The Lamar register., 1920-03-24
CUPID'S CAR
By RALPH HAMILTON

benu nef, even III break ner
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
prlmness, prejudice, and, as il was
now turning out, perfidy.
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
small estate left by her father.
girl of less gentle mold would long
since have resented and abandoned
the strict discipline and kill-joy meth
DDS of the soured old maid. There
was an innate sprlghtliness and op-
tmism 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 club Of which
Miss Ward was secretary. and which
comprised all the long-halred male
theorists of the district and most OF
the female faddlsts.
Meantime, Drusilla dreamed. She
loved poetry, sentiment and all that
was true, good and beautiful. She an
ticlpated her twenty-first birthday,
when the han 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 to carry messages and dainties
to an incnpacitnted old lady friend OF
her aunt.
He came into her life so charmlngly,
so naturally. that II seemed to Dru-
sIlla as II II was all predestlned. He
was stopping only incidentally at Mill
VILE In the property Interests Of
relative, was young. handsome. chivnl-
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 VIII. and
that one day In the week when they
met became sweetly beautiful idyl
to both. No word OF love was spoken.
but It's expression came forcibly to
both when Miss Ward made the dis
covery of this stolen compnnionship
and like destructive hurricane
crossed the paradisiacal path Of love
and beauty.
Meantime Miss Ward had intro
duced into the household u. tri-week-
Iy visitor Professor Jeremiah Black
whose cult was antiquity and whose
efforts to court Drusilln were persis
tent. hut repelled. He was a long
lank youth, whom, Drusilla dlscerned
Miss Ward was intent on marrying
her TO. possibly Interested as To Dru-
silln's little fortune.
There was a picnic one bright July
day which all Millville usually attend
ed. and Drusilla consented To accom-
pany her aunt and the professor. be-
cause she believed Irving would he
there. and was prepared to get some
word to him. Arrived at the festal
scene Miss Ward selected an isolated
spot, and. lynx-eyed kept Drusllla
from conversing with any one except
herself and the professor. Drusllln,
however. was so uncOngenial and dull
that the latter wandered on by him
self In a somewhat dlsgruntled mood.
Her heart was benting 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.
IL wish you would treat the prOfcs-
sor with more attention and respect"
spoke her aunt. "when there Is dane
ing I wish you to retain him a. yonf
partner"
II am not prepared TO Join In the
dancing" returned Drusilla with nri.
ful mildness, and removing her hat
she disclosed several wisps Of her hair
done up in papers.
you might try TO obllge me fcf
ance - observed Miss Ward tartly. and
Brusilla proceeded to remove the curl
papers. Her aunt was busy primping
with hand-glass assisting. DrnSilln
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 1t into bush
nearby.
Irving saw and understood. When
Drusilla and her aunt started for the
dancing pavilion he gained the bush.