The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-17
TheGirI From
The West
By OHIO B. SENECA
coDyright, iaOa, b c. a. sutclino


Paul Algeff looked firmly into Mrs.
Eiliott's face
You don't realize what you're ask.
ing. Aunt Ruth" trritatedly.
I'm not asking" calmly. I'm sim
ply telling you what l expect of you.
The girl will be here tomorrow. Ny
win is made with these plans in View.
II you don't fall In with them, you're
disinherited absolutely; that's all"
Alger rose.
Aunt Ruth, you've been more than
a mother TO me. and I'd like to do ev-
erything can to please you. but this
Is expecting too much. must reserve
the right to select my own wife"
Mrs. Elliott was stubbornly silent.
and after a moment the young fellow
said earnestly. Aunt Ruth, give the
money to the girl IL you want to. but
don't let her come between you and
mel"
Don't talk to me, Paul" lmpatiently.
Il shall give 1t to you two-together
Vt MOI at I'LL!
who is this girl" Alger demanded
with heat. that she should be thrust
upon me In this stylef"
"she Is the daughter OF my husbands
brother. When this girl and my Fred
erick were little children the brothers
promised each other that the children
should marry when they were Old
enough. Frederick died. and after your
mothers death ! adopted you. You
have taken Frederick's place in every
thing else. You must in this. Promise.
Pauln
1T is utterly imposslblep firmly.
Paul" temptngly, "she is very
pretty"
AlGer smiled and shook his head.
And. Paul." playing her trump card,
"she is musical"
Music was Ayers passion.
"Yes?' Indifferently.
Yes" emphatically. "She plays the
violin"
What Insufferable presumption i'm
patiently. "a girl from the wild west
brought up on a cattle ranch, you said.
Doubtless she can ride broncho or
lasso a steer, but she shouldn't NEEDLE
with the violin. She probably neve-
heard of Bach or Mendelssohn and
wouldn't know a sonata from a sand.
witch. Aunt, ! can fancy her bringing
her violin In her arms and playing fo-
the delectatlon of the other passengers
in the Pullman. ughr'
You refuse. them"
Most decidedly"
very we'll" icily. II accept your de
cision as final"
The next day Alger from his desk In
the library saw the girl as she entered
the adjoining room. where Mrs. Elliott
waited to greet her. She was tall and
graceful. with a high bred air of ease
that surprised him. Her voice was
clear and well modulated.
Upon my word" he muttered, "I ex.
pected her manner OF speech to be a
cross between cowboys yell and an
Indian warwhoop."
He saw the servant come in with a
violin case.
win madam have this in the music
room orr
"oh. no; here" And Vera held out
her hands.
you brought this yourself, veraT"
Mrs. Elliott's tone held the slightest
suggestion Of annoyance.
"In my arms literally" laughed Vera.
Alger in his dim corner smiled.
Vera gently placed the case on the
noor and lifted out the instrument as
tenderly as a mother lifts her babe
from Its cradle.
"oh, Aunt Ruth" fervently, when
you see 1t you will understand-my
beautiful violin"
She cIasped 1t to her bosom with a
gesture OF tenderness. The beauty Of
the girl, the unaffected grace OF her
pose and her evident artistic apprecia-
ton stirred Alger to instant admira-
ton.
He met the girl at dinner. She gave
him one long, earnest look that he felt
at once an inquiry and a challenge,
and then she directed her conversation
to Mrs. Elliott.
Alger was piqued. He was accus.
toned to more attention from young
women. She related some Of the Incl
dents OF her trip.
I'VE had concert each evening.
There were three girls in our Pullman
coming to Boston to study music. They
sang well"
"And you played, / suppose, Miss
ElliottF Alger could not fOrbear the
question.
She turned her glance upon him
briefly. ooh. ! scraped my little best"
coolly.
Alger felt the rebun, but he shot
triumphant glance at his aunt.
As the evening progressed Alger be-
gan to wish that be could win some
pleasant look or word from the girl
and to deeply resent his inability to do
50.
'will you play for us, Miss E1liottY