Sharp County record., 1908-09-25
Ny First Experience
with Dan Cupid
BY Elsie Chastain.

lightly passed, leaving his hair un'
tinged with gray, and the gray matter
underneath the wavy crop-unhard,
ened. But to her he was all that was
wise, noble and desirable; and to him
she was perfection. In truth, 1t had
been a case Of love at first sight
They had first met at party. She
had worn white He was partial to
white Her sunny hair had been ar
ranged loosely on her graceful neck.
He never had liked girls who did their
hair high. In fact, she had been
wholly, seductiyely charming, and he
had succumbed to those charms.
He had worn the regulation black
suit, of coursel But, ah! how broad
his shoulders were; how merry his
eyes. A strange, incomprehensibIe,
ecstatic emotion had taken possession
of her soul. He had asked to take her
home, but she had not thought best.
May / CALI" he had asked.
She had felt the hot blood leap to
her cheeks. If she only dared say
'yes!" But no; there was mamma to
consider. Mamma, who was so aw-
fully, uncomproaIsingly set on the
proprleties. Mamma, who thought her
far too young to have masculine adj
mirers. And to have one call! Oh! A
shiver ran down her spinal column.
The young man. waiting for an an.
swer, OWNED her thoughts.
"Perhaps your mother would OBJ
iect?" he had suggested, and with sad
conviction she had answered:
'Yes-she would"
"But / must see you some time he
had insisted. Dear lnsistence! She
had thought for a moment, then;
Mamma Is going calling tomorrow
afternoon and | can meet you down
the river, right behind Blake's green.
houses, at three o'clock. VIII that do?
He had been enraptured with the plan,
and the following day they met aa
they had agreed,
He suggested a boat ride. She ac-
quIesced, and he rented Mr. Blake's
boat He assisted her to a seat, then
took his place at the oars. Something
was wrong about his way Of handling
them, and the boat refused to move.
Don't you know how to row. she
ventured, after some moments Of fran
tic. red-faced but vain endeavors on
his part.
well, I--er-never did before he
replied, then blurted out. Can you?"
why, yes she said,
Suppose you do, them They
changed places and she rowed him up
and down the river until her tender
hands were blistered and her heart
was sore. She was woefully disap-
pointed in him. Never before had she
met man who could not row, But he
talked entertanlngly, and she forgaye
him. True love oyerlooks many Inn
perfectons.
After that afternoon they met fire.
quently. Sympathetic young friends
discovered how the land lay, and came
CALAMITY to the rescue, as young
friends will do at all times.
One evening she retired to her room
early, telling her mother that she
must study, Not so, however, She
had, instead promised him TO take a
moonlight strolls Her window was not
far from the ground, and with the aid
OF a foreordained cracker box she man.
aged to escape from the house.
During that stroll ne proposed Told
her how he loved her Fell on his
knees In knlghtly fashion and begged
her In mpassIoned tones TO fly with
him; to leave her cruel mother and
her unhappy home for life Of honey
and roses and--himself
She bushed, suffered him 10 kiss
her hand, and consented, In one week
she could make the necessary prepar.
atIons and then they would hy All!
the unutterabo bliss Of that meet.
ing!
Finally they parted and she crept
stealthlly around the house, AS she
noarod the parlor window she heard
sounds Of monImonL She poered In,
A peculiar scene revealed itself to her
view.
There sat her usually dignlnod
mother. laughing until the tears ran
down her checks On his meos be.
fore her with elaspod hands and a
ridiouloualy sentimental expression
spread over his pug nose and freckIcs,
was her small brother He was speak
ing, declalmIng. and as The slator rea.
HEED the import Of his words she
turned cold with dread,
100000, Celeste, darling, angel.
listen 10 met I love youl love youl
Promise me that You viii be- mlnel
Oh, dooooo Leave your cruel mother
your happy homo.ond llyyy with mel
life won't be nolhln without youoo,
Ny heart IL breaking, Ouch.oh ehl'
waiting TO hear no more, realizing
that her secret was discovered, tho
young victim Of unsympoJhollo kin
made for her room with all possible
apeed, hoping ~ get there before tho