Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-04-16
CUPID'S CAR
By RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright. 1910. Western Newspaper Union
NO. 81.

Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
"A wilful. ungrateful gIrlp ex-
claimed Miss Maria Ward, but will
bend her, even If l break herl"
Thus to an old spinster friend, soul
less and grabbed as herself, and the
latter voiced entire approval of the
system and designs of her double in
primness, prejudice. and, as 1t was
now turning out, perhdy.
The subject of discussion was Miss
Wards niece, Drusllla North. Since
she was twelve years Of age her aunt
had been her guardian, In charge Of
a small estate left by her father A
girl of less gentle mold would long
since have resented and abandoned
the strict discipline and klll-joy meth
DDS of the soured old maid. There
was an innate sprlghtllness and op-
timism inherent with Drusllla, how
ever, that sustained her nightly.
She submitted to exclusion from the
coveted companionship Of other young
people, she sat patiently In sewing cir
cles, dreary lecture rooms and uncon-
genial meetings Of a club Of which
Miss Ward was secretary, and which
comprised all the long-haired male
theorists of the district and most of
the female faddlsts.
Meantime, Drualla dreamed. .She
loved poetry, sentiment and all that
was true. good dnd beautiful. She an
tlcipated her twenty-first birthday,
when the ban would be lifted and she
could enter into real life and Joyous
ness Then one day she met Irving
Thearle on her way to a town two
miles distant, whittier she was sent
weekly to carry messages and daintles
to an lncapacltated old lady friend OF
| her aunt
He came into her life so charmingly,
so naturally, that It seemed to Dru-
silla as II 1t was all predestined. He
was stopping only incidentally at Mill
Vile In the property interests of n
relative, was young, handsome. chival-
rous. The winding country road was
lined with flowers, and beyond were
bird-haunted stretches Of timber and
rose-spangled reaches Of velvety
sward. where they roamed at will, and
that one day In the week when they
met became sweetly beautiful idyl
to both. No word Of love was spoken,
but Its expression came forcibly to
both when Miss Ward made the dis
covery Of this stolen companionshlp
and like a destructive hurricane
crossed the paradIslacal path of love
and beauty.
Meantime Miss Ward had intro
duced into the household as trl-week-
ly visitor a Professor Jeremiah Black,
whose cult was antiquity and whose
efforts to court Drusilla we're persls.
tent, but repealed. He was a long,
lank youth, whom, Drusllla discerned,
Miss Ward was intent on marrying
her to. possibly interested rs to Dru-
silla's little fortune.
There was picnic one. bright July
day which all Mlllville usually attend
ed, and Drusilla consented to accom-
pany her aunt and the professor, be-
cause she believed Irving would be
there, and was prepared to get some
word to him. Arrived Mt the festnl
scene Miss Ward selected an is0lated
spot, and, lynx-eyed, kept Drusilla
from converslng with any one except
herself and the professor Drusllla,
however, was so uncongenial and dull
that the latter wandered Off by him
self in n somewhat dlsgruntled mood.
Her heart was beating high, however,
for she had seen Irving arrive In an
automobile and later lurking in the
woodland near by. Then she caught
sight of him gazing directly at her
from near covert.
II wish you would treat the profes-
sOr with more attention and respect"
spoke her aunt. "When there is dane
ing wish you to retain him as your
partner"
Il am not prepared to join In the
dancing" returned Drusllla with art
full mlldness, and removing her hat
she disclosed several wisps Of her hair
done up in papers.
"You might try TO oblige me for
once" observed Miss Ward tartly, and
Drusllla proceeded to remove the curl
papers. Her aunt was busy primplng,
with hnnd-glass assisting. DrusIlla
twisted several tiny wlsps Of paper
free. She turned quick glance In
the direction of her lurking lover She
suspended n larger piece OF curl paper.
wadded It and flung II into bush
| nearby.
Irving saw and understood When
Drusllla and her aunt started for the
| dancing pavilion he gained the bush,
UNFINISHED the discarded curl paper
and read: meet me at the spring In
an hour"
It was that length OF time later that
Drusllla, GREATNESS and excited, Joined
him there.
Il Just managed to get nway from
my aunt" she Huttered. "Oh, Irving
they are trying to marry me TO that
horrid professor and l am going to
run away from home"
"Grandp commented Irving cheer.
fully. "Pm going to, likewise. Dru.
| sila, dear, let us go together. My
auto is handy; know n convenient
clergyman not FIVE miles away. Shall
We hurry TO him and then begin JOY
| GUS, truant honeymoon
"Do you care for me no much, thenW
filtered Drusllln. and his earnest,
loyal gaze gave an assuring reply
II trust my future all to you" she
m1rmured, and his strong arm encir-
cled her as they hastened to the walt.
lng automobile that was to them a
Ver1table Cupid's car.