The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-04-28
AN UNDERSHOT CUPID
BY FORBES DWIGHT.


ming was to spend it searching for
certain Elusive Greek roots. That
perhaps gives a very proper idea Of
the gentleman and renders it unneces-
sary to mention his heavy-lensed tor
toise-shelled spectacles, his baggy
clothes, his absurd ties. and his air Of
always having something very i'm
portant on his mind.
Besides Greek roots there was one
thing worthy Of mention in Williams
rather austere and ascetic life; and
that was bow-legged undershot, TO
pound bulldog rejoicing in the highly
un-Hellenic name Of FraZzles.
William Boles sat alone that April
evening in his study at the house Of
his widowed sister with whom he
boarded and who was Unfortunately
proud of Williams bullying forehead
and his success with Greek roots. Fraz-
zles was capering joyfully somewhere
should have been on the trail Of the
usual Greek root. But instead he was
staring modify at bit Of paper be-
fore him. On the paper were sundry
lines. each beginning with a capital.
One would never have thought of the
austere William as breaking out into
meterical thought; indeed, 1t surprised
William as much as it would have done
any one else.
New neighbors had moved into the
house next door, and one of the said
new neighbors-the daughter of the
house-had a most amazing pair Of
violet eyes. William had first noticed
friends with Frazzles through the
fence one day. They were most dis
turbing eyes.
William had known by certain all
too apparent signs that he was rapidly
descending into paths Of insanity, but
tonight the browning climax Of it all
had come. He had written a poem, a
poem about her eyes-28 lines of soul
full drivel in iambic hexameter.
William, oh, William" called his
sisters voice from the hall below.
Here's Frazzles coming up to you"
A moment later Frazzles was claw
ing vigorously at the door. William
pounds Of animation. fresh from a
romp with the girl next door. William
abstracted1y watched him scurrying
about the study.
He stepped to the table and picked
up his recent assault upon prosody.
Her eyes were starry and liquid and
like the stars and all the rest of it;
that was perfectly true, but that didn't
make him any less a silly fool for writ
ing those verses. What would she say
If she ever saw them?
He snatched them angrily up,
crumpled them in his hand and hurled
them to the floor.
"And that's the end OF that" said
William Boles, with finally.
Frazzles ceased growing at has
sock and cooked an ear. When the
paper hit the floor he bounded for
ward. In another moment it was in
his mouth.
Here! Here, sirl Come here!"
William commanded IL mis- most DOM
ineering voice. But Frazzles, remem-
bering many gambol with an old
shoe in his mouth and William in pur-
suit, bounded joyfully about the room,
bolted down the stairs with the howl
ing William in pursuit, edged through
the front door. which was open, and
sped down the front path.
William went to the gate and whis-
tied.
Then on the next porch he heard
words that fairly froze his blood.
That's the good Frazzles! Give
1t to me! That's the good old fellow!"
William felt his knees giving way
beneath him. He had headed those
verses-headed them like the senti-
mental fool he was, he now remember
ed-"To Margaret's Eyes"
Quite involuntarily he whistled for
FraZzles again.
Footsteps sounded on that next
porch. The vines were pushed aside.
She stood there looking over at them.
Where you looking for Frazzles,
Professor BoIes?" she asked.
Every one called him professor"
although he was not a full-fedged
one as yet. 1t seemed so natural, and
SO eminently fitting.
"No-er-yes-that is. is he there?"
he stammered miserably.
She leaned farther across the porch
railing.
Hes just brought me-what you
sent me-" said she.
II didn't send It," he cried In an
guish.
you didn't? Didn't you write it?"
Eyes; I'll have to admit wrote 1t,
but I never intended you to see it."
"Oh." she said In disappointment.
"lt's such a lovely poem, too"
William gripped the gateposts hard
er. Was she having covert fun with
him?
'T-I-good heavens. what do you
think Of me?" he groaned
There was a little embarrassed
laugh.
"You've-you've fattered my eyes
awtully.S she said softly. "but-about
what I think OF you-suppose you
come over and see"
She had Frazzles In her arms. She
was burying her flushed face in his
ugly wrinkled face. William Boles for
got there was such thing as Greek
root
And for the first time In his life
Frazzles found that one and the same
moment two of his staunchest friends
would nav NO attention whatever to