Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-12-15
The Least of
All the Gods

i Talking OF love-" said Chester
Il wasn't" Miss Van ,Duren cut 1
s hastily.
> I'm aware of It," Chester sighed
! you weren't talking of it, but 20
We're looking at the third ugliest sta
ue to the right with an expression
which would have suggested 1t to any
: one who wasn't a stock or a stone
I'm not usually considered either ny
SELF" he added thoughtfully.
What were you going to say abou
love?" Miss Van Duren asked in mod
flied tone.
The third ugliest statue to tn,
right" said Chester, gazing dreamil,
at the white line of figures agains
the thick-box hedge. lis a statue o.
Cupid"
1T isn't SO very ugly" said Miss
Van Duren critically, "at a distance. >
That's the only way I've ever seen
It," Chester asserted-"at least, until
quite recently"
She tapped the marble on the bal.
ustrade with her fan, and studied the
distant Cupid with family amused
eyes.
You must be dreadfully poor" she
said at last.
"Oh-we're all on our last legs"
chester admitted, with gloomy tri-
umph. you mightn't think 1t to look
at us, but we are. At present we're
Just managing to keep up appear
ances, but that's ALL"
The Tilt of a waltz came softly from
the windows of the great ball room,
and Miss Van Duren laughed.
Talking Of" Chester recon-
menced suddenly.
Good gracious!" Miss Van Duren
cried. Cant you talk of something
else?"
Not when I'm with you" said Ches-
ter, with meaning.
Miss Van Duren assumed a pretty
air of resignation.
Then do go on, and get 1t over.
Talking of love"
Il was about to remark, when you
interrupted me-" Chester said severe
ly, that the ancients conceived of
love as the least of all the gods"
Miss Van Duren's eyebrows rose. j..
"Oh, but why?"
You'd better look at the size of the
statue Chester told her.
She looked. Apparently the sight
amused her.
TITS rather nice size. think" she
declared.
They must also have imagined
him." said Chester, las the poorest of
the gods"
Dear me! why?" queried Miss
Van Duren.
Look at his olothes." said Chester
grimly.
L can't" protested Miss Van Duren
with truth. But he has quite an
expensive-looking bow and culver"
she added. And besides-gods didn't
go in much for clothes"
Good reason why" said Chester
You couldn't expect even first-class
god to feel like the real thing with a
tailor's bill on his conscience. could
your"
IT'S clearly your duty to your fam.
lily to set aside your own personal feel
ings-"
That's what said," put in Chester.
And marry her." concluded Miss
Van Duren remorselessly.
But, in order to marry her" Cbes.
ter pointed out, 81 shall have to pro-
pose to her-youll admit that, | sup
poser" f,
IT'S certainly usual" Miss Van Du-
rem admitted, with the ghost of a
smile.
And" said Chester, 81 shall run the
'isk of being considered a fortune
lunter."
by whom?" said Miss Van Duren
harply
"The-the heiress," Chester sug.
rested. I
IF she's the most beautiful person
n earth, as you said Just now" Miss :
IAN Duren remarked, Sits barely DOS Z
ible that she might be Induced to
imagine that she isn't absolutely re-
ulsiye to you. In short, you might =
ersuade her to believe that you were
l love with her."
Il should have to do something
lore difficult than that" Chester re-
lrned. 81 should have to persuade
er to believe that she was In love
it'll me-"
Miss Van Duren slowly furled and
lfurled her fam,
i've heard 1t said" she ventured
hat a woman will believe anything
les told-when the right man tells
to her."
You're a mine of wisdom and a
untain of TRUTH" Chester told her
tn enthusiasm. Perhaps you could
me know another thing"
Anything l can, I'm sure" muir
ired Miss Van Duren politely.
Perhaps you could give me the
ost of hint as TOTO the right
ln?"
Miss Van Duren examined her fan
tn sudden interest.
oh. the right MAXWELL. I've heard
8 by way of being a very humble
nded person" she said. Hes
aid of being considered a fortune
nter, and have 1t on his own au.
rity that he's"