Smyrna times., 1904-09-28
The Messenger
Of Cupid
BY FORBES DWIGHT
Copyright, 1904, by K. NJ. Whitehead !
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

tached to his name and fellOwships in
innumerable dignified societies on both
sides of the Atlantic, sat on the top
rider of a rickety rail fence, a seraphic
smile on his intellectual cOuntenance
and a disreputable brier pipe between
his teeth. Before him stretched vista
of slOping fields and level meadow |
lands already taking on a hopeful
green in the mellow warmth of the |
early spring sunshine.
o. 2. Trevor was enjoying it all i'm |
mensely. The air was soft and balmy; |
the sunshine warmed his blood, and |
best of all, he was possessed of the
pleasing sense of duty done, for the
last corrected proof sheets of his latest
technical work on antennae had been
returned to the publishers, and at pres
ent there was nothing to do but idle
on this rickety fence and drink in the
glories of the day.
1t had created considerable stir in
this little community when the eminent
young naturalist had decided to tarry
here awhile and rest from his arduous
lLbOrs on antennae A number of wOm-
en- socially ambitious had arranged
round of receptions and teas in his
honor, but these delicate attentions he
deftly and politely evaded by quoting
his physicians orders for absolute rest
1t was a happy thought to armor him
self thus with physicians orders before
setting out. He smiled grimly as he
pulled his battered old hat over his
pafbnfs q n1oVror Eif Of or
he concluded. 1t effectually did away
with the lionizing and left him free to
daily in the courts of his beloved ma
ture He blew a great cloud of smoke
and watched it trail away indOlently.
Suddenly his whole bearing changed
from one of idle repOse to alert at
tention. He pushed up the hat; he
took the pipe from his mouth; he
leaned forward perilOusly on the fence
and listened eagerly.
NO" he muttered, frowning in per-
plexity the while NO, it can't be-"
Then he listened again.
1T is,' he declared. "As I'm a liv-
ing sinner, that's a scarlet tanager.
PhenOmenal-mOst phenomenal. What
on earth is the little beggar doing as
far north as this?"
The plaintive, piping notes came
from a clump of trees far down the
field, and that his eyes might prove the
theorem his ears had suggested Og-
den Patterson Trevor slid from the
fence and started cautiously forward
to investigate. He had traversed
scarce half the distance to the trees
when a small bird rose from the
branches and flew to another tree some
distance away.
Amazingly like a scarlet tanager,"
the pursuer calculated, amazingly
sou And, being a man of some de-
termination, o. L. settled down to the
chase.
And the chase was a merry one. The
man would be almost near enough to
the birds latest resting place to de
termine surely whether or not it was a
tanager. when away the provoking bit
of feathers would fly, with Ogden
Patterson Trevor and his innumerable
alphabetical distinctions in hot pur-
suit He followed the flight across
the open fields and through the BRAN
bly, underbrush of a clump of woods
he wallowed through an alder swamp
full of hummOcks, and one of the hum
mocks was treacherous and sent hin
sprawling into pool of muddy water
He lost his pipe and tore the rim hall
off the battered hat but with untlag
ging zeal he followed the fight of thu
elusive bird
Now on the other side of the SWAMP
was a slOping garden back of q sub
stantial house, and in the garden wa
pear tree, and in the pear tree tn
bird alighted. The tired, perspiring
disheveled naturalist saw the bir
light on the branch, and he starte
cautiously thither, worming his wa
up the slope fat on his stomach. Care
fully he worked himself to within
few rods of the pear tree where th
bird was still perched. He lifted hi
head from the surrounding grass, too
a long look in the direction of tn
pear tree and smiled beatifcally.
"It is a scarlet tanager!' he eXclain
ed, with unbounded satisfaction.
"Pve found you at last! So that
how you do it, eh?" exclaimed a tt
umphant voice close at hand. ct
up and stand just where you are.
Still smiling beatitudes, o. P. turne
Near another pear tree stood a girl
a charming girl, despite the cold glea
in her eyes and the tight lines abo'
her mouth. In her hand and point'
at the man of science was long ba
relied revolver
o. P. Trevor did as he was bidde
i He rose in a stupefed manner al
stood before her-a ridiculous, mi
stained figure.
'Ts it loaded, MADAME he asked, wi
nervous dignity.
IF you attempt to take a step
any direction you'll find out" said
girl grimly.
Il don't understand" Trevor began
Neither did we understand whe
the lettuce and radishes from our b
bed went to, but we do now," she 81