Middletown transcript., 1920-04-03
Cup1D's CAR
By RALPH HAMILTON

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
prfmness. prejudice. and, as it was
now turning out, 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
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.
DDS Of the soured old maid. There
was an innate sprightliness and op-
timism inherent with Drusilla, 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-haired 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
ticipated 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 to carry messages and dainties
to an incapacitated old lady friend of
her aunt.
He came into her life so charmingly,
so naturally, that it seemed to Dru-
silla as If it was all predestined. He
was stopping only incidentally at Mill
vile in the property interests of a
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 q 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 companiOnship
and like a destructive hurricane
crossed the paradisiacal path Of love
and beauty.
Meantime Miss Ward had intro
duced into the household as tri-week-
ly visitor a Professor jeremiah Black,
whose cult was antiquity and whose
efforts to court Drusilla were persis-
tent, but repelled. He was a long,
lank youth, whom, Drusilla discerned
Miss Ward was intent on marrying
her to, possibly interested as to Dru-
silla'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 be
there, and was prepared to get some
word to him. Arrived at the festal
scene Miss Ward selected an isolated
spot, and, ]ynx-eyed, kept Drusilla
from conversing with any one except
herself and the professor. Drusilla,
however, was so uncongenial and dull
that the latter wandered off by him
self in a somewhat disgruntled 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 a near covert.
II wish you would treat the profess
sor with more attention and respect" !"
spoke her aunt. "When there is dane
ing 1 wish you to retain him as your
partner"
II am not prepared to 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
once!" observed Miss Ward tartly, and
Drusilla proceeded to remove the curl
papers. Her aunt was busy primping,
with a hand-glass assisting. Drusilla
twisted several tiny wisps Of paper
free. She turned quick glance in
the direction of her lurking lover. She
suspended a larger piece Of curl paper,
wadded it and flung 1t into a 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 in
an hour"
It was that length Of time later that
Drusilla, breathless and excited, Joined
him there.
II just managed to get away from
nv aunt" she fluttered. "Oh, Irving
they are trying to marry me to that
horrid professor and I am going to
run away from home"
"Grand!" commented Irving cheer
fully. I'm going to, likewise. Dru
silla, dear, let US go together. My
auto is handy; I know a convenient
clergyman not five miles away. Shall
we hurry to him and then begin a JOY
ous, truant honeymoon"
"Do you care for me so much, then 7
faltered Drusilla, and his earnest
loyal gaze gave an assuring reply.
VI trust my future all to you," She
murmured, and his strong arm encir
cled her as they hastened to the wait
ing automobile that was to them I
yeritable Cupid's car.