Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-28
Cupid on
The Fence.
BY NJ. c. SANFORD.
Copyright. 1907. by Jessie Morgan.


=
ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
1t was Friday afternoon. AS usual,
Jack had telephoned Elinor asking her
TO go automobiling with him, and. not
at all as usual, she had said she would
not. Her refusal was unprecedented
and almost as much OF a surprise TO
herself as 1t was to Jack, but sober
second thought seemed to justify 1t.
1t was foolish, so argued Elinor to
herself as she hung up the receiver, to
let Jack take so much for granted, TO
let him think she was always ready,
rs a matter of course, to answer his
beck and call. She would show him a
thing or two. There were other men
10 be considered, and she didn't intend
to marry Jack any more tban-well,
perhaps not as much as she intended
to marry some one else! Still Ii was
such lovely afternoon, and she did SO
love to go automobiling.
The telephone rang again.
Hello" answered Ellnor languidly.
"Oh, Mr.. Norris? Yes. Go AUTOMOBILE
Ing with you this afternoon? l shall
he delighted. Three o'clock? All right.
III be ready. Goodby."
Elinor clapped her hands and gave
herself little squeeze of congratula-
ton.
Half an hour later, her little round
chin tilted saucily above the big blue
bow of her gauzy veil, Elinor stood
waiting on the porch. picture of pert
ness and prettiness.
At the "honk, honk," of an approach
Ing automobile she ran quickly down
the steps TO greet Vernon Norris, but
TO her astopishment the car did not
stop, and, looking after 1t curiously,
she discovered that it was not Vernon,
after all, but Jack. and-could she be
lieve her eyes?-he was not alone,
There was funny little tight feeling
about Elinor's heart that she didn't
care to analyze. She turned her back
on the vanishing apparltion of Jack
and there on the top of the hill, like
q coming event that had cast its shad
ow before 1t (alas. that ii was such q
corporal shadowD, she saw Vernon's
car looming into sight
Anyway reflected Elinor, If Yer
mons auto wasn't such a beauty ms
Jacks. Il was still an auto, and u
Vernon wasn't, perhaps, as handsome
as Jack, he was still man, and when
It came TO matter of comparison, q
man far more solicitous of her happi
ness. Jack had a way OF spinning
through the country without, appar
emily, the least consciousness Of hei
presence beside him. Vernon. on the
other hand, was. always on the alert tC
rescue the hayward end OF her veil
to inquire for her comfort and to ash
what speed best pleased her presen
mood. With him she herself. not the
machine, was the center of his
thoughts.
AS a result OF these reflections, Eli
nor greeted Vernon with an unusually
winsome smile and extended her hant
with charming graciousness. favo
which that young man, most natural
Iy. flattered himself was stimulated
by his own irresistible powers of at
traction
Elinor followed up the cordiality o
her welcome with such a chatter o
merry talk as they went fyini
through the country and seemed 81
radiantly happy, that Vernon, bring
ing the machine to sudden SLOW
down, simultaneously with his inspira
ton. decided to learn his fate thel
and there.
1t proved most literally a poppini
of the question. His declaration wa
cut short with a sound as Of spontane
Gus combustion. The noise, togethe
with Vernon's unexpected propose
took Elinor off her feet, both mental
and physically. AS she sprang u
. Vernon caught her to him.
ats all right. dear" he murmureo
with extravagant tenderness. your
not hurt: only frightened and he lif
, ed her veil SO that he might look int
her face
Elinor freed herself with effort.
mo" she said. sadly. I'm not hun
and I'm not frightened" She fel
: suddenly an indescribable shrinlIin
from the man. He had been too quic
to take advantage of the situation
Had It been Jack, he
, Vernon interrupted her train G
: thought by shouting to some men !
, the distance for help. They did nc
hear him.
, lawfully sorry" he said fnall!
! "but I'm afraid I'll have 10 go acros
+ the fields for help There's farm
house over there I'm very much Tx
, Humpty' Dumpty. you see. don
T know how TO put myself togethe
, again" Qlinor saw, but solneho'
T. was not amused) "Wil you be tint
\ here aloney'
. Not at ALL" she answered firml.
ignoring the sentimental look In III
I eyes.
r 81 won't be long" he assured he
4 as he jumped out of the car. sta
i. lust where you are and make yourse
comfortable. The car won't bulge"
o After Vernon had disappeared frol
:. sight. Elinor. not at all confident
!. spite of his assurance. as TO what tf
inconstant auto might do next. jumpe
= out and perched herself on the post {
@ a nearby fence.
n She was a most bewitching lit
II vision as she sat there her fawn CO
/ ored roat outlined against the gree
q meadow background. and her film
II veil, which she had loosened. fioatir
l. out alrily In the breeze as II on 1
Il way to Join the clouds in the blue sb
above it. But Elinor was oblivious
o the picturcsqueness Of her plight A
= she could think OF was Its stupidh