Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-09-09
THE CUPID
EXPRESS
A Comedy of Love
By CLARlSSA MACKIE

6:o6 train the Cupld express, De-
cause 1t invariably carried one or more
bridal couples.
1t was the close Of March day, ex-
actly 6:36 p. M, and the Cupid express
had Just snorted away cityward with
two Of Trentham's fair brides and in
cidentally the newly made husbands.
The Faber twins had just been mar
ried. It was a double wedding, and
all the town had turned out to send
them off with a suitable merrymaking.
"Where is Edith?' inquired Mrs. Will
liam Blake, craning her neck around
the carriage. "Where is Edith" she
repeated sternly as her niece took her
place in the surrey.
Cora Morris voice was guilty.
Edith is walking home" she said.
Mrs. Blake drew sharp breath.
"Walking" she Intercepted.
Cora nodded, but her face beneath the
white hood Of her cloak was serious.
"Not aloneY declared Mrs. Blake in
the decisive tone of one who knew.
with Harley Lane" confessed Cora
"Ahw Mrs. Blakes tone was freeZ-
ing. She sank back In her seat and
was silent. Bitter thoughts crowded
her mind
It was like an unkind fate to decree
that her only child Edith, should fall
in love with Judge Lanes son.
She had always tried to keep them
apart and was openly rude to young
Lane And Harley was disconcerting
ly polite to her
"Mrs. Blake would be the jolliest
woman in the world if she would only
forget her crouch against the world"
said her would be sOn-in-laW to his ia
ther one day.
But the Judge had frowned and look
ed very uncomfortable.
81 wonder why your mother is so
set against me-" remarked Harley as
he tucked Ediths hand under his arm
and marched down the street.
Ediths eyelashes fiickered as the
surrey passed them at corner where
a street lamp shone brightly.
81 don't believe she really hates you,
Harley" she said, "but some one has
whispered a bit of ancient history to
me. Years ago mother was engaged
and neither forgave the other. Both
married. There you are, sirv'
"The deucer whistled Harley; then
he added hastily: They've both been
widowed for fifteen years. Why didn't
they marry each other?"
81 don't know" sighed Edith. "They
couldn't really have cared"
Dear, do you know / was wishing
that you and I had courage to throw
conventions to the four winds and
elope on the Cupid express some dayv'
"They would never forgive us, DEAR"
murmured Edith, "and we couldn't
really be happy if they didn't"
81 know it. There's only one thing
to do, then-to convert them to our
way Of thinking"
"How can we do that?"
81 didn't have an idea until you told
me that once they had been sweet
hearts. Listen to this scheme"
Mrs. Blake saw them lingering at the
front gate. Her handsome face grew
sterner, and her lips Strengthened into
q thin line.
Her hands smote sharply together in
a passion of wounded pride.
Ellis son-of all menY' she moaned
softly.
One April afternoon Mrs. Blake re-
turned from her euchre club to find
the house strangely silent.
Miss Edith?" repeated Jane, the
maid. "Why, Miss Edith left the
house an hour ago. She carried a suit
case and
"a suit case?" interrupted Mrs.
Blake. did she say where she was
going?"
mo, ma'am. I wouldn't have known
about it only l heard the front door
close, and / looked and saw Miss Edith
running down the walk. A cab was
there She jumped in and was OFF,
Every likely she has been called over
to her cousins In South Trentham.
She will telephone to me no doubt"
The clock in the hall chimed the
quarter after 6, and mingled with it
was the sharp, insistent tinkle Of the
telephone bell.
Winona Blake's voice shook little
as she lifted the receiver from its hook.
"Yes?" she inquired.
It was Edith's voice. speaking In
tremulous excitement.
Mother, DEAR" she quavered, would
you consent to my-my marrying Har-
ley?"
An instant's silence, then the moth
er's voice, cold and terrible:
''No daughter Of mine ever will mar
~ him"
"Mother!" Edith's voice was stricken.
where are you?" asked Mrs. Blake.
"The railroad station"
"Wait until I Conner ordered Mrs.
Blake, and, hanging up the receiver,
she rushed from the house, still wear
ing her hat and her most becoming
aftarnoon poyNp