The diamond drill., 1920-04-24
CUPID'S CAR
BY RALPH HAMILTON

"A wiIful. ungrateful girll' ex-
claimed Miss Maria Ward. "but | Will
bend her even II break herl"
Thus 20 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 IL was
now turning ont, perfidy.
The subject OF discussion was Miss
Wards niece. DrusIlla 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 kill-joy meth
ods OF the soured old maid. There
was an innate sprightliness and op-
timism inherent with Drusllla. how.
ever. that sustained her nightly.
She submitted to exclusion from the
coveted companionshlp of other young
people. she sat patiently in sewing cir
cles, dreary lecture rooms and uncon-
genial meetings of club of which
Miss Ward was secretary, and which
comprised all the long-Laired male
theorists OF the district and most OF
the female faddists.
Meantime, Drusilla dreamed. She
loved poetry. sentiment and all that
was true. good and beautiful. She an
ticlpated 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 town two
miles distant, whittier she was sent
weekly 10 carry messages and daintles
to an incapacitated old lady friend Of
her aunt.
He came into her life so charmIngly,
so naturally, that IL seemed TO Dru-
slla as II II was all predestlned. He
was stopping only incidentally Mt Mill
vile in the property interests Of a
relative, was young, handsome, chiyal-
rous The winding country road was
lined with flowers, and beyond were
bird-haunted stretches OF timber and
rose-spangred reaches Of yelvety
sward. where they roamed at will, and
that one day In the week when they
met became a sweetly beautiful ldyl
10 both. No word OF love was spoken,
but its expression came forcibly TO
both when Miss Ward made the dis
covery OF this stolen companionship
and like destructive hurricane
crossed the paradlsiacal path OF love
and beauty.
Meantime Miss Ward had intro
duced into the household as tri-week-
ly visitor Professor Jeremiah Black.
whose cult was antiquity and whose
efforts 10 court Drusilla were persls-
tent, but repealed. He was long,
lank youth whom, Drusllla discerned,
Miss Ward was intent on marrying
her TO. possibly interested as 90 Dru.
silla's little fortune.
There was n picnic one bright July
day which all Mlilville usually attend
ed. and Drusilla consented 20 accom-
pany her aunt and the professor, be-
cnuse sine believed Irving would be
there. and was prepared 10 get some
word to him Arrived az the festal
scene Miss Ward selected an isolated
spot, and, lynx-eyed kept Drusilla
from conversing with any one except
herself and the professor. Drusllla
however. was so uDcongenial and dull
that the latter wandered of by him
self In n somewhat dsgruntled mood.
Ner 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 a near covert.
81 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"
II am nor prepared 20 Join In the
dancing" returned Drusilla with art
full mildness and removing her hat
she disclosed several wisps Of her hair
done up in papers.
"You might try to oblIge me for
OnceT' observed MISS ward tnrty, ana
Drusilla proceeded to remove the curl
papers. Her aunt was busy primping.
with n hnnd.glasS assisting. Drusilla
twisted several tiny wisps Of paper
free. She turned a quick glance in
the direction Of her lurking lover. She
suspended larger piece OF curl paper.
wadded 1t and flung II into bush
nearby.
Irving saw and understood. When
Drusilla and her aunt started for the
dancing pavilion he gained the bush,
untwisted the discarded curl paper
and read: "Meet me at the spring INF
an hour"
II was that length of time later that
Drusilla, breathless and excited. Joined
him there.
Il just managed to get away from
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