The Somerset reporter., 1909-05-06
Cupid's
ps... ss
By MARION DEXTER.
Copyrighted 1909 by Associated
Literary Press.
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Jan Vanderstreet was without doubt
and by unanimous consent. especially
his own. the leading citizen of the lit
tie painted village of Dykheld
Therefore when he impaired to his
fellow citizens the information that he
had bought large tract of land in
America, where fortunes were to be
made in an incredible hurry, half a
hundred very substantial and phleg
matte Hollanders marshaled their fam
lilies after grave deliberation and en-
barked with him. after selling their
queer little painted houses and tulip
gardens and cows with true Dutch
thrift.
Jan Vanderstreet took with him his
wonderful collection of pipes. famed
throughout all Gelderland and even
beyond that beautiful district He
also took with him what he valued al
most as much as his pipes-his very
buxom and still blooming wife, his
blooming daughter, Ankle, and his
blooming orphaned niece. Johanna de
Koop.
The only member of the party Of
Holland adventures who was not tru-
ly substantial. according to sound
Dutch standards. was Dirk Van Pelt
Mynheer Vanderstreet had frowned
on his admission as member of the
solemn exodus. But Dirk had cunning
ly used such un-U ollandlike haste in
putting his entire patrimony of $1,000
into the speculation that he had an in
terest in it before the more deliberate
mynheer knew it.
Jan Vanderstreet did not like this at
ALL The trouble was that Dirk was
altogether too fond of Ankle. If the
broad shouldered sturdy, handsome
youth had only exhibited enough sense
to be fond of some one not In the Van
derstreet family the mynheer might
have felt quite glad to have him in
the party. for Dirk was not at all dis
agreeable to anybody. with his kind
smile and his readiness to help every
one who needed 1t.
Mynheer Vanderstreet determined to
keep close watch during the voyage.
But what could one do on shipboard?
Could worthy Dutchman of five and
sixty be expected to go on guard over
his daughter when all the men folks
were smoking their pipes on deck,
telling tales of the past and speculat
ing about the future? Truly not.
- lit
fore left to her mother. But even on
shipboard that Industrious Dutch
housewife could not be idle, and when
one has a huge stocking and a ball of
yarn. also set of knitting needles, in
hand 1t is not always convenient to
follow a will-o'- -the-wlsp of a girl.
Besides, Johanna was always with
her cousin. and loyemaking when a
third person is present is not so easy
to carry on. At least so argued Mis-
tress Vanderstreet. forgetting that
there Is a language of the eye which
expresses rs clearly as speech what Is
in ones beart and that pressure Of
the hand may convey an assurance Of
love just as plainly as II one said
aloud, 81 love you"
Although Dirk had little opportunity
OF telling Ankle of his love by word Of
mouth. that he was her devoted slave
and wished for no greater happiness
than to call her his wife. Ankle knew
what was in his heart, because she re-
turned his love.
By the end Of the voyage Dirk knew
that her heart was In his keeping and
he determined to wrest from the soil
Of the prairie living that would enti-
tie him to old Vanderstreet's respect
Busy days followed the arrival of