Middletown transcript., 1921-10-08
Cupid Hath
Ears
By MARTHA MACWILLIAMS.

II am always glad to find widow
at house party" chuckled Ned Nc
Crae. "Then I am sure I wont be
bored. One is certain to be amused
with one Of the species around.
wonder why old MacNelson still fol-
lows in Hortense's wake If she had
wanted him, she'd have taken him long
ago" s+
From her comfortable place In
hammock, under wide-spreading trees,
Lila Marshall regarded Ned where he
sat on low stool near enough to
keep the hammock swaying gently.
ASK me something hard!" she drawled
!azily. "Horty has sense. Let her en-
joy life as long as she can! Do you
think that Mac as husband would
measure up to Mac the lover? I'll
say he won't. Look at my worse half.
playing tennis on hot morning like
this, trying to fool himself that he is
young enough to attract little Peggy
O'NeiI! Pass the chocolates, old boy !!
My disillusionment hasn't affected my
appetite yet.''
ooh, say, you're jealous Of that
child. 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-
tn,
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. "Is that the
truth?' she demanded. IF 1t 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 feck of imaginary dirt from
his spotless flannels. you're cruel
woman to rush me around after a
fledgling 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 a finished
product like you. A man doesn't have
to exert himself"
Lila grinned indulgently. "And he's
safe, playing around married women
Go on, brace up, Ned! You're good
sort. Assume your own responsibilities
in the world. A real love would dc
wonders for you."
It 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 CT springtime. 1r
little apple-green frock, and
wisp of flesh-colOred tnlle 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 flash
ing black eyes and too red lips thu
acid of time was already etching un
mistakable lines. A man would have
had no heart if he had not been at
tracted to Peggy that night, her fresf
innocent loveliness, her big, dream
filled eyes, her flattering attention t
those around her. Lila's shreWd eye
soon saw evidence that she had Ger
tainly started something when she
had sent handsome Ned McCrae tOwart
the tennis court that morning. Fo
Ned, after years of philandering
seemed "hard hit' by the sweet youni
girl lust out of school. And Mac
Nelson for the first time in his thre
years arduous pursuit Of the gay, fas
cinating widow was watching Pegg
with an undeniable light in his face.
Afterward, when there was dane
ing in the big ballroom on the thir
floor, it appeared even to Hortens
that good, dependable Mac was rovin
at last. And just then, fate steppe
in and took hand in the game.
Mac had been out somewhere O
the lantern-decked balcony with tn
pretty exponent Of springtime whe
he suddenly presented himself befor
Hortense. "Girl," he said, '1've &C
the devil of toothache. What in tn
Sam Hill am l going to do about i
way out here in the country? Tv
taken on a couple of drinks but the
don't help a Bit
Hortense rose quickly. Their
seemed to be a motherly quality
the touch of her white hand on hi
arm. "Come on down stairs to tn
den and I'll fix you up! I'll sto
on the way, and get my medicine cas-
out of my room. l travel prepare
for any and all emergencies"
spoken just like a true widow
laughed one of the men sitting near.
When Hortense entered the coz
little den a few minutes later st
found poor Mac huddled on the couc
his face buried in the cushions. Not
ing on earth can so unnerve ma
as a cruelty aching molar when
is miles away from dental help. Her
swallow this !" she commanded. sittir
down beside him. She gave him
little white tablet. "Then I'll pail
around the tooth with iodine and a