The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1916-05-31
CUPID AND DAD
BY MAPLE GRAHAM kNIPE.

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-ln-law, and.
OF course. that disgusts any decent
fellow. What makes you do IT."
IT'S this way" placidly explained
her father. Your grandfather was al
ways so cool to me each time | went
counting your mother that it made me
wilder than ever to get her. so | 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 II 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 | late?" he asked. with a 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 1--WE 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 arei" 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 Sands7" asked ey-
erybody all at once.
AT home. nursing a sick COW or a
silo. or something. Anyway. it's
something that swallowed an ear OF
corn or a can of soup or something"
answered truthful Joe. They came
running out for him as we passed his
farm. He was awfully sorry to miss
the fun speak for his piece of cake
now" he finished. thereby starting a
young riot
Emily's lips were smiling but her
heart felt queer and heavy as she gath
sred the bottle OF olives and escaped
to a broad stump to open them.
What is the matter with me7" she
asked herself desperately. 81 never
was this upset about a man before. II
II hurts this much now. what will IT
be when father sends him right about
face? There's Just one thing to do
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 the
noise OF approaching footsteps
Then voice at Emily's shoulder be
gan: Miss Emily. I'm so sorry
and she turned to find the only man in
the world close beside her.
oh" she said. and held out her
hands as child might have done. The
man, with a choking cry Of Sweet
hearti" gathered them close.
Then he blurted out boyishly: I've
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 afraid
he despIsed me. because-because you
never introduced me to him.
pnrr in