Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-01-16
A FREAK OF ;
CUPID'S
BY ANNA HEILN1AN


NOopyrlSnt' by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Mrs. Harrison De Clymer was a born
manager. AS a young woman she
managed her father into business and
her mother into society. Her husband
was unable to cope with her. and be-
ing a clever man, succumbed at sight.
The fact that she had succeeded in
arranging" brilliant marriages for
her three elder daughters, who had no
beauty, brains or money to speak of,
epitomized the social triumphs of the
lady's career.
But Mrs. De Clymer met a totally
unexpected Waterloo with her young
est daughter-unexpecte inasmuch
as Millicent, while not exactly pretty.
perhaps, was certainly handsome and
distinguished looking. Great things
were expected Of Millicent. Her moth
er actually allowed herself to contem-
plate title; but alas for the vanity
OF human hopes and ambitions! What
had promised to prove a brilliant en-
gagement turned out a disastrous de-
feat. Society readily conceded Mill
cents charms and air of distinction.
mere was not wanting young men
who promptly proceeded to admire
and dangle. But here Mrs. De ely
mer's ideas and her daughters began
to clash. The men whom Millicent
preferred-there was. perhaps. no par
ucular one-failed, for one reason or
another, to meet her mothers require
ments; while the eligibles she hunted
down were not In the least to her
daughters liking. That young lady
had the eccentric, strong-minded. not
to-be-coerced temperament which can
not accommodate itself to circumstan-
ces. and refuses to fit into convention
al inches.
At "a, Mrs. De Clymer began to re-
gard her handsomest daughter as a
difficult proposition; at 81 as a serious
problem, and when she neared 80 her
much-enduring mother practically
abandoned hope.
Il really cannot understand" she la
mented to her eldest daughter. 81
thought my troubles were over when
you and Georgia and Nellie were mar
ried and settled. L congratulated my
self that as 1 had a really attractive.
bright child to launch in society. ii
would be a pleasure instead of a task.
But my troubles were only beginning.
| have had an intolerable time with
Millicent, and-the result And she
entertains such shocking ideas about
society; declares 1t a sham-a card
playing, dancing, eating, gossiping.
name sham! These are her very
words"
When a girl begins to have ideas"
said Laura, consolingly, you may as
we'll give up"
But Mrs. De Clymer did not give
up; and the course of four years
more was strewed with her ruined
hopes.
Poor Millicent was in no sense a
man-hater. She simply did not hap
pen to fancy any of the men her
mother so obligingly selected for her.
She learned that the world regarded
spinster-hood as a species of dis
grace, to be avoided at any secrifice of
personal inclination. She was made
to feel that she was a burden to the
family. Even her fathers tone in ref
erence to herself became apologetic:
that of her sisters and friends sar
castle or patronizing.
She made a gallant effort to go out
in the world and earn her own SUD-
port; but her mother made such a ter
rihc scene at the mere suggestion of
De Clymer earning her own living.
and thereby bringing disgrace on the
rest of the family, that the effort had
to be abandoned.
Mlllicent was now relegated to the
rear ranks, there to serve as a back
ground for her attractive young
nieces, whom her mother now under
took to launch on the uncertain matri-
monial sea.
me eldest granddaughter was sue