Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1901 — AN AGENT OF CUPID [ARTICLE]

AN AGENT OF CUPID

GrjO HE proudest sometime® unbend, and the botanical gardens were, ** for one afternoon, thrown off their usual reserve. Ordinary folks Sad only to come across Regent's park from Chester gate and present a card at the entrance to the gardens, and the bowler hatted old gentleman at the gate welcomed them as though they were most Important members. Miss Llewellyn and Master Kenneth Waller, her friend, walked on the grass In the direction of the music. “Anybody you know here, Miss Llewellyn ?” “1 don't suppose so, Kenneth." “You don’t know many people, do you. Miss Llewellyn?" “Very few!” “Wonder at that,” said the small boy, "because you’re not bad looking, you know. Did you use to come here when you were weir off? Do they sell lemonade here?” “Seems possible. You think that everybody ought to have plenty of friends?” “Plenty of friends," said Kenneth, wisely, "but one In particular. Wonder how old you are?” “That," said the young woman, good tempercdly, "that Is the only question, Kenneth, that you must never put to a tedy.” “I should guess,” he said critically, as they sat down In the low chairs near the refreshment tent and watched the people, "that you were about 26.” Miss Mias Llewellyn gave a quaint gesture es horror. "Well, 25, then. Fancy!” The small boy whistled nmazedly. “Twenty-five and not married yet.” “Young man,” said Miss Llewellyn, flushing and affecting a tone of great severity. “I find your conversation much too personal. You would like lem•nade, 1 think, and two pieces of cake." The scarlet coated band perched on seats near the glass house, with a crowd •f smartly dressed folks in front of them, started a cheerful selection from • comic opera. Miss Llewellyn, a composed young woman in an ordinary wsy, as young women are who work flor their living, found herself in quite • delightful mood. Music can do much when it tries.

“Of course,” said her candid guest, with cake at his mouth, "I don't mean to say that you mightn't get married even now. I had an aunt once who was eloae upon 30 before she could get any tat to look at her.” “The Instance is encouraging, Kenneth. Don't eat too fast, mind.” “Still,” said the youth, wisely, "if I were a girl I should be jolly careful not to miss a good opportunity. Are those •rchids they're carrying there? Hasn’t that chap got a brown face who's telllag the men where to take them? Seem to have seen him somewhere before. Shouldn’t like to be an orchid, should you, Miss Llewellyn? Why, you'd have to grow out in South America, and people would have fearful trouble to find yea, and risk their lives Hullo! Brown-faced chap's coming this way." Miss Llewellyn looked up, and then tooted down again quickly, and for a Moment her face* went rather white. Mar band trembled as she held it out. “Mr. Bradley,” she said. "How do you do? I did not expect to see you here.” “I did not expect to see you again anywhere," he said. There was a pause that comes after Mbs banalities of greeting. Master Waller, not having spoken for quite half a minute, felt that he was in some danger of being overlooked, and coughed. “This is my little friend Kenneth Waller,” she said. "Kenneth, this is Mr. Bradley." “What's the matter with your face?” asked the small boy. "Have you been abroad?” Mr. Bradley placed a broad fist on the aeoad iron table and leaned down toward Master Waller good-naturedly, seemed as cons used at the meeting aa Miss Llewellyn and as unprepared ter conversation. “1 have been abroad, young man. I’ve been hunting orchids.” “Are you home for good now?" asked Kenneth. Mias Llewellyn gripped the parasol tost rested in her lap with troth bands. “I can't do any good at home,” said Mr. Bradley. "I am off again to South America in a day or two.” “Why don't you stay in I-oudon?" “Nobody asks me to slay." “Should have thought,” said Master Waller, “that you could have got someMy to do that. Have you got any toreign postage stamps about you?" Friendship between the two gentlemea was cemented and made perma■ent by the production of several toralga stamps and an envelope to place steem in. People were coming up to ttee refresh merit tent now, the band Bavtag decided to rest for half an hour aad recover breath, and Master Waller tovtted Mr. Bradley to take his chair. “lon don't mind?" asked Bradley of Mias Llewellyn. “Not at nil." she said, politely. “May I smoke?" “Let me strike the match." Interposed Master Waller. "I'm awfully good at flteaL And tell us some of your adventores." “They wouldn't Interest Miss Llewel“Qlris don't count," said Master Walter "Tell me. Make It,” said Master Waller, appealingly, "one where you nearly loot your life." or 15 minutes were thus occu the small boy seated on Bradley's Base sad staring at him with openwathad astonishment. B!las IJewel-

lyn, her head bowed, studied the band program In apparently laborious search for the misprints that a musical program always offers. Bradley told the story very well without obtruding his own share in the adventure, and when he had finished punched the small boy humorously to bring him back from South America to Regent park. “And is that story true?” asked the small boy, respectfully. “It has that drawback, youngster.” “Well,” said Master Waller, “I’m • man that's awfully fond of adventure, but I shouldn't care for that. What did you think of when that fierce animal was waiting to spring upon you?” “Guess." “Can’t,” said Master Waller. “Can you. Miss Llewellyn?" She shook her head and again became Interested in the hand program. Bradley looked at her and waited for her to speak, but she made no sign. Now silence may at times be tolerable for grown up folks, but for Impatient young men like Master Waller It brings nothing but weariness. “Is there any chance of seeing these orchids, Mr. Bradley?” asked the youth. “It’ll be something to brag about to my people if I could Just get a sight of them.” “We'll all go over to the marquee and have a look. Miss Llewellyn, will you come or shall we leave you here? There’s rather a crush.” “Let's leave her,” suggested Master Waller. "Miss Llewellyn likes being alone.” “I think I will stay here,” she said. “We shall be back tn 10 minutes,” said Bradley. Master Waller had to trot to keep up with the long strides of his new friend, but he did not mind this, because he felt a kind of reflected glory in being accompanied by the man who had brought home some of the rarest of the amazing specimens in the crowded tent. “Giris are a nuisance, aren't they?” said Master Waller, looking up confidentially. “Sometimes,” said Bradley. “She isn’t so tiresome, though, as some.” "I think I agree with you there.” “Works awfully hard. Too hard, my mamma says.” “No necessity for that, surely,” said Bradley, rather sharply. “But, Miss Llew'ellyn has to live,” urged the small boy. “Mamma says that she was well off for a year or two before her father died, but since that ” “Her father dead?” “Here, I say,” said Master Waller. “Don’t grip a man’s shoulder like that.” “Sorry!” “They came into money, so my mamma says, a few years ago—” “I remember that.” t “And then Miss Llewellyn’s governor put it all into something and It never came out again. That’s why she has to manage the calisthenic school that I go to. And I say! Can you touch your toes with the tips of your fingers without ” “Where does she live now?” Mr. Bradley seemed excited. “In rooms,” replied Master Waller, volubly. “I’ve been there to tea along with my sisters. That’s a fine orchid there. You can’t see it now; a girl’s hat’s in the way. And Miss Llewellyn’s got awfully nice furniture and photographs, and ” Master Waller slapped his knee suddenly. “I remember now where I've seen your face before, Mr. Bradley. Only without the short beard.” “Come outside,” said Bradley, "and tell me.” They made their way through the crowd and reached the exit Bradley held his breath, and bent to hear the small boy’s reply. “On her dressing table," whispered Master Waller, confidently, “in the beautifullest frame you ever saw, and —where are you going?” "Back to Miss Llewellyn,” cried Bradley. “Well, but,” said Master Waller, protestingly, “waft for me.” Bradley did not obey the young man. He strode across the lawn, past the band, which was playing a quick march that was not quick enough to keep pace with him. Before Master Waller found the two there bad been a swift exchange of low sentences that altered their views of the world, and made them both think of it as a place where happiness is to be found. "And why did you refuse me before, dear?" “Because all my people pressed me to accept you,” said Miss Llewellyn. “The excuse of a very obstinate young woman.” "Why did you why did you not ask me again?" she demanded. "Because," said Bradley, "It was Just then that your father came Into that money.” •The excuse of a 'very independent man," said Miss Llewellyn, touching with pretty affection the big hand that .-ested on the round table. “Whenwhen is It that you leave for South America?" “Not until you tell me to go, dear," he said, promptly. “Here, I say,” cried Master Waller, arriving after some difficulty. "You two! Don’t lose sight of me, nriwd. Miss Llewellyn, have I been a good boy?" “I’ve a great mind to kiss you, Kenneth." she said.

“Bather have some more lemonade.” “As Kenneth declines your suggestion,” said Bradley, signaling to a waiter, “may I venture to submit myjelf f* “Hush!” said Miss Llewellyn.— Woman at Home.