The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
CuPid's Net
7 ENNETH MEAD, six feet in his socks
and even broader than his height re-

II ENNETH MEAD, six feet in his socks,
II and even broader than his height re-
quired, had busness-like air strangely
at variance with his hidden nature. out OF
business hours he prowled in the rose gar
dens at Washington park touching some par
ticularly fragrant beauty touch indicative OF
a nature lover His ideal woman had long
lain dormant in his minds eye. She must
be tender with sweet old-fashioned goodness
in the depths of her brooding eyes that
would rest upon the curly head oil cniid
lisping his evening prayer.
This dream-woman had not yet been
found. Kenneth had fallen in love but ne
would not speak for two reasons Inc 1irst
reason was that he was almost certain tnae
he held NJ place in the thoughts OF the sim
brown-eyed girl except as pupil, , ioe s n
a,nnations. He did not even know her flrst
name for she signed the curt little receipts
for his lesson money with the name W. MuE'
ray. She was fairly tall and almost pam
fully composed in demeanor, dlsconceftlngly
well-informed upon mathematics and what
irked him hardest-evidently older than he.
This was hard this last.
As he sat now in the street car on his
way to his lesson he did not see the piano.
rama which was passing fleetly before MS
eyes Instead, he was seeing unveiled pc
fore him the Gays of his childhood where ne
had been Il quiet lad observing with the pitt
the home of his uncle. His Uncle jim nao
married widow some years his senior. She
was a good woman and consc1enlous. Her
rules, however, were rigid with no aliotted
time for play The only golden spots, In the
drab monotony of days had been when ne
and Uncle Jim had stolen away for an hours
fishing or perhaps a swim in the old SWIM
ming hole where they could relax from the
everlasting rigidity of the home hennetn
had decided then and there that ne wouid
marry no martinez no matter now capapIe
or how admirable she appeared to be. he
wanted a playmate as well as life partner.
And now Cupid had unkindly netted him
with this serious young woman VINO lookeu
upon advanced algebra as relaxation he
had tried once to compliment her upon new
frock but at her expression MS Wofus n'u
trembled unspoken.
"Well," he reflected, as he had for days
past. ''this is my last lesson in the term OF
ten, and | guess I'd better look about for
man teacher so that l can keep my NINA
from conjecturing upon the of human per-
Sonality.'
He arrived at the apartment on the third
floor of the corner building before ms reg
ular time. Mrs Murray admitted him. lie
had not seen her before and there was some
thing about her that reminded him Of ms
own mother. A certain sweetness perEaded
her fragile face and soft gray hair ana ne nc
noticed that she limped. She was small,
too. and there was HOHC VI IhoS mp
quality in her low voice that distinguished
her daughters crisp corrections.
81 suppose Miss Murray has taught a
great many years." he began, hoping that
She would stay and chat.
A delicate wave of red ran over the waXen
cheeks mo-" she replied and ilmped away
in startled manner.
Kenneth wondered at her confusion and
lost himself in a reverie of tangled dreams
He was picturing w. Murray as she might
have been and was enjoying himself in va
manner highly unsuitable for an earnest
seeker after knowledge in the civil service
examination.
The little room was curiously quiet high
above the street and the white net curtains
blew about in the summer breeze with
suggestion of an old-fashioned cottage set
among hollyhocks and pansies Perhaps it
was the bowl of country flowers at his elbow,
but Kenneth was far, far away from the
sitting city as he etched his dream portrait
of his ideal
sound of swiftly running feet up the
uncarpeted hallway aroused him. small
dog bounded out from the back of the apart
ment barking and capering with JOY as a
sweet, carefree voice trilled:
There Togo, fine little pup! Take this
to Enthusiastically now" there were de-
licious little bubbles of laughter and sundry
admonitions as she coaxed the romping dog
to carry the roses to the dining room.