Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-09-30
The Least Of
All the Gods
Talking of love" said Chester.
Il wasn't" Miss Van Duren cut in

were looking at the third ugliest stat
ue to the right with an expression
which would have suggested it to any
one who wasn't a stock or stone.
I'm not usually considered either my
SELF" he added thoughtfully.
What were you going to say about
love?" Miss Van Duren asked In mod
flied tone.
THE third ugliest statue to the
right" said Chester, gazing dreamily
at the white line of figures against
the thick-box hedge, sis a statue of
Cupid"
1T isn't so very ugly" said Miss
Van Duren critically, "at 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 it 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 wnen Pm with you," said Ches-
ter, with meaning.
Miss Van Duren assumed a pretty
air of resignation.
Then do go on, and get it over.
Talking of love"
II 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 Durens eyebrows rose.
"Oh, but why?"
You'd better look at the size of the
statue" Chester told her.
She looked. Apparently the sight
amused her.
Its rather nice size, 1 think" she
declared
'They must also have imagined
him." said Chester, "as the poorest of
the gods"
Dear me! Why?" queried Miss
Van Duren.
Look at his Clothes" said Chester
grimly.
II can't" protested Miss Van Duren
with truth. But he has quite an
expensive-looking bow and quiyer,"
she added. "And bestdes-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
you?"
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." Ches-
ter pointed out, Il shall have to pro-
pose to her-you'll admit that, sup
:pose?"
Its certainly usual" Miss Van Du-
rem admitted, with the ghost of
smile
And" said Chester. 81 shall run the
risk of being considered a fortune
hunter"
by whom?" said Miss Van Duren
sharply.
"The-the heiress," Chester sug-
gested.
If she's the most beautiful person
on earth, as you said just now" Miss
Van Duren remarked, its barely pos
sible that she might be induced to
imagine that she isn't absolutely re-
pulsive to you. In short, you might
persuade her to believe that you were
in love with her.
Il should have to do something
more difficult than that" Chester re-
turned. 81 should have to persuade
her to believe that she was in love
WIN me.
Miss Van Duren slowly furled and
unfurled her fan
1--WE heard it said," she ventured,
that woman will believe anything
she's told-when the right man tells
it to her."
You're mine of wisdom and
fountain of TRUTH" Chester told her
with enthusiasm. Perhaps you could
let me know another thing"
Anything 1 can, I'm sure" MUIR
INJURED Miss Van Duren politely.
Perhaps you could give me the
ghost of hint as toto the right
man?"
Miss Van Duren examined her fan
with sudden interest
"Oh, the right maxwell, I've heard
he's by way of being very humble
minded person." she said. Hes
afraid of being considered fortune
hunter, and have it on his own au-
thority that he's"
"Yes?" queried Chester
Miss Van Duren shut her fan and
a.