The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1913-06-20
CUpID's BUSY DAY

It was an annual custom In Wells
burg for the Coffee club to give for
NAL dance at least once q year. II
was also the custom for young men
to honor the young women of their
hearts with escort on that occasion.
Wilbur Mcclellan had taken Eleanor
Eastman to the dance, but during the
evening Eleanor had seen Clara
Wheeler look into his eyes with an
expression that conveyed volumes.
She had also seen Clara put her hand
In Wilbur's with familiarity that en-
ragged her. Eleanor did not know that
the girls actions were designed espe-
cially for her eyes.
Clara was an outsider; that is, she
had not been born and brought up In
Wellsburg. She had come there as prf-
vate secretary to the president of
Wellsburg's single bank. She was
popular with the men, because she
was different, which initiated against
her being held in high regard by
Wellsburg's girls and women. So,
when Wilbur was taking leave of
Eleanor that evening, there was a
scene. At it's finish, Eleanor burst
out:
II never want to see you again"
AS he turned the knob of the front
door, Wilbur answered:
uC,xoh a., .sy;lI ha m
lief to me-"
The next morning both were sorry
Eleanor kept to her room, at inter
walls dabbing hot towels to swollen
eyes. Wilbur went to his work as
usual, but all day the angry, flushed
face of a girl stared up at him from
his desk. Several such days passed
Each regretted the hot words that
had tumbled out unbridled, but each
was too proud and too hurt to make
apology,
She doesn't care" said Wilbur
"else she couldn't have talked to me
that way" and when he was offered
position in nearby city, he eager.
ly accepted the change of environ
ment He had intended to telephone
"goodby" to Eleanor; but Clara
Wheeler had asked him to a chaf1ng.
dish supper in her rooms, and as he
assisted her In creaming the oysters,
she had whispered, did you know
that Eleanor Eastman Is going to
marry Tom Nolan? Rather sudden
/ isn't it?' Just then an odor Of burn
ing oysters was waited from the
chatting dish, and Clara's Question re
mained unanswered. But II sufficed tc
send Wilbur Mcclellan out of town
without telephonfhg to Eleanor East
man.
Eleanor was much in the company
of Tom Nolan that winter, but sum
mer and fall passed without any en-
gagement announcement Eleanor had
heard that Wilbur had prospered In
the city. She had also heard that
he was to come to Wellsburg for the
Coffee clubs dance The latter infor
nation was vouchsafed her by Glare
Wheeler in that insidious way of hers
Eleanor's cheeks flushed. She was
Ill at ease. Clara looked straight into
her eyes.
why, l didn't know you were inter
ested in Wilbur" she said.
YES, I have alalways-liked him,
stammered her prey. "Our families
have been in-intimate for years.
"You can't blame me-for-asking-
when-we are"
Clara stopped short, the color mount
Ing to her cheeks In well-feigned EN-
barrassment.
The result was that Eleanor agaiI
locked herself in her room, with hot
towels easing Redeemed lids. How II
CALLED her, the I'VE" that Clara had
enunciated with such unmistakable
meaning! She had always nursed tiny
hope in her heart that Wilbur would
some day come to her and say, I'm
sorry, Eleanor | love you. Let's be
sweethearts again" How could she
bear to meet him at the dance with
Clara, because. of course, that was
why he was coming-to take Clara!
A few days before the annual dance
1t became known that Eleanor was not
going. Her friends said she was not
we'll; that the doctor had ordered q
rost. After few days she went fol-
short walk, tempted by the fine
weather. Something prompted her tc
20 into the little shop and revel in the
attractive love tokens. Each one that
she took up reminded her of Wilbur
Many volume Of love verses had he
given her. A wild impulse seized her
Why not? 1t would be her last mes
sage. She selected the verse thai
matched her mood, and as she started
toward the opposite counter to have
her package wrapped, her eyes were
full of dreams In the aisle, a mar
was bending over pretty picture, Al
he raised his head, Eleanor cried:
"Wilbur!"
"Eleanor!"
At the dance Coffee club matrons
and maids were set agog with the dis
covery that the "lassie with the lips
so rosy, with the eyes so soft and
bright" upon the arm Of Wilbur Nc
Clellan was none other than Eleanor
Eastman. 1t was Clara Wheeler who
was in her room dabbing hot towels
to swollen eyes.
Real Helpmeet.