The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-19
CUPID and DAD
BY MAPLE GRAHAM kNIPE.

w Ho going 10 TAKE you 10 the
dance tonight" asked Emily Barnes
mother at the supper table.
Emily hesitated a 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 really nice young man comes to
see me, you get busy. You act as II
he was your long-lost son-inlaw, and,
Of course. that disgusts any decent
fellow. What makes you do it?"
ITS this way" placidly explained
her father. Your grandfather was al
ways so cool to me each time went
counting your mother that 1t made me
wilder than ever to get her. so l de-
cided I'd use the other plan and be
so polite to the young chaps that
| they'd quit coming for lack OF oppo-
sition. don't want to lose my little
girl yet"
Then and there Emily resolved that
II 1t 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 SO 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 late?" he asked. with q be-
wildered look at her cloak and gloves.
Not at all. But Mrs. Carman asked
me to come early to help her with the
decorations. Lovely night, isn't it," as
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. theil
jolly little chaperone, watching the
group of youths Fastening down the
road toward them.
Here we are!" shouted Joe Baker
II 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 sick COW or (
silo. or something Anyway, IT.
something that swallowed an ear o
corn or a can of soup or something.
, answered truthful Joe. "They CAM
running out for him as we passed hi
farm. He was awfully sorry to mis-
the fun speak for his piece of CAKE
now" he finished. thereby starting 1
young riot
. Emily's lips were smiling, but he
: heart felt queer and heavy as she gath
cred the bottle of olives and escaped
to broad stump to open them.
What is the matter with me?" sh,
asked herself desperately. II neve
was this upset about man before. l
| it hurts this much now. w1at will
!. be when father sends him right abou
i face? There's Just one thing to d.
y and that is to quit him right now"
She returned the olives to the nois
youngsters around the campfire an
; murmured about going to the sprin
. to wash her hands.
Even at that distance the laughin
voices sounded plainly. drowning tn
l. noise of approaching footsteps.
Then voice at Emily's shoulder BIZ
. gan: Miss Emily, I'm so sorry
= and she turned to find the only man 1
the world close beside her.
u oh" she said, and held out he
} hands as child might have done. TIL
: man. with a choking cry of "Swee
heart" gathered them close.
d Then he blurted out boyishly: NV
n met your father
8 Not really?" she gasped
u Young Sands was amazed
l. You don't understand, sweetheart
Q he explained. "He-he liked me.
II know he did I'd always been afrai
u he despised me. because-because yo
8 never introduced me to him.
D Emily was sobbing now, her face
o her hands She believed she could Sc
n in advance the sordid finish to he
II fairy story.
l. Are you crying because ! met you
l. father" asked Billy Sands quietly
II Yes" gulped Emily truthfully.
A The young man grasped tree trun
3 for support.
e Perhaps you'd rather | went ava
p where | could not trouble you an
your people" he hazarded shakily.
IF you only would choked Emil,
'I1l do it" he promised 81 Low
% you well enough for even that"
Emily's hands fell away. her wet II
tie face aglow with joy.
Il Honestly, Billy? Then it doesn
:" matter If father does make a parad
over you" And she finished her stan
mering story on his shoulder his arm
tightly holding her.