
the man | loved" she declared, "and
marry old Jay Spencer"
He is horrid | don't want TO marry
him." quavered Joan, but what can !
do?"
Have you written to Neil about it,"
demanded Marion.
Joan shook her head Aunt Amanda
said not. and I Just didn't dare. she
answered.
ooh. why didn't you tell me this be-
fore?" cried Marion, impatienuy. The
wedding day only a week away. and
Il will be at least eight days before
Neil can get letter and then come
on here"
But | don't dare write to him, :"
cried Joan. Aunt Amanda said not
| You needn't scold or look at me like
that. Marion. for ! can't help it,"
Girls" called the harsh. rasping
voice Of Miss Amanda Weathers. and
the rsrls 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 10 gable love
sick nonsense to this silly girl"
Now. want you 70 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
l5gly
She'll marry him because ! wish
her 10 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 oho-
sen for herr
And where would you be II Jay
Spencer hadn't given yen the Ford
school last winter?" she demanded,
fercely of Marion. Where's your
gratitude? Pahl You idle young fools
make me sick. &c back TO your work
and 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 cars.
That night, with Joan slumberine
peacefully by her side. Marion pom
dered over the problem of preventing
/ the marriage until the arrival Of Neil
Graves.
True 10 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 viii
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. II he were kind to her
while she-here 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
10 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 t.
their plans for the future. with smil'
Ing face.
Az the time. Miss Amanda made nc
objections to the engagement; for Mel
was quite a promising young man, but
when six months later, Jay Spencer
bald. uncomely gentleman of fifty. suec
for Joan's hand, Miss Amanda prompt
" ordered her to accept him.
Miss Amanda at once began prepare
tions for the wedding. She command
"a loan to stop writing to that ycunt
Graves" and not to chatter nonsense
about not wanting to marry Mr.. spen'
GER"
Poor. timid Joan told no one of hel
d,staste for her elderly lover. unit
Marion, employed by Miss Amanda
10 sew on the trousseau. taxed her witt
unfaithfulness. Then Joan told TN
whole miserable truth. and tearfulll