Palisadian., 1924-08-01
JAMES PA
AND CUPID
GOT BUSY
By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD
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20, 1924, Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)
Now, pa" but Jane got no further.
Now, Jane! l mean what I say.
Time you stopped gadding with every
Tom, Dick and Harry and settled
down. AS for this last young man
you've annexed-young what's-his-
name-just cross him off your list"
"You mean"
THAT red-headed, pugnacious-j -jawed,
high-and-mighty individual you were
strolling down Main street with this
afternoon. Looks like an ex-prize-
fighter, and"
Oh" broke In Jane hurriedly, 'you
mean Peter Brown. Don't-don't you
like him?"
Like him? Like him? Does he look
as If I'd like him. Just forget him."
Jane nodded slowly. II understand,
pa, but I've promised Peter he could
take me to the dance at the Armory.
How could l know" she went on bit
terly, "that you'd be seized so sudden
ly with violent prejudice against the
first man ever thought cared enough
for to marry?"
her father seemed about to speak,
then apparently thought better of it
and waited a moment. Then, "All
right" he said mildly, "but the dance
must end 1t. Surely there is some one
among your old friends good enough
Tor you without throwing yourself
away on the first stranger that hits
town. Particularly such red
headed"
But Jane, with one reproachful look,
had fled from the room.
Ever since the death of his wife,
James father had found his daughter
a great problem. Constitutionally re-
served, unobtrusive man, the chain of
contacts she established for him with
outsiders kept him continually
harassed. He had run the gauntlet of
housekeepers and nursemaids, school
teachers and playmates, only to be
Drought up against more formidable
array, as Jane grew into womanhood,
OF James young men.
Much as Jane managed her father,
she managed her sultors, winding them
around her little finger with a gentle
tyranny which they accepted with
meekness that, could they but have
known 1t, reacted to their advantage.
The very fact that Peter Brown, the
new young lawyer in town, did not ap-
pear to be one to yield to anybody,
much less slip Of girl, was his
peculiar charm for Jane. She had met
him on several occasions, largely of
her own contriving, until Peter had
shown unmistakable signs of falling
in love with her when, having sue
ceeded in what she had tried to do,
Jane coyly warded off his actual dec
laration with feminine Inconsistency.
Now her father had thrown an un-
expected wrench into the machinery,
and for once Jane feared she could
not wind him around her finger with
customary dexterty.
So matters stood on the night of
the Armory ball. In spite of her trou-
bled heart, Jane looked her loveliest,
and Peter, as he held her slender
silken-clad form in his arms during
the first fox trot, resolved that he
would say all that was on his mind
Immediately while Jane could not con-
veniently escape.
Listen" he whispered, as they
swung down the hall, Il have some
thing 1 must tell you. I love you.
Love you frightfully, Jane darling.
Will you harry me?"
Jane lifted startled eyes. "Peterl"
she breathed, and tried not to give
away to those around her that her
partner was actually proposing to
her then and there. Suddenly she
remembered. II am afraid-you see,
my father" she began.
Don't fancy me?" said Peter calm
ly. "Well-I hate to have to do it
this way. But, under the circum-
stances, you must. Marry me first and
tell him afterwards"
Jane gasped. No one had ever said
must" in just that tone before, and
1t sent through her a delicious shiver.
"When?" she asked meekly.
Peter considered. zone week from
today" he said finally. "That will
give me time to get the license, ar
range my business for an absence, and
engage passage on the Bermudian. One
week from today!"
Jane, for all the romance of 1t, had
her secret misgivings in the days that
followed. 1t came hard to deceive her
had doubts. Also, deep within her,
she could not quite sanction Peters
demand that she do such a thing. 1t
did not tally with her idea of him.
However, she loved him, she had
given her word, and she would abide
hV it