Girls High School - Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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This night, as she looked at the cupids, she felt that she must find the artist and comfort him, for she felt sure whoever it was surely needed comfort. The next evening on her way home from the ofiice she found herself in fl great confusion of people, carriages, and automobiles. Men were shout- ing and women screaming. As Miss Dorothy tried to push her way through the crowd, she felt something tugging at her skirt. Looking down she found a little boy, about five years old, clinging to her skirts. As Miss Dorothy had a horror of being in an excited mob, almost uncon- sciously she grasped the little fingers at her side and hurried toward the corner. Will you please signal that taxi for me? It was a big burly policeman she addressed and while waiting for the taxi, she asked: f'What has happened? An automobile knocked a lady down. They're a-taking her to the hospital. Here ye are, lady, and he held open the door of the car for her toenter. ' 5 Miss Dorothy placed the little boy in the car, gave the chautteur her address, thanked the ofiicer, and sank back in the seat with a sigh of relief. She was glad to sit perfectly quiet for a minute with her eyes closed. She was still clasping the hand of her strange little partner, and presently she roused herself and looked at him. The little fellow had nestled up close to her, evidently perfectly content. I What is your name, dear? she asked after a while. Father calls me 'Sonny,' was the grave reply, but Mother calls me 'Cupid' Miss Dorothy started. What an odd name! The memory of those strange drawings came back forcefully to her. She turned the child around so that the light from a passing arc lamp fell on his face. The woman drew in her breath sharply. lt was the same face as the sad little cupids. Who was this child? Was she to find the mysterious artist at last? She was suddenly appalled at the thought that, here she was, calmly riding off with a perfectly strange child in her possession. But it was too late to think of that now, for the chauffeur was already stopping at her door. There was nothing to do but take the child in and give him something to eat. After she had put the little boy to bed, she sat in her little sitting-room and wondered what to do with him. She couldn't turn him out into the streets. She didn't know his parents. What WAS she to do with him? The only thing that suggested itself was to take him to Police Headquarters in the morning. With this thought in her mind she crept into bed, and drew the warm little body close into her arms. It was with a w'arm thrill around her heart that she at last fell asleep. The next morning she telephon'ed to the office that she would not be able to be in all day, then set to work to find out who this little boy was. The child chattered merrily away as Miss Dorothy washed the wishes and cleared up her rooms. The woman wondered how she had ever stood the loneliness before. lt seemed impossible that one night could have made such a difference. She hated to think how empty it would bf! after the little one had gone. ?1 l

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The Sorrowful Cupid S. Kathryn Daugherty ISS DOROTHY MILBOURNE took a book from the table with a sigh. She was very tired, and decided to read a little before looking over the pile of drawings at her side. Miss Milbourne was the art director of a large magazineg that is, she inspected all the drawings submitted before they were printed. She could well remember the time when it was not necessary for her to go out to work. But that was before the estate had been eaten up by debts. y The book Miss Dorothy held was an old one that she had read many times, but it would at least take her mind off her work for a while. The book dropped open at a place where a newspaper clipping lay. lt was dated June 4, 1910. Miss Dorothy opened it listlessly, but the blazing headlines caused her to sit suddenly upright. THE SON OF MILBOURNE A BRIDEGROOM-SURPRISES FAMILY AND FRIENDS-BRIDE A CHORUS-GIRL 'Danielson Milbourne surprised both his family and friends today when he married Elizabeth Duross. Mr. Milbourne is the last son of the Milbournes of Virginia. He comes of a good old family and his marriage was as much a shock as a surprise. Miss Duross was-a member of the chorus playing at the Lake Lane Theatre. Dorothy Milbourne clenched the bit of paper in her hand and walked rapidly up and down the room. She thought she had -forgotten it all long ago, but found it was still fresh in her memory. Would she never forget? Was she always to be tortured with the thought that it was her beloved brother who had brought .disgrace on the family? After awhile she calmed herself and went back to the table. Her head ached, and her eyes burned, but she knew that she must still go over all the drawings. She sat down and drew the package toward her. The tirst sheet caused a puzzled frown to gather above her eyes. For several weeks past, there had come in, almost every day, a sheet hlled with little cupids. Now Miss Milbourne had seen almost every kind of cupid imaginableg merry faced ones, saucy-faced ones, cupids with a coquettish look or an artful glance. But she had to confess that she had never seen any like these before. They were the saddest-faced cupids one could imagine. The eyes looked as though they were brimming with tears, and some of them had pathetic little smiles that were sadder than tears. Miss Milbourne had always felt her heart ache a little as she looked at those fat little cupids with the sad, sad faces. She had tried repeatedly to find the artist, but was unable to do so. At the bottom of the sheets had been merely the initials E. D. M. 20

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It was nearly ten o'clock when she finally started for the Headquarters with the little Hngers closely clasped in her own. The morning was a lovely one, and Miss Dorothy walked slowly, enjoying the fresh morning air and sunshine. She questioned- the child about his home and parents, but as she could gather nothing from his baby answers, it was with both relief and sorrow that she at last mounted the steps of the great brown building. The Chief questioned her closely, and no one seemed to be able to get anywhere in the mystery. What does your mother look like, son? asked the Chief of the child. She's very pretty. She has nice curly hair for little boys to play in, and a little hole in her face 'at plays hide'n peek. The Chief laughed heartily, but was suddenly grave again. Why! he exclaimedi Why didn't we think of it before? His mother must be the woman who was hurt last night. They took her to St. Joseph's. You can leave him here, Miss Milbourne, and l'll send him up with one of my men. But as Miss Milbourne was not going to let this precious chance slip through her fingers, she politely offered to convey the child to the hospital herself. T'he offer was gladly accepted, and the two started out again. This time Miss Dorothy got on a trolley, for it was too far up town for the child to walk. i A few minutes' ride brought them to the hospital. Miss Dorothy told the nurse whom she wanted to see and on the way up in the elevator plied her with questions. Is she badly hurt? Nothing serious. A dislocated knee-cap and a broken arm. She is quite conscious but feverish. I believe she would improve rapidly if she could have the little sad-faced Cupid that she calls for continually. There was no doubt that this was the person she had been searching for. At the door the nurse cautioned her not to excite the patient, and Miss Dorothy promised to be very careful. A She had decided to take the child in with her at once, 'but, on second thought, placed him in a chair by the window in the hall and told him not to move from that spot until she came ont. ' ' She softly opened the door and went in. The womangon the bed lay wrthher eyes open but very quiet, one arm was bandaged and the other was thrown up on the pillow, the slim hand fingering the silken hair that curled and brllowed about her like brown waves. She turned her head listlessly and looked inquiringly at her visitor. Miss Dorothy smiled and held out her hand. . Are you the lady who has curly hair for little boys to play in, and a hole ln your face that plays hide and peek? she asked softly. An eager smile brought the hole in her face into view, as the invalid exclaimed: , .-,Mm Ah, my little Cupid! Have you seen him? ls he here? d He's right out in the hall and l'll bring him in as soon as you quiet own. 22