Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-05-26
CUPID AND DAD
BY MAeLE GRAHAM kNIPE.

s~~sSSSSS~SsNSeSs>e eSSSSeeSSSSeeeSe
who's going. to take you. to the
dance tonight?" asked Emily Barnes
mother at the supper table.
Emily hesitated . moment
mr.. Sands" she replied finally.
Her father looked up interestedly.
That young chap who's trying
scientific farming on the Williams'
place? l must be on hand to meet
him tonight"
Now. daddy, dear, please don't start
that again." pleaded Emily. Every
time a really nice young man comes to
see me. you get busy. You act as II
he was your long-lost son-in-law. and.
of course, that disgusts any decent
fellow. What makes you do it?'
IT'S this way" placidly explained
he- father. your grandfather was al
ways so cool to me each time l went
counting your mother that it made me
wilder than ever to get her, 90 l de-
cided I'd use the other plan and be
80 polite to the young chaps that
they'd quit coming for lack of oppo-
sition. l don't want to lose my little
girl yet"
Then and there Emily resolved that
II it were possible, she would keep her
father and young Sands apart. II
they never met, she reasoned. then
her father could not, by his extremely
clever methods. disgust, him 80 he
would come no longer.
\ Accordingly that evening she met
the young man at the door with:
I'm all ready, you see."
Am l later" he asked, with q be-
wildered look at her cloak and gloves.
mot at all. But Mrs. Carman asked
me to come early to help her with the
decorations. Lovely night, isn't it," az
she descended the steps with the as
tonished. but distinctly happy Mr..
Sands.
Many were the subterfuges to which
Emily was forced to resort in the next
few weeks to keep her father and
young Sands apart, but always she
succeeded. Each day the young man
was growing more devoted and ap-
pearing at her side whenever she ven
tured outside her gate
Came the first day of May, fragrant
with apple blossoms and musical with
the hum Of bees. The young people
planned May day picnic. The girls
were to spend the afternoon gathering
wild flowers in the woods near the
village. and at supper time the young
men were to appear. carrying the
baskets Of lunch previously prepared
by the feminine contingent.
At five o'clock of the eventful day.
the girls. laden with spring blossoms.
were grouped about Mrs. Carter. their
jolly little chaperone. watching the
group of youths Fastening down the
road toward them.
Here we are!" shouted Joe Baker
81 made them let me lead the process.
sion after Billy Sands had to fall out
and had to carry two baskets"
Where is Billy Sands?" asked ev.
erybody all at once.
AT home, nursing a sick COW or q
silo. or something. Anyway. its
something that swallowed an ear OF
corn or q can of soup or something.
answered truthful Joe. They came
running out for him as we passed bis
farm. He was awfully sorry to miss
IT, fun speak for his piece Of cake
now" he finished. thereby starting q
young riot
Emily's lips were smiling, but heI
heart felt queer and heavy as she gath
cred the bottle of olives and escaped
to broad stump to open them.
what is the r-atter with met" she
asked herself desperately. II nevel
was this upset about a man before. Il
1t hurts this much now. what win II
be when father sends him right abou,
face? There's Just one thing to d.
and that is to quit him right now"
She returned the olives to the NOISY
youngsters around the campfire and
murmured about going to the spring
to wash her. hands.
Even at that distance the laughing
voices sounded plainly, drowning tn,
noise of approaching footsteps.
Then a voice at Emily's shoulder be
gan: Miss Emily, I'm 30 sorry
and she turned to ind the only man ID
the world close beside her.
"Oh," she said. and held out hel
hands as a child might have done. tn,
man. with q choking cry Of Sweet
.heart!" gathered them close.
Then he blurted out boyishly: ''rv'
met your father"
mot really?" she gasped.
Young Sands was amazed.
You don't understand. sweetheart.
he explained. "He-he liked me.
know he did. I'd always been afrai,
he despised me, because-because yol
never introduced me to him.
Emily was sobbing now, her face h
her hands. She believed she could se'
In advance the sordid finish to he
fairy story.
Are you crying because I met you
father" asked Billy Sands quietly.
EYES," gulped Emily truthfully.
The young man grasped tree trunl
for support.
Perhaps you'd rather went ava!
| where l could not trouble. you ant
your people," he hazarded shakily.
'Tf you only would" choked Emily
I'll do it." he promised. II low
| - ROp ovoy, that