Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-05-05
THE CUPID
EXPRESS
A Comedy Of Love
By CLARlSSA r1ACKIE

Trentham people always called the
$3.50 train the Cupid express" be-
cause 1t invariably carried one or more
bridal couples.
1t was the close OF u March day, ex-
actly 0:30 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 Ind Just been mar
ried. Ii was double wedding. and
all the town had turned out TO send
them of with a suitable merrymaking
Where Is EdithT' inquired Mrs. vii
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 a sharp breath.
"Walking?" she Intercepted.
Cora nodded. but her face beneath the
white hood Of her cloak was serious.
mot alonef" declared Mrs Blake IN
the decisive tone OF one who knew.
"Wlth Harley Lane" confessed Cora
"Ah!" Mrs. Blakes tone was freez-
ing She sank back In her seat and
was silent Bitter thoughts crowded
her mind
1t was like nm 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
" 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.
Their one day.
But the Judge had frowned and look
ed very uncomfortable.
II wonder why your mother is SC
set against me-" remarked Harley as
he tucked Edith's hand under his arm
and marched down the street.
Edith's eyelashes nickered as the
surrey passed them at a corner where
a street lamp shone brightly.
II don't believe she really hates you
Harley" she said, but some one has
whispered bit OF ancient history to
me. Years ago mother was engaged
to marry your father. They quarreled
and neither forgave the other. Both
married There you are, siri"
"The deucer' whistled Harley; then
he added hastily: They've both been
widowed for fifteen years. Why didn't
they marry each otherr'
II don't know" sighed Edith. They
couldn't really have cared"
Dear. do you know | was wishing
that you aud | had courage to throw
conventions to the four winds and
elope on the Cupid express some day.
"They would never forgive US, dear"
murmured Edith, "and we couldn't
really be happy If they didn't"
II know It. There's only one thing
to do, then-to convert them to our
way Of thinking"
How can We do thatY'
II 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
a thin line.
Her hands smote sharply together In
passion OF wounded pride
His son-of all menr' 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 suit
case and
"A suit case?" interrupted Mrs.
Blake. ibid she say where she was
going2"
mo, ma'am. | wouldn't have known
about II only | heard the front door
close, and looked and saw Miss Edith
running down the walk A cab was
there. She jumped In and was orr
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 @. and mingled with 1t
was the sharp, insistent tinkle OF the
telephone bell.
Winona Blake's voice shook a little
AZ she lifted the receiver from Its hook
"Yesr she inquired.
1t was Edith's voice. speaking In
tremulous excitement.
"Mother, DEAR" she quavered, would
you consent to my-my marrying Har.
leyT
An instant's silence, then the moth.
tr's voice, cold and terrible:
mo daughter Of mine ever will mar
Iy himI''
"Mother!" Edith's voice was stricken.
Where are your asked Mrs. Blake
1.-The railroad station"
wait until | GOMEZ ordered Mrs
Blake, and, hanging up the receiver,
she rushed from the house, still wear
Ing her hat and her most becoming
afternoon gown
There was no time TO call Thomas.
Before he could harness one Of the lazy
blacks into the runabout the Cupid ex.
press would be away from the stationl
As Mrs. Blake hurried up the stairs
she heard the thunder Of the approach
lug train Her lips frightened