The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1920-02-06
IN A MAZE
BY JESSIE e. R

| Clarion, us he handed q sheet Of man.
uscript to his fellow compositor.
Loves Anguish" read Hank
Evans. from the neat legible page. "Our
sorrowful contributor Is getting desper-
ate. And look here's a new dedication.
| First it was to E. Then after a cOu-
pie of the illusions IT was 'Eunicia.'
Now it's to Eunicia L. OF course that
means the pretty daughter Of Judge
: Lancaster. Then again this persist
ent poet first signed his illusions ~
then Jerome Now Its Jerome T.
"Yes, and the boss editor says his
full name is Jerome Thurston. A pro-
| fessor over at the academy al u
neighboring town Of Glenwood."
He'd be passable IL he harped on
something else besides longing, lasting
love-" commented Hank.
For over two weeks each recurring
edition of the local paper had contain
| ed verses from the pen Of this very
regular contributor, and this was how
1t had come about:
Professor Jerome Thurston, thirty,
| sedate, but at heart full Of tender SEN
timent, had passed the Lancaster place
| one day when he was halted by the
sight of a young girl whose face was
to him the most enhancing he had ever
eel. Its owner was joined by a young
| lady about her own age.
"Who is that lovely beingT" he asked
amid his rapture of another passerby.
ooh, that is Miss Eunicia Lancas-
ter" came the wondering reply, and
| the professor pursued his way in .
! daze. Love fervent and instantaneous
| had banished all other emotions.
Shy, ~reticent and rendered doubiy
30 by inexperience and retiring ways.
| the professor nursed his love In secret,
but it finally found expression in poesy.
He was a fair rhymester and a ready
writer.
Upon the day when the last poem
appeared in the paper two men met
In the village hotel.
SWELL. have you found out who this
audacious poet isl" inquired he elder
Of the twain.
"Yes, the editor told me. It Is, as
We suspected, the college professor
down at Glenwood."
"Well, he is getting to the limit" re-
Piled the other. 81 can't have Eunicia
subjected to comment and rfdicule.
The man must understand the circum-
stances and is clear GU Of his mind.
or seeks to annoy u.s."
"Yes, he must be stopped" was the
response. II have IA plan TO brighten
him into ceasing his strange poetic
COMMANDMENT" ,
At about dusk that same evening
these two individuals fingered near 4
little thicket at the outskirts of Glen
wood, at a spot Professor Thurston
passed every day in his regular stroll.
The latter finally appeared, his thought
ful face ~betraying abstraction. his
hands linked behind him.
what is this, fOotpads?" be- ex-
claimed, as he was seized by the two
~loiterers. He struggled, but they bore
away from the path and to n clear
space in the thicket.
MY friend" spoke the elder Ut the
two e throwing a narrow case upon
the ground, W have come here to
demand satisfaction. ! am the brother
Of Miss Eunicia Lancaster and this
gentleman is her affianced husband"
Her afianced husband" repeated
the professor in a hollow groan. II
did not know. I fancied her heart
whole. Woe is me-"
And" spoke the other man. 'yOu
must at once recant your assumed de-
votiOn for Miss Lancaster and cease
to persecute US with your ridiculous
pOetical nOtOriety, or defend yourself
with one Of the two loaded weapons
In that case in q duel to the death"
"Recant the honest sentiments
Of my soul?" cried the professor. 'Nev-
er! You insist upon a battle. Be
II so. Rut il I kill you--or If you kill
me? Bur what lists II. If Eunicla. is
to becolue the bride of another. I do
not care 10 live"
The professor shook with emotion
| ana his observers knew NOT WneCner
to regard him as a lunatic. or pity him
as an honest and hopeless lover.
"ODe last glace ut the fairest face in
the universe. u photograph Of my
Eunicia which I received from the vii
iage photographer, and / am ready for
the sacrifice" spoke professor. draw
ing the object I'm question from q pock-
ct near to his heart.
Il say" bolted out Bob Lancaster.
observing the picture.
mot Eunicia at ALL" shouted her
1ance.' why. my man. this is not
Miss Lancaster. but she Is a cousin,
| Miss Myrtle Colby"
The professor looked bewildered. He
blurted out his story Of his first sight
Of the idol Of his dreams. Slowly It
dawned upon him that his informant
had mistaken the lady he had pointed
| out.
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