Cupid of Campion

t-eyed Goddess in carrying out her will upon Master Claren

violin shoots up into the failing light of the evening; it was the time when the whippoorwill essays to wake the darkening sky with his insistent demands for the beating of that unfortunate youth, poor Will; it was the time when the sun, having left his kingdom in the western sky

Master Clarence Esmond. In fact, it so chanced that the twilight hour was the time when

at him sternly. “Oh, it’s you, is it?” murmured Clarence. “I’ve been looking for you, star-eyed goddess. Be good enough, now you’re here, to supply me with one or two first-class adventures in good condition and warranted to last.” In answer to whic

yes were open, he could see very little. Almost at once he realized where he was. Almost at once he recalled, with the swiftness thought is oft

prow, was clasped to the gunwale. Then Clarence standing up looked again. From the hand to the arm moved his eyes; from the arm to the head. Beside the b

ce. “Look here, wil

eing standing in what he had supposed to be an empty boat, a young cherub arrayed in a scanty suit

ion, with the result that the erect cherub lost his balance so sudd

host. But ghosts do not tumble off boats into the water; neither do ghosts, when they come to the surface, blow and sputter and cough and strike out vigorously with an overhand stroke, which things the

spill me for

the stranger with a slightly foreign accent. “W

ithely. “Never yet, save in the way of kindness, did I lay

ippi River,” returned

really thought we were breastin

n fixed upon the two swimmers was a group consisting of a man a little beyond middle age, a woman, apparently his wife, a younger woman, a boy a trifle older and larger than Clarence, a girl of twelve, and five or six litt

e man, as the boat

tors. The water is fine anyway; and it’s not near so dangerous as it’s

tay here,

ve had enough of being out on the Mississippi to last me for several weeks at

xed a watchful eye upon the bather, while the others broke up and gave themselves to various occupations. Clarence’s rescuer went on beyond the fire, where two tents lay pitched beside a close

quick to answer the call, seized the clothes and darted beh

ve never been on a big river before; and I was afraid to try swimming. I say,” an

your nam

, weight 110 pounds, hei

ou come to be

of adventure since his departure that morning from McGregor. While he was telling his rather incredible tale all the party gathered about him. Not all, he observed, were gypsies. The little girl of twelve was as fair-skinned as himself. She was a beautiful child, with fa

et her?” However, he was content to keep these thoughts to himself. At

sir, whe

in Wis

have I? And about how far down the

r cut him short, and spoke to him hurriedly for so

wful anxious about me. Would you mind letting me k

McGregor,” said the older man, thou

get a train? I’ve

e elder; “what doe

mining

he r

eople say; and if you get me ba

hese items of information: the elder was called Pete, the younger, Ben;

ncil. Suddenly the older, a withered hag with deep ey

” she said,

responded the amiable adventu

ht, and dragging Clarence close to the fire beg

ive long,

y days like this,”

ave lots

ion, I’m s

ll lear

ery way I pro

arry thre

at least two of thos

ave a big

on to child

aused, gazing fixedl

cross! the cross! It’s there. I se

” retorted Clare

e that of some wild animal, the woman

“we’re going to

the same to you, I’d just

lad. “You may be a fraud. We will find out, and if your stor

ld man was quick to catch up with him, and he made this fact known to the boy by striking him with his closed fist a blow on the mouth which brou

time you want me to do something, tell me. You needn’t punch ideas in

ed Ben not unkindly. “It’s no use trying

, would you call kicks

rugged his

o meet her the worst way. Well, I’ve been meeting her all day and I’m kind of tired.

said the my

not yet over, as Clarence, to his co