The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-05-19
The Bayou Bridge and Cupid
By NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE

"For heavens sakel" he exclaimed,
how under the sun"
"Or rather ralnl" snapped Matilda,
with defiant toss OF her head that
made the brim Of her hat flap ludic.
rously against her damp. and now
very hot. cheeks.
But Cheatham's eyes were glued 10
the letter she held in her hand. and
an exultant light flashed into them as
he espled his own name in blotted
characters on the back OF II.
"Egotistical thing!" thought Matil.
da. reading his face like a book. I'm
glad refused you"
Il was beginning 10 grow impatient
Of your answer. dear"
do get me out OF thisl" she inter.
rupted petulantly, finehing with pain
as she gave her foot an impatient
twist.
Full of solicitude. Cheatham stopped
and with a few deft manipulatons
succeeded in loosening the imprisoned
heel.
"And now," said he, rising and look
ing ardenty down into Matlda's de-
cidedly cross face, don't l deserve
something for that?" He eyed the let
ter covetously.
But the girl said nothing, and she
did not yield up the letter, either.
TITS addressed to me. isn't 1T"
urged Cheatham in a cresdallen
tone.
"Yes, but-oh!" Just at that juno
ture an accommodating zephyr lifted
the envelope from her fingers and
tossed II out on the water, where
still more accommodating current bore
1t swiftly into the eddies.
Cheatham thrust his hands into his
pockets and stood staring at her.
mingled curiosity and alarm showing
on his good-looking face.
'You-you've changed your mind"
he said at last. very gravely, after his
recent exuberance.
The guilty crimson flowed over Ma
tilda's face, and without word she
/ turned and began to retrace her steps
back toward the camp.
Cheatham matched his step with
hers and they walked along in silence
for several minutes, needless OF the
mud and slush, of rain-soaked gar
ments, of the inquisitive pedestrians
who turned to look at them every now
and then.
AS they came in sight of the camp
ers' tents. Cheatham paused and
looked sternly into the face of the girl
at his side.
Look here, Matilda" he said in a
voice that was different from any she
had ever heard him use before, Il
want you to be frank with me. II
you've made up your mind to turn me
down, l want you to tell me so, be-
fore I've made any more fools of my
self" His lips shut with a snap, and
the bulldog look came to his mouth.
Mallory" The exclamation was
sharp, indignant, but Matilda's eyes
lifted their sober curtains long enough
to emit lambent little fash that was
nothing If not contradictory.
"If you care to come into the camp
until can change these rags" she
said demurely, Il Think think we
can talk better"
Cheatham divested himself Of his
rain coat and left 1t on a bench In the
yard Inside he roamed about the
little reception parlor" Of the tent
waiting, like Gagged lion, for the girl
to make her appearance.
She came in at last, gowned in some
diaphanous white thing that Cheat
ham thought made her look exactly
like star floating in gauzy silver
cloud
Cheatham reached forth eager arms
to draw her into them, but the apollo
getic entrance Of an ebonyfaced in
dividual caused him to reconsider for
a moment.
"I begs pardon, but somebody wish
to speak to Miss Driscoll on de
phone"
BE good enough" said Cheatham,
ito tell the gentleman that Miss Dris-
coll isis engaged"
When the door had been closed,
humbly and obsequiously, he turned
to Matilda for corroboration.
The next minute he was holding the
white cloud against his breast, and
the star seemed to have no objection
to its new armament.