The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-04-13
Cupid
ri Ptp pe>s ~
By MARION DEXTER.
By MARION DEXTER,
Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

tie painted village or Dykneld.
Therefore when be impaired to his
fellow citizens the information that he
had bought a large tract Of land in
America, where fortunes were to be
made in an incredible hurry. half 4
hundred very substantial and phleG-
matte Hoilanders 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 ppes-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 us member Of the
solemn exodus. But Dirk had cunning
" used such un-Hollandlike haste in
putting his entire patrimony Of $1,000
| into the speculation that he had an in-
terest in it bsfore 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
dcrstreet family the mynheer might
have felt quite glad to haze him in
the party, for Dirk vas not at all dis
agreeable to anybody, with his kind
smile and his readiness to help every
one who needed it.
Mynhcer Vandcrstreet determined to
keen close watch during the voyage.
But what could one do on shipboard!
Could a worthy Dutchman Of five and
sixty be expected to 60 on guard over
his daughter when all the men folks
were smoking their pipes on deck,
telling tales of the past and speculat-
ins about the future? Truly not
The chaperonage Of Ankle was there,
fore left to her mother. But even on
shipboard that industrious Dutch
housewife could not be idle. and when
one has huge stocking and ball OF
warn. also set of knitting needles, In
hand it is not always convenient to
follow will-o- -the-wisp Of girl.
Besides. Johanna was always with
her cousin. and lovemaking when
third person is present is not SO easy
to carry on. At least so argued MIS-, ".
| treSS VunuprSrrppr, forgetting tna'
there is a language of the eye which
expresses as clearly as speech what Is
in ones beart and that. a pressure OF
the hand may convey an assurance OF
love just as plainly as II one salo
aloud. Il 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 sol
of the prairie living that would enti
tie him to old Vandcrstrcets respect.
Busy days followed the arrival OF
| the Hollandcrs in the little Iowa set
tlcment. Ground was broken, teams
purchased. grain sowed and houses
erected.
The Vandcrstrcpt residence was the
most prctentious in the PLACE. but the
cottage built by Dirk Van Pclt was as
pretty a little Dutch home rs any ro
mantle girl would wish.
Vines were planted and soon grew
about the porch. bed Of tulips faunt
ed gayly colGrcd blossoms in the front
ward. and 4 kitchen garden 1Ourishcd
in the rear.
Things soon prospcrcd with Dirk
and after six months df anxious wait
inc he vcnturCd to call On Jan Wander
street to ask fer tie hand of hi:
daughter. The mynhcr, with unusual
prOmnrncss. Immediately gave Dirk tc
| understand that he wished to hear nc
more of the T"ttcr aid very politely
| intimalcd that the doors of the Van
dcrstrc2. residence would lie cloSc1
thcnceforth 10 him.
Disappointed. but MT discouraged
Dirk went slawly home, voWinS tt
himself with genuine Holland deter
mination that he would never give VI
the girl he loved.
His resolution was strengthened by
the sight of Ankle standing ut the win
dow holding out Il letter, which she
dropped and he picked 1p.
The letter told him that she would
be his, with or without her fathers
blessing, and bade him have patience.
Dirk continued to work his little
place industriously. hoping to hear
from Ankle. But three weeks elapsed
before he had an opportunity of talk
ing with her lie left her presence
feeling much encouraged. and fell
asleep that night more hopeful. lie
was awakened from sweet dreams OF
/ bic Ioro hv tho FRY Of fro.