The bee., 1908-10-01
Ny First Experience
with Dan Cupid
ny EIsIe chastaIn.

She was sweet susceptible 16 He
was one over whom IS summers had
lightly passed, leaving his hair un-
tinged With gray. and the gray matter
underneath the wayy crop-unhard-
ened. But 10 her he was all that was
wise, noble and desirable; and to him
she was perfection. In truth. 1t had
been case OF love at first sight.
They had first met at a 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. seductively charming, and be
had succumbed to those charms.
lie had worn the regulation black
suit, OF coursel But. ali! how broad
his shoulders were; how merry his
eyes. A strange, incomprehensible,
ecstatic emotion had taken possession
OF her soul. He had asked 10 take her
home, but she had not thought best
May I eallF he had asked.
She had feIV the hot blood leap to
her cheeks, II she only dared say
"yesl" But no; there was mamma to
consider. Mamma. who was so aw-
fully, ancompromlsingly set on the
proprietics. Mamma, who thought her
far too young TO have masculine ad-
mirers. And to have one call. Obi A
SILVER ran down her spinal column.
The young man. waiting for an an
sVer, OWNED her thoughts.
Perhaps your mother would OBJ
Jectg'' be had suggested, and with sad
conviction she had answered;
"Yes-she would"
But must see you some time, he
had insisted. Dear insistence! 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 dog
He had been enraptured with the plan,
aud the following day they met as
they had agreed
He suggested a boat ride. She ac-
quiesced, and he rented Mr.. Blakes
boat. He assisted her to 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.
"WeH, I-er--neyer did before" he
replied, then blurted out: "Can your"
why, yes" she said.
Suppose you do, then" They
changed places and she rowed him up
and down the river until her tender
hands were bhstered and her heart
was sore. She was woefuliy disap-
pointed IN him. Never before had she
met a man who could not row. But he
talked entertainingly. and she forgaye
him. True love overlooks many Inn
projections.
After that afternoon they met tre-
quently. Sympathetic young friends
discovered how the land lay, and came
calamity to the rescue, as young
friends win 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 stroll. Her window was not
far from the ground. and with the aid
CT fOreOroalned cracker box sne man
agad o escape from the house.
Finally they parted, and she creps
stealthily around the house. As she
,,oarad ma potlor window she heard
sounds OF merrimsnt. She peered IN.
A peculiar scene revealed itself 10 hor
view
There sat her usually dignlhed
mother. laughing until the tears ran
down her cheeks. On his knees be-
fore her with clasped hands and a
rldiculOusly sentimental expression
ss.rese avar his ms nose ane f"eok'es