Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-10-03
Cupid ON
The Fence.
. Copyright, 1907. by Jessie Morgan.

By NJ. C. SANFORD.

. Copyright, 1901, by Jessie Morgan. .
ssssssssessees
1t was Friday afternoon. AS usual,
Jack had telephoned Elmer asking her
to go automobiling with him, and, moi
at all us usual. she had said she would
not. Her refusal was unprecedented
and almost as much OF 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 receive r, 10
let Jack take SO much for granted, to
let him think she was always ready,
as a matter of course. to answer his
beck and call. She would show him i,
thing or two. There were ot..er mel
TO be considered. ana she didn't intend
to marry Jack any more than-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 Elinor languidly.
'Oh. MIR. Nofris2 Yes. Go AUTOMOBILE
ing with you this afternoon? shall!
be delighted Three O'Clock? Albright
I'll be ready Goodby."
Elinor cl.p4ed her hands and gave
herself q litaa 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 he porch, picture of pert
ness and prettincss.
at the "honll, honk." of an approach
ing automobile she ran quickly down
the steps TO greet Vernon Norris, but
to her astonishment the car did not
stop, and. looking after it curiousiy
she discovered that it was not Vernon
after all, bat Jack, and could she be-
lieve her eyes ?-he was not alone,
There was a funny little tight feeling
about Elinor's heart that she didn't
care to anaiyze. She turned her back
on the vanishing apparition of Jack,
and there on the top of the hill, like
q coming event that had cast its shad-
ow before it (alas, that ii was such a
corporal shadowD. she saw Vernon's
car looming into sight.
Anyway, reflected Elinor, If Yer
mons auto wasn't such a beauty rs
Jacks. 1t was still an auto. and II
Vernon wasn't. perhaps, as handsome
as Jack, he was still man, and when
1t came to a matter of comparison,
man far more solicitous of her happi-
ness. Jack had q way Of spinning
through the country without. appar-
emily. the least consciousness Of her
presence beside him. Vernon, on the
other hand. was always on the alert to
rescue the hayward end Of her veil,
to inquire for her comfort and to ask
what speed best pleased her present
mood With him she herself. not the
machine, was the center of his
thoughts.
As q result Of these reflections, Eli
nor greeted Vernon with an unusually
winsome smile and extended her hand
with charming graciousness. favor
which that young man, most natural
~, battered himself was stimulated
by his own irresistible powers Of at
traction.
Elinor followed up the cordially Of
her welcome with such a chatter Of
merry talk as they went flying
through the country and seemed SO
radiantiy happy, that Vernon. bring
Ing the machine to q sudden slow
down. simultaneously with his inspira-
ton, decided to learn his fate then
and there.
1t proved most literally popping
OF the question. His declaration was
cut short with sound as of spontane-
Gus combustion. The noise, together
with vernon's unexpected proposal.
took Elinor Off her feet, both mentally
and physically. As she sprang up
Vernon caught her to him
Its all right. dear" be murmured
with extravagant tenderness You're
not hurt; only frightened" and he lift
ed her veil so that he might look into
her face
Elinor freed herself with effort.
A~os o4S odtNy Su0tys III nOt uuIl
land I'm not frightened" She felt
suddenly an indescribable shrinking
from the man. He had been too quick
to take advantage Of the situation.
Had II been Jack, he
Vernon interrupted her train Of
thought by shouting to some men in
the distance for help. They did not
hear him.
lawfully sorry" be said finally,
~bnt I'm afraid I'll have to 60 across
the fields for help There's farm
house over there. I'm very much like
Humpty Dumpty, you see. I don't
know how to put myself together
again" (Elinor saw. but somehow
was not amused.) "Will you be timid
here slone?'
mot at ALL" she answered firmly,
ignoring the sentimental look in his
eyes.
II won't be long" he assured her
as be jumped out Of the car. "Stay
Just where you are and make yourself
comfortable The car won't bulge"
After Vernon had disappeared from
sight. Elinor. not at ali confident. in