The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-01-25
CUPID'S TILLER

Just now the girl in the bow and the
man at the tiller Of the Cupid We're not
ON speaking terms. For fullysten min
only by the swish of the boats prov
through the water and by b 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 reefY"
why" the man VI ndered. doesn't
she become f~rightenedY'
Savageiy he showed the tiller down
and ran up into the wind. He would
bring the Cupid about with a whiri
that would at least transform the pref
ty pout on the face In the bow into an
expression of amazement.
but the little yacht, unaccustomed to
such handling. baked at the
turning and. Tapping her white sail
pit1fully for a minute. dipped over into
the stormy waters
Two "Ohs!" sounded simultaneously
as the man and the girl felt the cold
waiter close over them: then. MS they
bobbed UP, the right arm of the man
IL my lAS hoAo~,
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. tits pretty wet"
she said, trying hard to keep her bal
ance on the wave rocked boat. -
"Ah-yest' Plainly the man was
relieved. For a minute hezhad cursed
hfe, WV rooJloccnQSS : hf1f If Shn Worao
only wet need he worry2
A lapse of u minute ensued while
they adjusted themselves to their un-
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,t
phcre; remnants of b 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.
81 didn't do it."
But you drove me to it." the man
persisted. 3
h0Nh I = Od&o ~ "OA0 -
when you deliberately ran into the
wind and-and upset u.s." h declared
emphatically. (
They were drifting to shore. but not
to their own side of the sound. Neither
| of them noticed where their boat was
heading.
ST didn't think she'd go over. but Pm
glad now that sic did" The mans face
nod fo1xop op.-on ovptorSion oF Aotor
mination.
"Ohr' with utter establishment. "And
l might have been drowned"
"Not while was with you" the man
assured her.
After a minute the girl looked at
him. .-How are we to get homer she
asked. II AVE an engagement this
evening""
81 am aware of that" the man re
turned. "And with me-"
81 believer explained to you before
before the boat went over that / was,
not going with you to that dance"
"And l 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 insthe water. The Cupid
vas laughing.
The man went on: cit is a mean adj
vantage, but think. haven't you played
with me long enough? Aren't you go
ing to tell me what I've wanted to
know so longT' He moved closer to
her and In SO doing rocked the boat
ianrerorSlv
"N-no," the girl answered between
breaths.
1Then wen stay here We will re
main on this overturned boat until
you promise to marry mean soon
too"
e"But if-+if 1 don't love you., argued
the girl, avoiding his eyes.
You do, though" he said confident
".
The girl elevated her eyebrows.
Things had taken a. new turn. :
'I1l drown ifSif we stay here much
longer" he said after a minute, try
ing to assumed pleading tone.
The man drew STILL nearerLalmest
close. Don't o W. me, dear?" he.
asked.
"Yon-you know,," she ssaid,1grabbings
the side Of he o as a big wave;
swept them several feet on it's crest. /
The man put his arm slowly, firmly,
about her waist. -And you viii marry
smef"
III heard only thessdapping 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 ; fuII In the eyes.
Her feet touched the water.