The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-15
When
Cupid Mapped
By John CHARLTON

Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press.
His name was Giles Weldon, but
far and wide his friends had nick
named him Cupid" for the reason
that he was small and plump, with
round, rosy, cherubic face and inno-
cent blue eyes, and also because Of
his fatal tendency to bring about
marriages between his acquaintance.
A bachelor himself. Cupid" Wee
don lost no opportunity to mate men
and maidens whenever they ventured
In his vicinity. Thus he had married
of not only his pretty girl cousins,
but even the plain and elderly ones
who had long since despaired of
matrimony. Many a contented bach
elor had found himself engaged and
married to some charming spinster
or widow before he could catch his
breath; or some inconsolable widower
would take to himself a second wife
~ the result Of Cupid" Weedon's
personally conducted. whirlwind mat
rimonial campaigns.
As most Of these marriages turned
out happily-Cupid possessed a weird
prescience Of the afinity between
congenial spirits-his bsnshciaries
we're correspondingly grateful. and
therefore he enacted the part Of best
man at innumerable weddings and
never demurred at the gifts called
forth on these occasions or the
christening cups which as godfather
he presented later on.
At last the day came when most Of
Mr.. Weedon's friends had entered the
married lists and his occupation seem
ed to have ceased But still there
remained his friend and bosom COM
panion, Hilary Ingram. who had just
returned from a trip around the
world, handsome, rich, unattached and
heart untouched, and consequently
| Cupid's active brain and his kind
| heart co-operated to find a suitable
| mate for Hilary.
Hilary Ingram objected at the first
intimation of his friends interest In
his behalf.
See here, my fat friend" he said
bluntly, you may constitute yourself
mixer of love philters and minister
extraordinary to the court Of love
but I'll be hanged If III permit you
to drag me into your matrimonial
bureau"
Cupid Weldon eyed his friend
doubtfully but you can't go on like
this. old man. You ought not to be
living around at hotels What yot
need is home where you can have
all your stuffed birds and animals
around" he added slyly.
For that matter, why can't | pu
them in a museum? 1t would be mucl
more appropriate than messing up I
home" returned Hilary contemptu
ously. Before you marry me of, Gu
own medicine?"
Il may. some day" returned tn
matchmaker loftily. provided eve
fall in love with a girl"
Take 1t from me-" predicted Hi
airy darkly. that when you fall II
| 1--WE Will n tOO, 5hdIl ihi
in love with her and cut you out"
81 dare say you WILL" was Cupid
grinning retort, and they resume,
their golf
Several weeks afterward It haI
pened that Hilary Ingram discovere
Cupid Weldon incoming about tn
country club. His blue eyes eagerl
searched the OCCUPANTS of motor car
as they stopped, and listlessly turne
, away when he had scanned the face
beneath the Disgusting wells.
, who Is she?" demanded Hilary.
who is who?" retorted Cupi
sheepishly.
THE one you are waiting forth
; girl with the-what color eyes?"
, Blue" admitted the matchmake
| blue as your own cornflower o.
TICS" commented Hilardy. II great
fear you have made a miscalculatiol
my friend. You should have chose
brown eyes or black. predict III
I happiness in your married life with
dark man in the background"
who is the dark man.
Hilary bowed. Myself" he sal
s modestly.
a Get out" ordered Cupid. his eye
still seeking the driveway.
Il shall remain. Cupid" proteste
!. Hilary firmly You may count ON m
q for best man and-er-by Jove. WI
o Is that"
I Its Miss Wall" breathed NJ
Weldon as he bounced down the steI
/. and assisted a graceful form to aligl
from a luxuriously appointed car.
f., She was lovely girl. She W;
g gowned in a pale blue robe that fe
about her feet in simple lines, al
her Topping hat was of the san
blue. trimmed with pink roses.
Hilary saw all this as she tosst
= OF a big chiffon veil and loose COG
:, An elderly woman followed and a
!, other cavalier was ready to after
: her in the person OF Major Demmt
: Hilary knew Major DeLsmet, and
= resolved to seek out the major lat,
q and gain an introduction to Mi
Wall.
!. You will excuse me, Hilary" So
y Mr.. Weldon as he passed his chuI
!. but | am lunching with friends"
l. They disappeared and Hilary four
J. himself standing there on the piaz
o gazing after them with undoubt.
l. jealousy hammering at his heart WI
should he be jealous Of girl who
ne had only gazed at for two momen
and whose eyes had only met his
r. a sweeping, casual glance as she can
up the steps?