The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-12-29
Cupid Hath
Ears
b MARTHA MAcWILLIAMs.


pored. One Is certain to be amused
WIN one of the species around. 1
"onoer why old MacNelson still fol-
""s IN Hortense's wake If she had
wanted MIN, she'd have taken him long
lgo." e
From her comfortable place in
,a"mock' under wtde-spreading trees,
Lila Marshall regarded Ned where he
vat on a low stool near enough to
.eep the hammock swaying gently.
ASK me something hard /" she drawled
hziiy. "Horty has sense. Let her en-
10Y life as long as she can! Do YOU
mink that Mac as a husband would
measure up to Mac the lover7 I'll
say ne won't. Look at my worse half,
playing tennis on a hot morning like
THIS, trying to fool himself that he Is
young enough to attract little Peggy
UNeii! Pass the chocolates, old boy
MY establishment hasn't affected my
appetite yet"
'oh, say, you're jealous of that
chlid. Aren't you the silly one when
It's plain as day your good old scout
sees that the child Is crazy about
Mac and that the presence Of Hor-
tense Is a real thorn In the child's
quivering flesh? He's Just entertain
Ing her to keep her from missing
Macs attention. Didn't Mac rush her
to death the first two days we were
here, until Hortense arrived?"
Lila sat up straight. rs that the
truthT' she demanded. eff it is, you
Just get your six feet of good-looking
manhood up to the court at once and
make Peggy O'Neil have the time of
her life!"
Ned stretched himself and dust
ed a tieck of imaginary dirt from
his spotless fiannels. You're a cruel
woman to rush me around after
f1edgling who hasn't sprouted pin
feathers yet. | don't like them be-
fore they're seasoned. It's so much
more comfortable to talk to finished
product like you. A man doesn't have
to exert himself"
Lila grinned indulgently. "And he's
coISi piuSilS lIl1I leu NolhSIl
Go on. brace up, Nedl You're a good
sort. Assume your own responsibilities
in the world. A real love would do
wonders for YOU
1t was not until that evening at
dinner that a complication of af-
fairs began to be subtly manifested
to the guests. Peggy O'Neil was
the personification of springtime. III
little apple-green frock, and a
wisp of fiesh-colored tulle display
ing rather than hiding the beauty
of her white throat and arms, she
made a striking contrast to the hand
some Hortense, around whose fash
ing black eyes and too red lips the
acid of time was already etching I'M
mistakable lines. A man would have
had no heart IL he had not been at
tracted to Peggy that night, her fresh
innocent loveliness, her big, dream
filed eyes, her tiattering attention to
those around her. Lila's shrewd eyes
soon saw evidence that she had GER
tainly started something when she
had sent handsome Ned McCrae toward,
the tennis court chat morning. For
Ned, after years of philandering,
seemed hard HIT by the sweet young
girl just out Of school. And Mac
Nelson for the first time in his three
years arduous pursuit of the gay, fas-
cinating widow was watching Peggy
with an undeniable light in his face.
Afterward, when there was dane
ing in the big ballroom on the third
floor it appeared even to Hortense
that good, dependable Mac was rowing
at last And just then, fate stepped
In and took hand in the game.
Mac had been out somewhere on
the authenticated balcony with the
pretty exponent of springtime when
he suddenly presented himself before
Hortense Girl" he said, 1--WE got
the devil of a toothache. What in the
Sam Hill am l going to do about 1t,
way out here in the country? I've
taken on q couple of drinks but they
don't help bit"
Hortense rose quickly. There
seemed to be a motherly quality in
the touch of her white hand on his
arm. Come on down stairs to the
den and I'll fix you up! I'll stop
Oh the way and get my medicine case
out of my room. l travel prepared
for any and all emergencies"
Spoken just like true widow"
laughed one Of the men sitting near.
When Hortense entered the coZy
little den few minutes later she
found poor Mac huddled on the couch,
his face buried in the cushions. Moth
ing on earth can so unnerve man
as cruelty aching molar when he
is miles away from dental help. Here,
swallow this !" she commanded, sitting
down beside him. She gave him a
little white tablet. ''Then I'll paint
around the tooth with iodine and ac-
onite and by that time the maid will
be here with a hot water bottle. I'll
fix you up in no time"
And she did. Poor Mac, in the act
of doing off in blissful relief from
pain, reached out and patted the
widows hand. "Good old girl" he
sighed happily. you're much better
for me than one of these little young
things that don't know how to make
a man comfortable" And after thai
he slept, hot water bottle clutcheo
tightly to his face.
uo.Aorco rorordo1 him with ewes