Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1914-03-17
AN UADERSHOT CUPID
BY FORBES DWIGHT.

certain illusive Greek roots. That
perhaps gives a very proper idea OF
the gentleman and renders it uRneces-
sary to mention his heavy-lensed tor.
toise-shelled spectacles, his baggy
clothes, his absurd ties, and his air OF
always having something very inn
portant on his mind.
Besides Greek roots there was one
thing worthy Of mention in Williams
rather austere and ascetic life; and
that was a bow-legged undershot. 70
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 inordinately
proud of Williams bulging forehead
and his success with Greek roots. Fraz-
zles was capering ioyfully somewhere
about the yard below, and William
should have been on the trail of the
usual Greek root. But instead he was
staring moodily 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
metericsl thought; indeed, it surprised
William as much as il 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
them when he had seen her making
friends with Frazzles through the
fence one day. They were most dis
turbng eyes.
William had known by certain all
too apparent sighs that he was rapidly
descending into paths of insanity, but
tonight the crowning climax of it ali
had come. He had written a poem,
poem about her eyes-2S lines of soul
full driyel in iambic hexameter.
William, OH William!" called his
sisters voice from the han below.
Here's Frazzles coming up to you"
A moment later Frazzles was claw
ing vigorously at the door. William
opened it and in bounded 70-odd
pounds Of animation, fresh from a
romp with the girl next door William
abstractedly watched him scurrying
about the study.
He stepped to the table and picked
I'D 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 1t was in
his mouth.
"Here Here, sir! Come herel
William commanded in his most dom
ineering voice But Frazzles, remem-
bering many a gambol with an old
shoe in his mouth and William in pur
suit bounded ioyfully 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
It to met 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 Margarets Eyes
Quite involuntarily he whistled for
Frazzles again.
Footsteps sounded on that next
porch The vines we're pushed aside.
She stood there looking over at them.
Where you looking for Frazzles,
Professor Boles?" she asked.
Every one called him professor, "
although he was not full-fedged
one as yet. II seemed so natural. and
SO eminently fitting,
"No-er-yes-that is, is he there?'
ne stammered miserably.
she leaned farther across the porch
railing
He's just brought me--what you
sent me" said she.
"A didn't send it" he cried in an
guish.
You didn't? Didn't you write it?"
yes: III have to admit ! wrote It,
but 1 never intended you to see it."
Oh she said in disappointment.
'Its such lovely poem, too"
William gripped the gateposts hard
or. Was she having covert fun with
Mm?
sI-I-good heavens, what do you
! think of me?" he groaned.
I There was little embarrassed
laugh.
'You've--you've fattered my eyes
awfully," 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. bis
sly wrinEled face. William Boles for.
got there was such a thing as q Greek
root
Z -, A. - tfe.