The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-10

a. =
wife war coming ont to Little rails
TO i've with him Joe Rogers never
had much feeling.
No. sir" answered Cupid. turning
white.
Dead. hey!" asked Joe Rogers.
mo. SIR" said Cupid, looking
straight into Rogers's eyes. Some
how Joe Rogers found an excuse to
back away. He never questioned
Cupid after that.
Joe Rogers was at work in charge
OF the men who wer repairing the
big dam above Little Falls. It had
been called dangerous; people said
that If ever 1t burst the food would
sweep away Little Falls as the flood
had destroyed Johnstown, and nobody
would, have time 10 do anything but
pray, and pray fast. Meanwhile the
dam was progressing toward compile
ton. With the REINFORCED concrete
structure no one thought 1t would
break.
We used to hear gossip of the Cav
endish household. from Emma, the
black maid. That was how we
learned hat Henry Norman didn't
like Cupid. In fact. 1t was said by
her that the first time the two men
met Mr.. Norman looked as though
he had seen a ghost, while Cupid drew
himself up very stiH and looked at
Mr.. Norman in a q that made her
blood run cold. However, Emma.
faithful old soul that she was, was
fond OF romancing. Still. we knew
that Mr.. Norman had tried TO per-
suade Miss Cavendish to get rid of
Cupid. Miss Cavendish refused. She
always had a will of her own. They
nearly quarreled over It till Mr.. Nor
man saw that It was a case OF yield
ing or losing Miss Cavendish-or her
money.
That was the bitter part. Joe Rog-
ers found out that Mr.. Norman was
a bankrupt. He had hidden away
enough of his property to enable him
to dress like a gentleman. and to
bring Miss Cavendish expensive row
ers: but he wanted her cool fifty thou
sand. everybody knew. But nobody
is going to NEEDLE in such affairs.
Folks are cowardly in small towns.
AS for Cupid. whatever he knew. he
kept quieter than ever. He worshiped
Miss C~avendish. That was easy to
see. But people said he wouldn't hold
his position long after the marriage,
which was only four weeks away
Now comes the astonishing part of
the story. Emma said she saw Cupid
talking to Mr.. Norman. The two men
we're at the gate of Miss C~avendish's
house. and Norman was on his way
homeward after a call when Cupid
confronted him. What Emma was
doing there she did not pretend to
explain.
Fec the last time 1 warn you to
leave Miss Cavendish alone" said
Cupid.
You scoundrel!" Kissed Norman.
"Ill have you arrested for blackmail.
I'LL"
Eve know all about that. Mr.. Nor.
man." answered Cupid YEARLY. You
are relying on my not daring to bring
my wife's name into court. Maybe
you are right up to a certain point,
but not when it comes to sacrificing a
woman like Miss Caveudish."
What Norman answered Emma
could not hear. but she saw Cupid
clench his fists and Norman start
away. And. as Cupid watched him
stink by there was a queer look on
the mans ugly face. It almost seemed
as though he realized Norman was a
coward and was %meditating about It.
"If the dam don't burst tomorrow
she can't" Joe Rogers had said, and
everyone repeated It. The key to the
solid wall of masonry was to be
swung into position the next day.
Some had said that the laying of'the
great blocks had disturbed the founda-
lions OF the old dam. but Joe ridi-
culed that. After ten at night the
following day the dam couldn't burst
unless an earthquake struck it, he
insisted. People grew a little nerv-
u as b evening wore away. Black
Emma had heard Miss Cavendish
l~aughingly tell Mr.. Norman. who was
visiting her that evening. and she said
the man seemed scared when Miss
Cavendish told him their house stood
right in the line the torrent would
take.
Only Emma saw what happened at
the house that night. and we have to
rely on her. 1t seems that Norman
was within half an hour of departing
the two had been reading some
book together-when Cupid rushed
into the living-room without the pre-
limlnary of a knock.
The dams BURST" he yelled.
There's just two minutes before the
food catches US. Run for the hillside
or you'll be buried under a hundred
feet OF water!"
Emma screamed naturally, but she
was not so terrified as Norman. He
stared at Cupid with wild eyes for
the tenth Of a second. Then. with a
yell, he was upon his feet, out through
the glass OF the window, which fell
in splinters all ahont him and snaad.