, 1923-06-21
Blue Cupid on
the Mantel
By CLARISSA c
&c by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)

cupid with great disfavor. 80" he
said slowly, with a jealous light in his
black eyes, so o are keeping the
wretched thing just because 1t has a
sentimental value?"
Elsie took the small pale blue bisque
figure from the mantelpiece, balancing
it on her small palm. A mischievous
smile deepened the corners of her
mouth and her eyes were merry. Don
aid was such a fierce sutton. so ar
rogant In his demands for her whole
time, so jealous of the years before
he had known herl
YES" she murmured softly. BILLY
gave 1t to me-years ago"
"Billy?" bitterly.
She nodded. II have always loved
1t for that reason-you see the culver
is large enough to hold matches. He
put 1t on this mantelpiece himself, and
so 1 keep 1t there always"
"Incongruous as 1t Is, lear the
Sheffield candlesticks and the Wedg-
wood vase!"
Poor little blue cupid" purred FL
sic tenderly. "He shall go to my own
room and sit on the dressing table, so
he shall!'
"Bahl" muttered Donald childishly.
Perhaps you would like to get rid of
my photograph so as to make room
for your keepsake"
81 never thought of that, Donald
it's an idea-if you really want the
picture-you know l value your photo
graph, my friend"
Friend? You know I want to be
more thar thatl"
Have 1 encouraged you? Deceived
your" she asked gently.
NO" he said glumly. you have
made it plain that you do not care
for me-"
81 am truly sorry, Donald
81 must go. Good-by. Elsie. Think
of me sometimes" he muttered, grasp
ing her hand.
You are going away?"
He nodded. with my uncle to Eng
land. / will write you one letter.
Elsie, and If your answer is still the
same. then I shall not come again."
So he took his departure, lark in
his resolve not to pursue a girl who
could not make up her mind whether
she loved him or not. Elsie let him
go, glad of a respite wherein she
could study her Maynard heart.
"Why can't I love Donald?" she
asked herself despairingly. HE is
the incest boy in the world, but there
is just one little bit of feeling hat is
missing. I can't quite make up my
mini that I would be happy with him
foreverl His aunt Bee said he was
Grl-In md nnnn that rap,orly hoe rrnry
my distrust until 1 am afraid to like
him too much Oh, blue cupid, where
is the little boy who gave you to me
so many years ago? Dear old Billy
Vane, what has become Of you? How
he did blush that day when he told
me that some day he was coming back
to marry me |" She laughed softly
as her thoughts went back to the lit
tie boy neighbor whose family had
moved to another city and who had
drifted from her sight. That was ff-
teen years ago, and she was an ador-
able little lass, and Billy was a small
freckled Adonisl
That was the story of the blue cupid
which had sent Donald Adams across
the sea and left Elsie without any i'm
mediate attending swain. After the
first few weeks Elsie discovered that
h really missed Donald and when a
letter did not come from him she
scolded the blue cupid soundly as the
author of all her woes.
But the brave little blue igurine
merely aimed his golden arrow toward
her heart. ms he had always done.
The telephone tinkled at her elbow.
"Such news" called her friend. Laura
McNair. 1--WE have just rae a letter
from England-Donald is engaged TO
some lovely girl over there-he is
wild about her. Who would believe
it?"
~ would" declared Elsie cheerfully.
Donald is the incest boyi"
You should not have allowed him
TO 60"
Nonsense. He will bless me al
ways. We must have a nice party for
her when she comes"
Hanging W the receiver Elsie stirred
a little blankly out OF the open win
dow. where an early spring came drift
ing IN m the wings Of a tiny sweet.
scented breeze. Outside n robin hoped
on the patch Of green grass within the
iron fence. Spring-Douald was mar.
rled. or about to he-she felt hurt-a
strange sense OF loneliness. She was
not In love With him. hut she felt an
unrest. n longing for happiness as she
turned AWAY from the window and
saw the nrtful blue cupid. With n
sudden flare NJ temper she snntched II
from It's place md flung II out Of the
window and heard n soft crash on the
pavement, a moment later the door.
he'll rang. Elsie reached the halt be
fore Molly, the parl0r muld. nnd
opened the door herself.
A very tall. grnve yonng man. nnlfe