Gunnison news-champion., 1920-06-11
cuPID's MISTAKE
~ JACK IAwTosa.

tcseyrtshs. lsss. wesssr. Nev,.epe, un,ea.
The girl came. seated upon the bach
"a snov-white horse. down through
N avenue Of stately trees. Her gold
en- hair cleaned beneath the eiose-ax-
ong cap she wore. and her velvet hsh
seemed part Of the olden- time Pic.
ture she made. As Mariana reached
the stone wall which inclosed her IN
Tiers estate she looked over it's top
10 where the sea sparkled In the sun
shine. And rs the clatter Of hoofs
came to . stop. . young man sprans
nimbly to the top Of the wall, and sat
there. gazing at Mariana, all eager
eyed and smiling.
The young man wore a khaki coat
and carried beneath his arm q num-
doiin. Unsmiling and serious the gifi
regarded him: but as the breeze lifted
the heavy hair from the young mans
forehead and the engaging wistfulness
% his countenance still bes0ught her
Marianne came nearer and allowed
him to assist her from the horse's bacs
to seat beside himself on the wall.
Oh. princess" the young man sale.
earnestness underlying his whimstca;
tone. Il have waited long for thee
Even . poor minstrel may weary h
patience"
Don't. Tommy" the girl criee
sharply. do not remind me Of th<
pretty game We have been playing
II must stop. Everything must stoy.
! may not come here to meet you an,
more II was a reckless Joy for US to
indulge In. But I was 20 lonely In
my fathers great empty house; Tom
my. you cannot know what II has
meant to be imprisoned there all my
hfe-no companions Of my own age,
only studies for diversion. Why, the
day rode down TO the end of this
path and found you here on the wall.
singing-you remember, Tommy-and
picking soft. thrifty notes on your
mandolin. why--it was just like riding
straight into a fairy story. Tommy. to
beautiful new adventure. You bowed
and addressed me as Princess" and
when | asked who you might be, you
replied: But poor minstrel. your
highness; at your service" And when
came again and again to those hap
py. merry meetings. you confessed.
sadly. that was 'Highness" to you,
because Of my fathers wealth.. And
you admitted that you were. in truth.
= sort Of poor minstrel. with long
Journey to success before you, and
not one earned penny to your name
We should have taken warning. boy.
dear. that our delightful game Of
friendship could not last. This Is. af
ter all, world Of values and neces
sitieA and even II I would give NJ
my heritage and go away with y0u,
Tommy. where and how could you
take mef I am talking fast, dear. be
cause wish to say what have to say
quickly. and then-goodby. For n
must be goodby forever. I'll remem
ber always those spring mornings. with
the scent Of apple blossoms In the
air and you bending down over the
wall to talk to me. How shall hate
apple blossoms. Tommy. and the mem
ory Of your songs will stay with me.
to make me long for you. You mustn't
hold my hands, dear-I need them to
cover my face while tell you the
truth: am to be married. Tommy.
and that Ii why It n goodby. l am
to marry an old man. selected for me
by ny father before had seen your
face; kind man Of prominence. ol
whom ! am all unworthy. Though ]
have never learned your name. dear
nor In the secret JOY Of my romance
have ! sought to learn It. still you
know the place my father holds in. the
world Of men and the proud place he
would have me MI. Oh! my DEAR" the
girls sweet voice broke utterly, ''if
Jon were not. indeed, Just strollins
minstrel you have professed to be. al
the last would have deied them.
Willingly ] would have gone with yon
to the humblest home. But see: you
have exacted no promise from me.
Tommy; you have not asked me "a
wait. We had better say goodby now
I shall be married. dear, before these
flowers have faded"
The young man loosed the girl's
hands, only to clasp her closely IN
his arms.
Listen" he said hercely. before
these flowers fade. you will be married
to meme. your strolling minstrel
Why. sooner than see you married tc
that old man. good ~ he II. I'd carry
you In my arms straight over the gar
den wall. We have met, dear he,irt.
and loved. because It was to be. Cupid
aimed his arrows well. And II fhe
| first one went astray. well, that was
his mistake. We will 90 to your IA
ther now. Mariana. and tell him sil."
The girl drew back trembling.
|, You do not know my father" she
whispered, "or his anger when frus.
trated."