West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-31

Cannda City was only mushroom
growth, ana II seems too shocking to
repeat, dear, but they say he said that
the new church. our church. was sim.
ply using the Almighty as n big blum tn
the other towns. or course MIR. Windi.
brook couldn't see him after that. WHY.
ne even said Your father ought 10 send
you To school somewhere and not let
You grow up In this half civilized
place"
Strangely enough. Clssy did not hail
this corroboation OF her dislike TO
young Masterton with the livcllness
one might have expected. Perhaps II
was because Piney Tibbs was no lon
ger present. having left Cissy at the
parsonage and returned home. Stiu she
enjoyed her visit after fashion, romp-
eel with the younger Windlbrooks and
climbed tree In the security of her
sylvan scclusion aud the promptings OF
her stlll healthy. girlish blood and only
came back To cake and tea and her new
nat. which she had prudcntly hung up
IN the summer house as the afternoon
was waning. When they returned 70
the house, they found that Mr.. WindI-
brook had gone out with his visitor.
and Cissy was spared the advertise.
ment OF bolsterous escort home which
he generally insisted upon. She gayly
took leave of the infant WlndIbroolx
ana his mother. sailed out through the
parsonage gate into the empty road
and once more became conscious OF her
new hat.
nj. 4
ing, and cool breeze stirred the deem
aisles of the pines on either side OF the
highway. One or two people passed
her hurriedly, talking and gestIculat-
ing, evidently so prcoccupied that they
did not notice her. Again n rapid horse
man rode by without glanclng round.
overlook the previous pedestrians. ex-
changed hurried word with them and
spurrcd swiftly away M one OF them
shouted after him:
There's another dispatch confirming
t."
\ group of men talking 10y the road
side never looked up as she passed.
Cissy poutcd slightly Mt this want OF
taste which made some late election
news or the report OF n horse race more
enthralling than her new hat and its
owner. Even the toilers I'm the bitches
had left their work and were congre.
eating around man who was reading
aloud from widely margined extra"
OF The Canada City Press. II seemed
provoking, as she knew her checks
were glowing from her romp and was
conscious that she was looking her
nREf IInkvnNnp ~
was Just before her. and the girls were
sure TO bc on the lookout. She shook
out her skirts and Strengthened her
pretty little Ggure as she approached
the House But. 10 her surprise. her
coming bad evidently been anticipated
by them, and they were actually and
unexpectedly awaiting her behind the
low whltewashcd garden pallngs. As
she ncGrcd them they hlrst into n shriII
dlsccTdnnt laugh so fun OF ironS, gr5ril-
fled malice and mean eYultation that
Cissy was for n moment startled, but
only for moment. She had her IN
TIERS reckless audnclty and bore them
down with a display OF such pink
checks and flashing eyes that their
iiughter was checked and they remain.
Id open mouthed as she swept by them.
Perhaps this incident prevented her
from noticing another but more passive
one. a group OF men standing before
the new MILL the same men who had so
solicitously challenged her attention
with their bows n couple of hours ago,
turned ns she approached and suddenly
dispersed. II was not until this was
repeated by another group that its odd.
ity forced itself upon her still angry
consciousness. Then the street seemed
10 be full of those excited. preoccupied
groups who melted away as she ad-
vanced. Only one man met her curious
eyes the engineer. yet she missed the
usual critical smile with which he was
wont TO greet her. and he gave her
bow Of such profound respect and gray.
ity that for the first time SHE felt really
uneasy. Was there something wrong
with her hat? That dreadful, fateful
hat! Was II too cOnspicuous2 Did he
think IL wns vulgar? She was eager 20
cross the street on the next block,
where there were large plato glass win.
dows which she and Piney--if Piney
were only with her now! had often
used as mirrors But there Gas n great
crowd on the next block. and 81 was
congregated around the bank-her IA
theirs bank. a vague terror. she knew
not what now began 90 creep over her
She would have turned into side
street. but mingled with her fear was
resolution not TO show It. not 10 even
think Of IL, TO combat II as she had the
horrid laugh Of the secnmp girls. and
she Kept her way with beating heart,
but erect head, without looking across
the street. There was another crowd
before the newspaper Office. also on the
other side aud a bulletin board, but
she would not try to read a..
Only one idea was I'm her mind. 20
:each her own homo before any one
should meet her or speak with her. Tor
he last intelllgible sound that had
reached her was the laugh Of the Sc.
camp girls. and this was stlll ringing ln
her ears. seeming 10 voice the hidden
strangcnesB Of all she saw aud stirring
her, ~ that had. with childish ln2lgna-
ton She kept on with unmoveFsacc.
however. and at last turned into the
plankcd side terrace. a part of her n
Tiers muniiiccnce. ana reached the
symmetrical garden beds and gravclcd
walk. She ran mp the steps Of the yc-
randa and entered the drawing room
through the open French window
Glancing around thc familiar room. NJ
her fathers closed desk at the open
piano. with the piece OF music fhe rad
been practclng that morning. the
whole walk seemed only foolish
dream that had frightened her She
was Cissy Trixit, The daughter ~ the
richest man In the town This was her
fathers house. the wonder Of Canada
City.
4 ring at tho front door bcll startled
her. Without waiting for thc servant