West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-01-17
By
ELLEN

COPYRIGHT b. he S S.
M'CLURE co.

The smile passed from her lips.
my husband Is dead" she answer
ed; but his name was Lucien."
He folded the newspaper awkwardly.
Then he spoke. nicer name than
Lawrence lie observed.
She nodded. "a name Is OF very lit
tie consequence she reJolned. II have
always felt that about every name I'm
the world except Lucy. Lucy is mine"
lie looked into her eyes. Despite her
illness they shone with n warm, fawn-
like brown. II think II n pretty name"
he said. "It is 80 soft"
1T HI no character" she returned.
II have always known that life would
have been different for me II / hadn't
been called Lucy. People would not
treat M like a child II 1 were Augusta
or even Agnes-but Lucy!'
People change their names some
times" he suggested.
She laughed softly. II tried to. L
tried to become Lucinda, but 1 could
not. Lucy stuck to me-"
1T wouldn't be so bad without
Smith," he remarked, smiling.
THAT was n horrible cross" she re-
turned. 81 wonder IL you mind Smith
as much rs l do"
At first he did not answer. To her
surprise his face grew grave, and she
saw the haggard lines about his mouth
which his smile had obscured. 1T was
a deuced good chance that L struck
It," he said shortly.
For n time they sat silent. Then, as
the luncheon gong sounded and the
passengers flOcked past, he rose and
bent over her chair. "You will have
chicken broth?" he said distinctly. 81
will send the steward" And ere she
recovered from her surprise he left her.
A little later the broth was brought,
and soon after the steward reappeared
bearing iced prunes. The gentleman
sent you word that you were to eat
these" he said. And she sat up In be-
wilderment and ate the prunes silently.
You are very kind" she remarked
timidly when he came up from the din
Ing saloon and threw himself into the
chair beside her.
For an instant he looked at her
blankly, his brow wrinkling. She saw
that he was not thinking of her and
redeemed.
You were ~kind-about the prunes,'
she explained.
The prunesf' he repeated vaguely.
Then he brought himself together with
Il jerk. ooh, you are the little woman
who was sick-yes, l remember"
They were very nice" she said more
firmly.
II am glad you liked them" he re-
joined and was silent. Then he broke
into an irrelevant laugh. and the lines
upon his forehead deepened. She saw
that he carried n habitual sneer upon
his lips. With n half frightened ges-
ture she drew from him.
IL am glad that you find life anus
Ing" b observed stiffly. II don't"
He surveyed her with a logged hui
NOR. 1T IS not life; II is you"
She spoke more stlfly still. 81 don't
catch your meaning" she said. "Is my
hat oil n sldeT'
He laughed again. 1T is perfectly
balanced, l assure you"
"Is my hair uncurledT'
yes, but I shouldn't have noticed IL.
II Is very pretty"
She sat up in offended dignity. II
do no desire compliments" she re-
turned. 81 wish merely information"
Half closing his eyes, he leaned back
In his chair, looking at her from under
the brlm OF his cap. well, without
comment, ! Will state that your hair
has fallen upon your forehead and that
n loosened lock IS lying upon your
cheek. No, don't put 1t back. I beg
your pardon
A pink spot appeared In the cheek
next 10 him. Her eyes flashed. "How
lntolerable you arer' she said.
The smile I'm his eyes d%eepened.
"How delicious you arer' he retorted.
She rose from her chair. drawing
herself to her full stature. Il shall
change my seat" she began.
Then the steamer Iurched, and she
swayed aud grasped the arm he held
out. II am SO dizzy % she finished
appealingly.
He put her back into her chair and
wrapped the rugs about her. As she
still shlvered he added his own 10 the
pile. When he placed the pillow be-
meath her head she noticed that his
touch was as tender as a woman's.
The sheer was gone from his lips.
But you will be cold" she remon-
strated from beneath his rug.
mot T. be responded. Il am a
tough knot II the fiery furnace has
left me unscathed. q little cold wind
won't do more thar chap me-"
His voice had grown serious. and she
looked up lnq%uiringly. "Tbe fiery fur
nQcer' she repeated.
"Oh, predestined damuatlon. n you
prefer. Are you religlOusY
Don't" she pleaded, a tender light
coming into her eyes. and she added.
'Ihe damned are not kind. and you are
very kind
Her words faltered. but they chased
the rccklcssness from bis eyes.
'EiudT' Doe returned. OF wonder how
many men we loft ln America would
uphold tlaf-that verdict. or how many
women. for that matterT'
Her honest eyes dld not waver. II
VIII stand hy Co." Sine replied simply.
s sudden Illumination leapcd TO his
face Against twelve good and true
melf De demanded daringly.
Against "a thousand and the presi-
dert thrown iu."
Ha laughed "a little bitterly. BE
cause of tha prunesW He was looking
down 'ufY her face.
She REDEEMED Because Of tho prunes
oud and other things she answered.
a e'Ds. " fha euoer owoke about bis
mon'. OF .asar did "a meauer thing
tan about Ode prunrs" De said hotly.
Then Dor turned from her and strobe
VIII sr.ue... efr'dos along the deck.
Ihaf evening Doe dId not speak 90 her.
They .aF side hy side lu their steamer
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