The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-24
CLOWNS AND CUPID
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

tS~%~S$$$$S~S~S~~@~ @~~~~S~~~~~~SS~~
Miss Lynda looked furtively at her
niece in the pew beside her, then side
ways across the aisle to where the
Langleys sat. Billy was there with
his father, and the fact that his clear
young tenor voice was as silent dur
ing the singing Of the hymn as Sara's
own sweet soprano confirmed her sus-
picions of two days standing. There |
had been quarrel.
Bless their hearts," she sympa- |
thized. with her thoughts miles away |
| from the song. Il wonder what the |
trouble u.s. And her eyes. rowing |
| away from her book as though In
search of the cause. found 1t.
There he was-the stranger-in
| pew Just ahead to the right.
| "Humph!" concluded Miss Lynda
with involuntary contempt, I'll bet
that circus agent who has been here
n week and walked home with Sara
the other night is to blame for the
whole thing. She is goose! I'll bet,
too, that he won't walk home with her
after the sermon, either, IL can help
It. Not IL am in as good health as
am this minute, he WON'T"
The hymn closed and the sermon
began. Miss Lynda heard none Of 1t.
Her thoughts were busy. There will
have to be something DONE" she kept
saying to herself. Poor things!" she
sighed, and glanced again at Sara.
Her thoughts continued: "Of course
talking to them will do about as much
good as trying to put out fire with
gasoline, they are both so touchy. But
there ought to be some way! The
circus is Tuesday and Billy was to
take her, but he won't now. believe
have the faint glimmering of plan!
Yes, have-the very thing!"
And that afternoon she called Bill
ly's father on the phone. After Lang
ley concluded with: ''It's bad business
for young men to lose their heads and
leave town, isn't 1t. Lynda? You and
know that, don't wet"
Eyes, indeed, We should. Henry"
she answered. Nov don't forget in
+ structions."
! On Tuesday, at luncheon, Miss Lyn-
a da said casually over forkful Of
= salad, ct think I'll go up to Potter's
\ and exchange those gloves before cir
Gus time"
"All right" agreed Sara, languidly.
!. 'Tll go with you"
y Now this was exactly what Miss
= Lynda did not want. But she diplo-
a matically waited moment before an
! swering: IT thought maybe you
a wouldn't mind taking those booties
I've Just finished over to the new Mar.
tin baby. I'd do it only it's the other
I, direction"
: Certainly I'll go, auntie, but vel
= never get seats together unlessswe
q meet somewhere"
: i've thought of that. Tickets are
= on sale at Lynn's bookstore and III
! stop in and get our two together.
can leave yours for you"
W At lunch Mr.. Henry Langley said tt
"a his moody son over a chop: BILLY,
Il can't get away until the last second
so on my way downtown I'll stop a
Lynn's and get the tickets and leav'
one for you with your name on It,
Every well, dad"
- A little clever juggling of tickets be
4 tween the two older people and tn
3 estranged lovers found themselves to
gether.
;, The procession was starting aroun'
the ring with blare of trumpets an
band The look of indignation o.
y Sara's face and the amazement an,
:" perplexity on Billy's were instantl
arrested Primal instincts were oblii
Grated in the magical parade befor
u them. q glittering pageant of flares
magnificent royalty, gorgeous Orier
w tails, races OF Ave colors, animals @
all countries, with trappings right on
of the Arabian Nights" and must
calculated to lure the genii OF Aladdi
W right into the big tent.
Id Billy watched and munched. Sari
~ giving herself up to the delights of th
re- biggest show on earth, forgot he
er> neighbor and gazed intently at tn
at spectacle. The romp in the rings b.
or gan, and heads were turning lik
is. knobs on pivots trying to see ever.
list thing at once. Bears rode bicycle
10 elephants had . ball game, ponie
nd were living pictures, Cinnamon spu
an by their hair, equestrians did stunt
or. and acrobats risked their lives.
int Then came the clowns, whole do
of en- of them. with their ridiculous u
re. neys. baby buggies, airships and p
tor troll wagons. Billy let out a snort
en-. glee and Sara Uttered. Another tire
,se a rubber rock on an invisible string
IN. their direction. and as they bot
lodged they bumped heads. The mi
sile retreated after coming within
foot of them. Sara screamed Al
nto then laughed Historically. She fe
ma. that she would go crazy II 81
couldn't say something to somebod
llv What was that? Billy was slappiI
his knee and declaring that somethil
tor was rich" Evidently he was feelil
the same way. when he was babblil
to himself.
~ What silly geese they had been
an. quarrel, and what q gay, funny VOL
| IL al